cornbread, sausage and lamb stuffing w/ turkey

Although I am a big fan of traditional stuffing at Thanksgiving, I have had this recipe a couple of times over the years and have found it to be a nice alternative. I hope you enjoy it. dA

What you'll need:
12-14 lbs turkey
8 1/2 oz box of cornbread mix
1 lb spicy or sweet Italian sausage
1/4 lb ground lamb
1 C of chopped celery
1/2 cup of chopped scallions (green onions)
1/2 C chopped parsley
2 T poultry seasoning
10 1/2 oz can of chicken and rice soup
1 stick of soft butter
3 T olive oil
couple T flour
2 T sea salt
1 T black pepper
8 oz pkg of chicken broth

Remove giblets and neck from turkey and heat in sauce pan with chicken broth and water for 30-45 minutes to use as base for gravy. Strain and set aside.

Prepare cornbread mix per pkg instructions, bake and let cool completely. Once cooled, crumble into large mixing bowl.

Brown sausage and lamb in large skillet. Drain excess grease when browned through.

Add sausage/lamb, celery, scallions, soup and seasonings to crumbled cornbread and mix completely, then stuff inside turkey cavity. Cover turkey with softened butter, tent with foil and bake according to package instructions.

About an hour before turkey is done, remove foil and baste. (Turkey should heat to 170 in thigh and juices should run clear when the skin is pierced. Stuffing should heat to 160 degrees in the center).

Once the bird is done, you should let it sit for 15-20 minutes and allow the stuffing to get to about 165 degrees and temperature in the thigh should get to 180.

In the skillet you browned the meat in, add olive oil over low heat. Add flour slowly, stirring continuously until brown. Add turkey drippings and reserved giblet broth and whisk until thickened. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Remove stuffing from bird and place in serving bowl. Carve up that bird and help your plate with turkey, dressing and gravy. Add all the other stuff that makes your Thanksgiving special and have at it!

Mmmm. Now that right there's just one more thing for you to be thankful for! Happy Thanksgiving!

dA