Stuffing? Dressing? or both?
By alaskanray
@alaskanray (4636)
United States
December 2, 2011 2:24pm CST
It's that time of year. Turkey and stuffing are everywhere. I recently found a poll that asked "Stuffing or Dressing?" I never realized there was any difference. My mother used the two terms interchangeably. But I have learned that if you use bread cubes or croutons, it is considered stuffing while shredded breading is used to make dressing. At least, that's what I gathered from what I found looking around.
Well, that led me to ponder on the stuffing my mother made vs what I have had and made in recent years...the consistency in particular was what came to mind. My mother's stuffing/dressing was always firm and held together well, even when it was not stuffed into the bird. I watched her make it a few times and seem to recall her adding egg to it on occasion. I am the first to admit that my memory of it is foggy at best so I ask you, my mylot friends:
Do you ever add egg to your dressing/stuffing? If so, how do you adjust the other parts of the recipe, if at all?
What are your favorite seasonings to use? Do you add anything special like nuts or water chestnuts?
I realize that stuffing/dressing recipes are as individual as the people who make them and I have yet to perfect my own so all your suggestions are appreciated as I am trying to formulate my own perfect stuffing/dressing recipe. Thank you in advance for your input!
2 people like this
6 responses
@alaskanray (4636)
• United States
3 Dec 11
It has become my favorite, as well, although when I was a kid I wouldn't touch it. Funny how our tastes change as we age. My favorite way to eat it is with lots of gravy. I like to make kind of a hash in my plate with a bite of turkey, some mashed potatoes, a bit of stuffing and, of course, the gravy all over it all! Oh, my! Now I'm really hungry!!!
@alaskanray (4636)
• United States
5 Dec 11
Well, when I was shopping at the store, the cubed breading or croutons were labeled stuffing but the package that had shredded breading was labeled dressing.
1 person likes this
@deebomb (15304)
• United States
2 Dec 11
Hello alaska. My family always used the terms intermittently too. We always used old or stale bread. We also put celery onions in it as they added flavor. I have used s chicken soup base when I don't have enough broth. I also add sage, thyme and rosemary or just poultry seasoning for seasoning. I have added celery onions and carrots to the broth too for flavoring. I add the seasoning to hot broth so I can adjust the flavor before adding it to the bread. Yea we always add an egg or two depending on how much we are making. I learned from my grandmother many years ago. She never measured so I don't either. As far as I'm concerned a good dressing is the best part of the thanksgiving meal. It is hard to get the broth just exactly right. Some times it is better than others. Now my daughter uses the Partridge Farm bread stuffing and it just isn't as good no matter how mush it is tweaked.
1 person likes this
@alaskanray (4636)
• United States
3 Dec 11
Thanks for the tips. I have found a new recipe that I am tweaking that uses dressing but is more of a casserole. I'm tweaking it so that I can make it in my rice cooker. Check out my blog in a few days if you want to find out how it turned out. 
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
3 Dec 11
I am lazy. I use stove top! Yup....totally on the convience levels here. My mom used to make it too and just like your mothers it was full bodied and stuck together....and she used some very awesome seasoning in it...lots fo celery etc....wow....this discussion brings back some pretty happy memories!
1 person likes this
@alaskanray (4636)
• United States
3 Dec 11
I totally know what you mean. I've been trying to remember just what my mother did all those years ago and the memories it brings back are fond ones, for sure.
@Tresaqwe (376)
• United States
2 Dec 11
I am not really fond of stuffing, which is my answer we call it stuffing. I don't really cook it nor do I eat it. My mom knows no one in our immediate family is that fond of it but she makes it for our guests at Thanksgiving. She doesn't do anything fancy with it, pretty much just straight normal stuffing she adds a little onion and celery and of course broth and seasonings but that is about it.
@alaskanray (4636)
• United States
3 Dec 11
Well, like I said, everyone has their own way of doing stuffing. Some get really fancy while other just throw whatever together. Stuffing is a little like hash. It's all what you make of it.
@alaskanray (4636)
• United States
3 Dec 11
That has nothing to do with this discussion. Please stick to the topic.
@LiveRockDie (10)
•
3 Dec 11
I always took the terms as interchangeable too! However at work one day a discussion on this topic started and it seems like everyone has their own definition. What I came away with is that stuffing is what is actually put in the bird and is cooked I side and dressing is when it's cooked separately from the turkey. I was also told that dressing was more of a southern term usually referring to when it is made with cornbread.
I make stuffing myself, I always sauté mushrooms, celery, onions and leeks in garlic and olive oil before mixing it in with the bread cubes. I make it the day before so the flavors have a chance to really develop.
1 person likes this
@alaskanray (4636)
• United States
3 Dec 11
OOOOh...that sounds yummy! I hadn't thought of sauteing the veggies. My sisters added slivered almonds one year and that added a nice crunch to the dressing. I've never used garlic before...that would be yummy! I can't wait to try it. I do know what you mean about letting the flavors develop. Stuffing, like so many blended dishes, always tastes better the second day.
