Southern Stuffing
Ingredients
2 batches Herbed Cornbread, recipe follows
6 slices bacon, chopped
1 stick butter
1 large onion, diced
5 stalks celery, diced
1 large red bell pepper, diced
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
6 cups low-sodium chicken broth, plus more if needed
1/2 bunch parsley, finely chopped
2 teaspoons minced fresh rosemary
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
Herbed Cornbread
1 cup yellow cornmeal
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon dried sage
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup whole milk
1 large egg
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3 tablespoons salted butter
3 tablespoons shortening
Directions
Cut the cornbread into 1-inch cubes (about 12 cups). Place on a baking sheet and leave out several hours or overnight, until completely dried out.
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Add the bacon to a skillet and saute until cooked and almost crisp, about 7 minutes. Remove to a plate and wipe out any grease. Melt the butter in the skillet; throw in the onion, celery and red pepper and cook, stirring, 4 to 5 minutes, until they are soft. Add the jalapeno and garlic and saute 2 minutes more. Pour in the chicken broth. Add the parsley and rosemary, season with salt and pepper and cook for a couple of minutes, then turn off the heat.
Pour the cornbread into a bowl and spoon in some of the broth mixture. Keep adding broth, tossing as you go, until it’s all mixed in. Season with salt and pepper, add the bacon and toss again. If you like your dressing extra moist, add a little more broth. Pile the dressing into a 3-quart casserole pan and bake, uncovered, 20 to 25 minutes. Serve piping hot.
Herbed Cornbread
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
Add the cornmeal to a large bowl along with the flour, baking powder, salt, basil, sage and thyme and stir together.
Measure the buttermilk in a measuring cup, add the whole milk and egg and stir together with a fork. Add the baking soda and stir. Pour the milk mixture into the dry ingredients and stir with a fork until just combined. Do not over mix.
In a small microwave-safe bowl, melt 2 tablespoons butter and 2 tablespoons shortening in the microwave and slowly add to the batter, stirring constantly until combined.
In a 10-inch cast-iron skillet over high heat, melt the remaining tablespoon of butter and shortening. Pour the batter into the hot skillet, spread to even out the surface and cook over high heat for 1 minute. Then get it into the oven straightaway and bake until golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes. The edges should be crispy.
