In our family, one of our Thanksgiving traditions is the years' long "feud" over the dressing/stuffing debate. It didn't really start until we moved to Tennessee from California back in '95. Before that, stuffing was always served with the turkey for Thanksgiving. Then we moved to the South, and I started hearing it called dressing. As the kids and their friends, (some of whom became my "adopted" kids) grew, and I started having pot luck Thanksgiving get togethers, the debate began. It's not stuffing it's dressing. No, it's not, it's stuffing. Every year there's an argument, albeit a good natured one. I typically send out a group email to all the family and spouses/significant others and friends who attend Thanksgiving. This year, the stuffing/dressing argument began early! Part of the email is to ask what each person is going to bring...and here we go! TERRY: I'll do dressing on one condition. Everyone agrees not to call it stuffing. GRAYSON: I for one can’t wait. Terry, it’s stuffing and it will forever be stuffing. Mom put me down for broccoli casserole; I’d say that torch has been effectively passed. (NOTE: I used to make the broccoli casserole till I taught my son how) RONNI: Terry, no promises. It's been stuffing for 60+ years, so it's pretty ingrained with this old bird. (hahaha...see what I did there?) Grayson, YES!!!! TERRY: There is a difference.... now stop being stupid! GRAYSON: You’re right, I’ll stop being stupid. Just make sure you bring that stuffing for thanksgiving. DEVIN: Y'all hush. It's delicious and it eats the same, no matter what you call it! And so it goes. This will go on till the day we eat. And the argument will continue through dinner, "pass the stuffing, here's the dressing, what is this called again"...and so on and so on. Just one of the many goofball things that is woven into our family lore. So...what do YOU call it????
Well is it actually STUFFED inside the bird? Then it is stuffing. If you are like me and make it outside the bird it is dressing.
Like Netty said, inside the bird it's stuffing, outside the bird it's dressing...same thing just two different names. Ever seen a photo from posh cook books where the turkey (or chicken) is placed on a large platter and the dressing/stuffing is spread around the perimeter of the bird....it was called 'dressing' the bird for presentation. But it can also depend on where you live I think down south it's called dressing other places it's called stuffing. Ladies back in the Victorian time period refused to call it stuffing since stuffing a birds cavity was seen as obscene. I was told many years ago in home-ec class that if the recipe included eggs you should not stuff it in the bird but cook it in a separate pan to prevent salmonella from under cooked eggs and possibly the under cooked juices from the bird itself mixing with other ingredients and really putting an unhappy ending to the festivities.
I stuff the bird and dress the plate with the stuffing. It doesn't matter to us what we call it as it's all the same even if it does have two different names.
Oh yum....I don't care, I love it all.....This year, we will have my home canned turkey, with gravy made with my home canned turkey bone broth alone with my home made dressing.....can't get it into the jar to call it stuffing...LOL....not too many extra things for we are just 2 people.... But I will tell you it will me moist and flavorful as if it were called "STUFFING"..but easier.......
I agree with Netty and Toni,, but I eliminate that argument by always having chicken and dressing ! I boil the chicken for the broth,, de-bone it and mix the chicken with the cornbread dressing and cook all together ! That way you can make as much or as little as needed ! Freeze the rest for other meals !
Today on the radio station the announcer expressed, "Stuffing is what goes into the turkey. Dressing goes on the salad."
