Cranberry-Apple Herbed Stuffing

Cranberry-Apple Herbed Stuffing

1 large loaf French or other white bread
1 yellow Onion-diced
1 cup fresh flat leaf Parsley-Minced
2 ½ cups Celery-Chopped
2 large Garlic cloves-peeled (for stock)
2 fresh Garlic cloves-minced (for stuffing)
3-4 sprigs fresh Rosemary
1/8 cup fresh Sage-chopped
2-3 large sprigs Thyme
3 tablespoons Butter for sautéing veggies
3 tablespoons Butter for topping stuffing
1 quart Chicken or Vegetable stock
½ cup golden Raisins
1 red Apple-peeled & chopped into small pieces
1 cup dried Cranberries
¼ cup Olive Oil
1/8 cup green Peppercorns
Salt & Pepper to taste

Directions:

**Make ahead of time:
Cut French bread loaf (large) into large bite sized pieces. Toast at 275 degrees in oven after drizzling with olive oil. Remove once golden brown & crispy. Cool & store in large zip lock bags.

Chop all herbs. Place peppercorns, herbs, whole peeled garlic, cranberries and raisins into chicken stock over stop top & simmer on medium low heat for about 30 minutes. Season. Set aside.

Over medium-high heat, melt 3 tablespoons butter& 1/4 cup olive oil. Sauté onions and garlic until golden brown. Add parsley, celery, and apples. Cook until tender, season.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Butter a large, deep baking dish. In a large bowl, combine bread and veggies. Gradually add chicken stock, mixing well, until all ingredients and well combined, and bread is damp, but not soggy. Place into baking dish. Pour remaining stock over stuffing, and drizzle remaining melted butter over stuffing. Cover & bake for about 45 minutes.

Banana Bread

2 & ¼ cup flour

1 & ¼ teaspoon baking soda

1 & ¼ teaspoon baking powder

¼ teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon vanilla

½ bag crushed walnuts or pecans

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup white sugar

2 eggs

2 sticks real butter softened

6-7 ripe bananas

**Combine all dry ingredients into a medium bowl-set aside. In a large mixing bowl cream butter and sugar, then add eggs one at a time, beat. Mix all wet and dry ingredients together and blend in bananas.

Grease 2 large loaf pans. Bake at 350 degrees for approx. 25 minutes.

Baking for the Troops...with Duncan Hines & Foodbuzz

Being an Air Force wife, there are many opportunities for us to volunteer and help make a difference. Since being married to my husband and getting to know the military better, it has given me a renewed appreciation for what they do, and the sacrifices they make.

As part of a Foodbuzz Tastemakers program with Duncan Hines, we were provided an array of coupons to purchase free Duncan Hines products. We used some of the easy to use mixes, combined with a few other ingredients, to make a variety of different flavored breads. My daughter and I spent the day Sunday baking the breads, which will be mailed to soldiers stationed overseas and domestically, in an effort to brighten the holidays. This is especially nice for some of the enlisted soldiers who may not have the funds to go home for Thanksgiving this year. Many other military wives and families participate annually in these types of efforts. This is just a small way we can say thanks for what they all do each day to keep us safe and protected. They make a difference in our lives, and this is a small way we can make one in theirs.

We made Banana Bread, Lemon-Poppy Seed Pound Cake, Pumpkin-Spice bread, & Banana-Chocolate Chip bread!