Posted October 29, 2014 by Lauren Turnbull
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Want to cook an amazing Thanksgiving dinner this year with a personal touch? Dressing up a traditional stuffing is a quick and easy way to make your meal memorable. Experiment with these unique ingredients and add your own!
Parmesan, blue cheese or even gruyere can add gooey goodness to a basic stuffing recipe. Fold the cheese into the stuffing before baking and then sprinkle some on top for a photo finish.
Apricots, cranberries and raisins are all perfect additions for a light vegetarian friendly stuffing. Dried fruits will give the stuffing a deep wintery flavor, while fresh fruits will make the stuffing moist and slightly sweeter.
Your favorite type of mushroom with aromatic spices will produce a simple but strong earthy flavor perfect for Thanksgiving dinner. Lightly sauté the mushrooms ahead of time to avoid a watery stuffing.
Walnuts, peanuts, macadamia nuts and almonds are perfect for a savory meat-free stuffing. Mixed nuts also complement other ingredients like fruits, cheeses and butternut squash.
Turkey day doesn’t have to end with turkey if you are a meat-eater. Chicken, lamb and pork sausage can add a hearty flavor to any basic stuffing recipe.
Seafood tastes great in any stuffing, although shellfish and mollusks including shrimp, clams and oysters are considered southern favorites in many coastal recipes.
Not a fan of bread stuffing? Try wild rice cooked with turkey broth for a light and easy side dish.
No need to worry about gluten free guests this Thanksgiving. Quinoa increases up to four times its size when cooked. It is a delicious alternative to a traditional stuffing and can be seasoned the same way.
Mix in any leftover squash or sweet potatoes to add a sweet taste to your stuffing mix. A little bit of cinnamon and sugar will help to bring out the squash’s complex flavors.
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Add a boozy flavor to plain stuffing by soaking the bread crumbs in your favorite beer before cooking. If cooked inside the turkey, boozy stuffing will help to keep the bird juicy and delicious.
