SOUTHERN CHICKEN AND DRESSING

Southern Chicken and Dressing image

Provided by Crissie Wright

Time 2h30m

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 whole chicken
3 celery stalks,
3 onions
1 cake of cornbread, baked
3 biscuits, baked
1 sleeve saltine crackers
6 eggs, beaten slightly
salt, pepper and sage to taste
1 stick butter or margarine, do not use a spread

Steps:

1. Cut 2 of the celery stalks into halves, and two of the onions into quarters. Wash the chicken, add to a stockpot with water, celery, onions, salt and pepper. Fill with water and cover chicken 1-2 inches. Cook until very tender, approximately 45 minutes to an hour.
2. Remove chicken from stockpot and set aside to cool. Strain chicken stock and set aside. Discard celery and onions. Take all chicken off the bone and cut or tear into bite sized pieces. Set chicken aside for later.
3. Crumble cornbread, biscuits and saltine crackers in large mixing bowl. Chop remaining onion and celery and add to bread mixture. Add salt, pepper and sage to taste. Work in a stick of softened butter. Add chicken stock until mixture is almost a "soupy" consistency. Taste at this point and make any adjustments you'd like. Stir in beaten eggs and mix well. Gently fold in chicken pieces. If you stir too much, the chicken will come apart and you won't have lovely, moist bites of chicken.
4. Butter a 9x13 baking dish or pan, or coat with butter flavor non stick cooking spray. Pour dressing into pan. Bake at 325 degrees until light golden brown. Allow to cool. This step is necessary in order for the dressing to "set up."