Cornbread Stuffing in the Slow Cooker

©2008 Jessica Harlan licensed to About.com, Inc.

My mother is lucky enough to have two full-sized ovens in her kitchen, so preparing Thanksgiving dinner is no problem. The turkey roasts in one oven, while the other is used for all the side dishes. The rest of us aren't so lucky, and the holiday involves a complicated cooking schedule or a degree in mathmatics to determine how to fit several large pans and dishes into one tiny box (god forbid if things need to cook at different temperature!). One solution is to use your slow cooker to make some of the side dishes. Cornbread stuffing, in particular, is an ideal candidate for slow-cooker cooking, because it's such a forgiving dish. Just make sure it's moist enough, and check it occasionally to ensure the edges aren't burning, and it'll stay piping hot until you're ready for it. If you've also been cursed with limited counter space, you can even consider plugging in the slow cooker in another part of the house. There's no reason why your stuffing can't be cooking in the laundry room, den, or even your bedroom. Make my recipe for Crockpot Cornbread Stuffing and free up your oven for the more important business of roasting that turkey.

Virtual Cookie Exchange- Elaine Lemm, our guide to British food says “This irresistible Scottish Shortbread is traditionally eaten on New Years Eve, but is so good you can really eat it anytime.”