Like the full on honest truth? I really don’t like it. Well, wait, I LOVE this recipe (of course I would never share anything that I don’t just love), but stuffing in general? Yeah, I really don’t like. Typically I find stuffing to be kind of just a filler for the Thanksgiving table. For me, there are SO many other delicious things to eat, why would I want to eat soggy bread that’s HEAVY on the onions?? It’s just not really my thing, but I know so many people enjoy stuffing, and you guys, this year I really just wanted to be normal, I wanted to enjoy it too. I wanted to make a stuffing I would LOVE, and one that the family would love too (they are not really stuffing people either…although I think maybe Kai likes it. Typical, he likes the bland food.). SO. I decided a while ago that I was going to tackle stuffing this Thanksgiving. But not in the traditional way that I find so boring and too heavy on the onions for my taste. Nope, stuffing full of flavor and good, good things! A stuffing that in my mind is worthy enough to sit next to my turkey, my sweet taters and my roasted squash on the Thanksgiving table. YES.
In general, this stuffing is pretty basic: carrots, onions, garlic, celery, butter, bread, broth, eggs. I didn’t really do anything crazy, I just caramelized some butternut squash and mushrooms, added some of my favorite herbs, reduced the onions (by a lot, so add more if you like onion), added in a little balsamic vinegar with the mushrooms and also just a little Asiago cheese…you know, for good measure. Pretty simple stuff, but I added flavors and textures that I love, and in turn I can now say “I love stuffing”!! Goal for the month = met – Score!
SIDE NOTE: I am typing this on my computer. You guys all know how I have a cat now, right? He’s a cute little black cat and if you follow me on snapchat then you see a whole lot of him. Anyway, he is the weirdest cat ever, as I type he literally watches the words going left to right following along intently with his eyes. He does this ALL THE TIME. At first it was cute, but now it has gotten just plain annoying, cause I can’t see what I’m typing. So now when he gets to this point I move him away from my screen…then he goes to his spot…AKA my lap. He’s the best! SIDE NOTE 2: Asher just ran her loud mouth in here (literally), grabbed Snape (the cat) from my lap and went off, all the while going on about something. Then she came running back because she saw a spider. Now she will not shut it about the spider. I also can’t find the said spider… UGH. PS. She is also wearing a reindeer shirt today… Christmas is so coming. 🙂 SIDE NOTE 3: My house does seem to be infested with spiders at the moment and I have to say, it is totally grossing me out. I found FIVE spiders in a cup the other day. Eeww! Can spiders infest your house??? At our old house in Frisco there didn’t seem to be any bugs that could even live above 9000+ feet. We are at the same elevation here, so what’s up with the bug infestation, is it because there used to horses in here? SIDE NOTE 4: Asher is now playing gymnastic with her Elsa doll from Frozen, every time Elsa does a move, she sings “Let it Go”. HELP…
Ok, back to this Butternut Squash and Wild Mushroom Stuffing. I truly love this casserole. It’s moist, buttery and actually full of great flavors and textures. You can prepare it in advance too, which is obviously a bonus come Thanksgiving Day! Oh but question, are you a stuffing “in” the bird or “out” of the bird the person? I am totally an out of the bird stuffing person. Something about cooking it inside the bird weirds me out. Probably because the inside of the bird just weirds me out in general. Anyone else with me there?
Stuffing for the win!
