Save Money on Thanksgiving Turkey Stuffing with This Easy Recipe

Cooking for Thanksgiving this year? Don't waste your money on pre-mixed thanksgiving stuffing in a box. You can make your own stuffing quickly and easily, and I guarantee it will taste a million times better than the boxed kind. Whether you're cooking for Thanksgiving or Christmas, this recipe is a guaranteed hit.

Ingredients:

1 stick butter (real butter, please!)

1 medium onion

4 stalks celery

1 large loaf of hearty bread (or the equivalent - see note below)

1 cup broth (chicken or vegetarian, your call)

Dried sage and thyme

Salt and pepper

Note: The most economical way of making stuffing is to save bread over the course of a month or so. Slightly stale bread that you wouldn't want to use for sandwiches can be thrown into the freezer until you are making your stuffing. You can use any kind of bread, but I really like whole grain breads because they don't get soggy as white bread tends to do. Thaw the frozen bread for an hour or so before you start. It won't matter if it's still a little frozen when you start, but you need to be able to cut it into cubes.

Note, part two: I never measure when I cook, unless I am baking, which requires more precision. The measurements are primarily for people who simply must have the measurements. Otherwise, guessimate accordingly.

Lightly grease a 9-inch round baking dish or similar cooking container. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Next, cut your bread into 1-inch or so cubes. These don't have to be perfect, and it's fine to just tear the bread. Aim for bite-sized chunks. You'll need enough to fill your baking container plus about three cups extra, but put them in a large bowl for mixing for now.

To start, sauté the diced onion and thinly chopped celery in a few tablespoons of butter. The health conscious can use less butter, but don't emit it entirely unless you want to completely change the taste. When the onion is translucent, you are ready for the next step.

Add approximately 1 tablespoon of sage and thyme to the onion mix and stir. Pour the mixture over the bread and stir well. Add more seasonings to taste. Dust with salt and pepper and stir again. My sister, who makes the best stuffing ever, says to add more seasonings (sage and thyme) than you think you need, then add a little bit more. Trust her, she's a great cook.
Press the mixture into your baking pan. Fill the pan as full as you can stuff it. Chop the rest of the butter into small chunks to dot the top of the bread mixture. Pour the broth over the mixture, and place in the oven for 1 hour until it's smelling all stuffing-y and getting lightly browned on the edges. Enjoy!