HAZEL SMITH'S CHICKEN DRESSING CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Place whole chicken in deep pot. Add water to cover. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer and cook until 'fork tender', about 2 1/2 hours.
• Hold chicken in broth until completely cooled. Remove chicken from broth, reserving broth. Remove meat from bones and chop, discarding skin. Set aside.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a large bowl, crumble cornbread and toast (or biscuits). Add chopped hard-boiled eggs to mixture.
• In a large skillet, saute onions and celery in butter until translucent. Add to bread mixture.
• In a separate small bowl, combine beaten eggs, dried sage, salt, pepper, and vinegar. Stir into bread mixture.
• Add enough chicken broth to create a moist consistency.
• Grease a 9 1/2-inch by 13-inch glass baking dish with butter. Evenly spread 1 cup dressing mixture in the bottom of the dish. Add a layer of chicken. Top with remainder of dressing. Bake until browned and bubbly, about 40 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool for 10 minutes.
• Place a portion of the chicken dressing casserole on each plate. Ladle the Giblet Gravy over the dressing. Serve with chutney, hot mashed potatoes and green beans.
• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
• Heat a cast iron skillet in the oven with 1/3 cup shortening to melt. When shortening is melted, remove skillet from oven.
• Combine cornmeal and buttermilk in a medium bowl. Add melted shortening to batter, stirring quickly. Pour batter into hot pan. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes.
• Let cool and then crumble.
• Boil liver, gizzards, and heart in a large pot of simmering water for 40 to 50 minutes or until tender. Drain, chop, and reserve giblets.
• Melt shortening in a frying pan over medium heat. Add flour, stirring until light brown, about the color of peanut butter, about 5 minutes. Add chicken broth and stir. Add salt and pepper to taste. Add giblets and boiled eggs and stir to combine. Serve immediately or keep warm.
• Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl. Chill until ready to serve.