Thanksgiving Sides. Stuffing No. 1.
Editor’s Note: We are just 12 days ahead of Thanksgiving! Each year, we publish family favorite recipes submitted by our Contributors. All the recipes are tried and true! This year, we are starting with the TG recipes which our readers have already been accessing for the past few weeks. Here is Thanksgiving 2025, Hummingbird Recipe #1. It’s definitely a keeper!! All of the Hummingbird Thanksgiving recipes are for TG dinner “sides,” as we are taking the leap of faith that most of our readers know how, or have access to specific directions for roasting a turkey!
Nanny’s Special Stuffing
This stuffing remains my family’s favorite… forever. Forever as in multi-generationally! The recipe is adapted from one given to me by my aunt, when I made my first Thanksgiving Dinner at the ripe old age of 14. Thank you Nanny!
1 medium onion chopped
3 stalks of celery chopped
3-4 medium size granny smith apples, peeled, and cut into small pieces
1 loaf of oatmeal bread cut into cubes
4-6 tbs. butter
salt and pepper to taste
Melt half the butter in a large sauté pan; add onion and celery and cook until onion becomes translucent; add apples and cook for approximately 5 minutes
Add balance of butter and after melted, add bread cubes. With the heat still on, mix; add salt and pepper and mix again.
Cool sufficiently to handle and then stuff the turkey.
Stuffing for a 15 lb. turkey
Notes: You can really play with this basic recipe. I have tried several different types of bread, and the oatmeal bread seems to taste the best, taking on the flavor of the onions, apples and turkey. Any apple that won't get mushy is good too. Also, you can add herbs. One thing that I always do when I am cleaning the turkey is to salt the cavity, and after about 10-15 minutes rinse it thoroughly OR rub the cavity with lemon juice (cut a lemon in half and use each side), and then after a few minutes pat it dry. I find that either of these two methods provide a very “clean/fresh” base for the stuffing. And of course, stuff the turkey just prior to roasting, not ahead of time.
