Best Christmas stuffing recipes

[skirmish]

Preferably not fruity (apricots,prunes,dates etc)

Normally do sage & onion with/without sausagemeat.

Any other surefire winners?

Paxo's instant sage and onion mix

Not what you were looking for!? :o

My gran's stuffing is yummy and I still make it and get lots of compliments plus it is super easy...

Fresh breadcrumbs - amount depends on what you need. For a turkey you'd probably need a whole White loaf.
Fresh thyme - medium bunch, rinsed and stripped from the stalk (can use dried if you can't get hold of fresh)
Butter - approx 250g melted. I usually use salted butter
Sprinkle of salt

• Blitz the breadcrumbs and tip into a large bowl
• add the thyme and mix in.
• add the melted butter and mix in. Should end up a bit stickier than the plain breadcrumbs but shouldn't be sloppy or soggy.
• taste and add salt if needed and more thyme if needed
• taste again to check all tastes good
• taste again just toake sure :o
• use to stuff turkey

• Fresh parsley finely chopped can be added to taste if liked but I wouldn't bother with dried parsley.

• finely chopped onion can make a nice addition too- I tend to zap it with the melting butter in the microwave for 3-4 mins to give it a head start on the softening. Again it's all to taste, I'd probably go for a big onion or 2 medium ones for this amount of crumbs.

• you can also make the stuffing in a dish in the oven in which case I'd add a bit more butter to make it a bit more moist and definitely add the onion

• cooking time in a dish depends on how hot the oven is. And how thick the stuffing is. Thin metal dish gets about 10-15 mins as a starter whereas thick stuffing in a Pyrex dish could be 20-30 mins. I usually put foil on top to help keep the moister in the take it off for the last few mins to crisp it up on top a bit.

These instructions all make it sound quite complicated but it's incredibly simple when you come to do it and it's one of those recipes where it's all very much to taste; no exact measurements needed and all very forgiving.

I usually end up doing two batches - one in the turkey that is all soft and lucious with the meat juices adding to its yumminess and one in the tin with onion for a more crunchy version.

Enjoy!

Nigella's gingerbread stuffing

here

I second Nigella's gingerbread stuffing.

What kind of gingerbread and from where? Sounds good, might try if I can find the gingerbread.

250g of ground beef
A generous handful of button mushrooms, diced
A can of chestnuts
A small handful of herbs (parsley etc.)

Fwiw I cook mine in a separate dish as opposed to the bird.

I have just made Nigella's chestnut stuffing. It is delish :o. Very easy - took 20 mins tops and is now in freezer ready for big day. And the recipe handily is already on mumsnet !

Use ginger cake - on special offer in sainsburys now!