Apple Bacon Cranberry Cornbread Stuffing

Although a perfectly roasted turkey may be the focal point of next week's Thanksgiving feast, let us not forget about the supporting side dishes like traditional green bean casserole or creamy mashed potatoes and gravy that also grace our plate in perfect harmony. Thanksgiving is just not Thanksgiving without a nice serving of herbed stuffing to round out our plates and make our bellies happy with tryptophan joy. With thousands of stuffing recipes available on the internet, the one you decide to serve should boil down to personal taste and preference.  

Growing up my mom would make a basic but memorable onion and celery dressing that I loved even though she would make it the same way year after year. If you were to ask her what she thought of her recipe she would tell you it is very simple and not very good, but I beg to differ. The way I see it her recipes are really an extension of her, which is why I love eating her food. No one cooks like my mom. This year I'm going with a more elaborate recipe than in years past. These days people love to experiment in the kitchen and I know many people are in search of new recipes to add to their holiday table, even the stuffing.

Today I have a cornbread stuffing that is studded with different complimentary flavors and textures to make this year's stuffing a side dish to be remembered. Bacon, apples, cranberries, celery, onions, and mushrooms are key ingredients in elevating this dish from the standard variety. White bread is also used to add more structure to the cubed corn bread which falls apart easily when liquid is added to it. If you are up for a more adventurous stuffing, this is the one for you! Enjoy!