Cornbread

Source https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1018382-southern-cornbread-dressing Notes The cornbread must be diced and dried before using. Be sure to prepare cornbread at least one day in advance. Equipment 8-by-11-inch baking dish Preheat Oven Preheat oven to 450°F. Ingredients One recipe cornbread 3 cups soft white bread, crust removed and torn or cut into 1-inch pieces (do not pack) ½ cup butter (1 stick), plus more for the pan 2 cups chopped sweet onions 1 ½ cups chopped celery (4 or 5 stalks) 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt 2 eggs 1 ¼ tablespoons finely chopped fresh sage 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper 4 to 5 cups rich chicken, turkey, or vegetable stock Preparation Dry Cornbread After baking and cooling cornbread, dice into ½" cubes. Spread cornbread cubes in a single layer on a lined baking sheet. Leave to dry several days, or leave overnight in an oven at about 150°F. Combine Breads Heat oven to 350°F. Combine cornbread and white bread in a large bowl, tossing to mix, and breaking cornbread into smaller pieces. Vegetables Melt butter in a large skillet. Add onions, celery and ½ teaspoon salt. Sauté until vegetables have softened, about 6 minutes. Add vegetables to bread mixture and combine. Final Steps Lightly beat eggs and add to bowl. Sprinkle in herbs Add remaining 1 teaspoon salt and the pepper and toss together. Add 4 cups broth and stir well. Using your hands, work the mixture to get a very lumpy, thick, batter-like consistency. Add another cup of stock if needed. The mixture should be very wet and pourable but without standing liquid. Bake Butter an 8-by-11-inch baking dish. Pour the mixture into the baking dish and bake until dressing puffs slightly and has browned well around the edges, about 45 minutes to 1 hour. If you have drippings from a roasted turkey, spoon some over the top about 30 minutes into the baking time.