TODAY we celebrate National Stuffing Day just in time for Thanksgiving Day.
Thanksgiving turkey stuffing, also known as dressing, is a flavorful mixture of ingredients that is prepared and cooked inside the cavity of a turkey during the Thanksgiving holiday in the United States. It’s a traditional and iconic part of the Thanksgiving feast, adding depth and richness to the roasted turkey. While stuffing is often cooked inside the turkey, it can also be prepared as a side dish separately from the bird.
Here’s a basic recipe for Thanksgiving turkey stuffing:
Ingredients: The ingredients for turkey stuffing can vary widely, and personal preferences often come into play. However, a classic stuffing typically includes a base of bread cubes or crumbs, combined with a mix of aromatic vegetables, herbs, and additional flavorings. Common ingredients include:
- Bread: Cubes or crumbs of day-old bread, such as white, whole wheat, or cornbread.
- Aromatics: Onions, celery, and sometimes carrots, which add a savory and aromatic base.
- Herbs: Fresh or dried herbs like sage, thyme, rosemary, and parsley for added flavor.
- Broth or Stock: To moisten and bind the stuffing together.
- Butter: Adds richness and flavor.
- Seasonings: Salt, pepper, and sometimes additional spices or seasonings to taste.
- Optional Ingredients: Nuts, dried fruits, sausage, or other ingredients for additional texture and flavor.
Preparation: The preparation of Thanksgiving turkey stuffing generally involves sautéing the aromatics in butter until softened, then combining them with the bread and other ingredients. The mixture is often moistened with broth or stock until it reaches the desired consistency. Some people also add eggs as a binder.
Cooking: If you choose to stuff your turkey, the stuffing is placed inside the cavity just before roasting. The turkey and stuffing cook together, with the juices from the turkey infusing the stuffing, creating a harmonious blend of flavors. It’s important to ensure that the stuffing reaches a safe internal temperature to prevent any risk of foodborne illness.
So, today, celebrate this day by starting to gather a special recipe and do trial recipes in preparation for Thanksgiving Day. Sometimes stuffing calls for a new recipe so it will be not just a boring and usual stuffing served with turkey. Share on social media if you have a new recipe using #StuffingDay.
History Throwback!
TODAY in 1916 Britannic, the sister ship to the Titanic, sinks in the Aegean Sea
The Britannic, sister ship to the Titanic, sank in the Aegean Sea on November 21, 1916, killing 30 people. More than 1,000 others were rescued.
In the wake of the Titanic disaster on April 14, 1912, the White Star Line made several modifications in the construction of its already-planned sister ship. First, the name was changed from Gigantic to Britannic (probably because it seemed more humble) and the design of the hull was altered to make it less vulnerable to icebergs. Besides, it was mandated that there be enough lifeboats onboard to accommodate all passengers, which had not been the case with the Titanic.
The nearly 50,000-ton luxury vessel, the largest in the world, was launched in 1914, but was requisitioned soon afterward by the British government to serve as a hospital ship during World War I. In this capacity, Captain Charlie Bartlett led the Britannic on five successful voyages bringing wounded British troops back to England from various ports around the world.
On November 21, the Britannic was on its way to pick up more wounded soldiers near the Gulf of Athens, when at 8:12 a.m., an explosion rocked the ship. Captain Bartlett ordered the closure of the watertight doors and sent out a distress signal.
(excerpted from https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/britannic-sinks-in-aegean-sea)
