Mama's Chicken n Dressin'

By Renée G.
@ReneeCooks

Every year since I can remember my mom's side of the family has always had a family reunion on the second Saturday of October. Growing up, all members of the family came back for this reunion - from all corners of the earth, it seemed. Cousins & friends I only got to see once a year were there.

Mama always made this chicken & dressing (with no particular recipe...it was just in her head, as many of her wonderful recipes were) along with a four layer coconut cake.

Mom now lives in a nursing home; I make chicken & dressing and my sister brings the coconut cake. My brother brings Mom.

Rating:

☆☆☆☆☆ 0 votes

Comments:

17 Comments

Serves:

A crowd!

Method:

Bake

Ingredients

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: 2 whole chickens cut into pieces
: 2 onions quartered
: 4 ribs celery
: 4 carrots
: 2 quarts water (more if needed to completely cover chicken & vegetables)
: chicken meat
: 4 – 6 cups chicken stock
: 11 cups crumbled cornbread
: 11 cups cubed and toasted white bread (or a mix of bread cubes, crackers or crumbled biscuits)
: 2 cups onion, chopped
: 1 cup celery, chopped
: ½ cup butter
: salt to taste
: ground black pepper to taste
: 4 eggs, beaten

How to Make Mama's Chicken n Dressin'

Step-by-Step

1Wash and rinse chicken pieces and place in pot large enough to accommodate chicken, celery stalks, onion, quartered carrots and a good amount of salt and enough water to cover. Cover; bring to boil; reduce to simmer and cook until the chicken is cooked through and beginning to fall away from the bones.
2Remove chicken to a platter to cool enough to be able to remove meat from bones. Strain all solids from chicken broth; reserving broth for preparing the dressing. Discard vegetables.
3MAKE THE DRESSING
4In a large cast iron skillet, sauté the onion and celery in the butter until soft.
5Add sautéed onion & celery, bread cubes and crumbled cornbread. Mix in 4 cups chicken stock, adding more if needed to make the consistency of cake batter. Fold in meat from stewed chicken being careful not to break up too small.
6Cover with foil and set in refrigerator overnight.
7Next day:
Add beaten eggs and mix thoroughly; pour into a lightly greased suitable baking pan. (Mom always made in two large baking pans, so I do, too buy now I use the aluminum disposable pans.)

Cover with foil and put it in a preheated 350º F oven and bake it until cooked and center is beginning to get firm.
8Remove foil and bake for 10 – 15 minutes more or until the top begins to crisp and brown around the edges. Remove from oven and allow to set to firm up for 15 – 20 minutes.