Thanksgiving poll

Since Thanksgiving is coming for those of us in the U.S., I was wondering how many of you stuff your turkey before cooking. I'm in charge of the bird this year, so I'm curious to see what you all think is the best method.

I always stuff the turkey. But I never buy the ones that have been stuffed at the store - I think it is dangerous to leave the stuffing in that long!!

Also, it's not as good as my mom's, and she shared her recipe with me!

Stuffing is the best part of Thanksgiving!!!

I do stuff the turkey , but I don't like to eat it . My hubby and son like it .I used last year Cranberry stuffing (ready-mix) in my turkey last year . I have to say it was pretty good and even I like it and ate some

Shouldn't Thanksgiving be called gluttony day? True, some of us Americans due give thanks for all we have on the last thursday in November but I belive more just like the holiday for the fact that we are 'allowed' to stuff ourselves like gluttens. We are expected to eat enormous amounts.
I am thankful everyday for what I have;I don't need a 'special' day to remind me of how lucky I am and how unlucky many of the countries are in this world.

nope because neither me,hubby or the kids like it
very much

Yes, despite the warnings that stuffed turkeys are dangerous, I stuff the bird every year. I've never known anyone who has gotten sick from my stufffing, nor my mother's, nor my grandmothers.......and we've been preparing the bird the same way for over 50 years!

mmmmmmmmmmmm.......stuffing is the best part. I can forego the turkey but can't live without the stuffing. Stuffing is only good when it has turkey juice in it, so if I have to cook it separately, I'll baste it with the turkey juices.

I use a bread stuffing and make it from scratch: bread, onion/celery/mushrooms sauted in butter, seasonings, fresh sage, eggs, chicken broth. I plant fresh sage each year just to use it in the turkey.

This thread has made me hungry!

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday...what a wonderful concept, taking a day to give thanks for one's family and friends, and for one's country. I love my memories of being a kid and gathering at my grandmother's farm, it was a grand time for cousins to get up to mischief

I do stuff my turkey, and use my grandmother's simple recipe.

Stuff it!! It gives it more flavor!!

Originally posted by Momofmany

I use a bread stuffing and make it from scratch: bread, onion/celery/mushrooms sauted in butter, seasonings, fresh sage, eggs, chicken broth. I plant fresh sage each year just to use it in the turkey.

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That sounds a lot like my mom's, but she also adds a grated carrot or two to hers, and swears that's the secret. Oops, I guess not a secret anymore!!

Of course the stuffing goes in the turkey here!! And as long as you stuff the turkey immediately before putting it in the oven and cook it through thoroughly it's not dangerous. Yum I know a lot of people who don't like stuffing though so more for me!! I'm not a huge fan of some other thanksgiving stuff (cranberry sauce, turkey) so it works out well.

I'm not a fan of baked sweet potatoes with the fluff topping. You can keep that out of the meal if you ask me.

I've stuffed turkeys before, but I read that they stay moister if they are unstuffed. I would still make stuffing, just in a pan. I don't think I heard that stuffing in the turkey can be dangerous.

I'm trying to decide between my mom's recipe, which sounds similar to momofmany's, or a cornbread one I have.

Originally posted by annabelle33
And as long as you stuff the turkey immediately before putting it in the oven and cook it through thoroughly it's not dangerous.

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That's what I heard, too. But I have seen birds stuffed at the grocery store DAYS before Thanksgiving, and I would never eat one of those.

My SIL made some WONDERFUL stuffing one year - I forgot about this for the TCS cookbook. I would have never thought of adding sausage to stuffing. My mom's sage stuffing is wonderful, but this is a close second:

1/2 lb. bulk Italian Sausage
1/4 c. Butter
1/2 lb. Fresh Mushroom sliced
3/4 c. chopped celery
1 med. onion, chopped
1 tsp. Poultry seasoning
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
6 c. Unseasoned stuffing croutons or dry bread cubes
2 1/2 to 3 c. chicken broth

In a large skillet, brown sausage; drain. Add butter, mushrooms, celery and onion; saute 2-3 minutes or until onion is tender. Stir in poultry seasoning, salt & pepper. Transfer to large bowl; add croutons and enough broth to moisten. Place in a greased 2 quart baking dish. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake 10 minutes. (serves 8).

MMMMM...You guys are making me hungry!
I love stuffing, I think it's the best part of Thanksgiving.

Suzy - you're recipe is close to mine without the sausage. My ex husband insisted on putting pork sausage in it and, well, since he is my ex, I don't do it like that anymore. I use more bread and also season with sage and marjoram. If you add an egg it holds together better. Ever try it with apples or raisins? That adds a very gentle sweet taste to the stuffing!

I have the power over the cookbook right now - I can add this if you wish.

I've been eating stuffed turkey (and chicken) all my life and have never gotten sick from it, but always stuff right before cooking.

I don't cook, but I like it better when you stuff the turkey first. It takes better.

Originally posted by Momofmany

I have the power over the cookbook right now - I can add this if you wish.

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You can add it in if you like - I only had it the one time, but it was really good.

None of the options applies to me! I do cook and don't put the stuffing in the Turkey. It's not because of taste though. It's more because it is healthier. Stuffing inside a turkey tends to grow bacteria very fast which can cause health problems. Even if you take the stuffing out right away, there inevitably is some left inside the cavity and bacteria grows fast. It isn't as dangerous if you eat all turkey leftovers within a couple of days though.