Sage Cornbread Dressing

The savory taste of sage makes this cornbread dressing recipe special and goes perfectly with holiday turkey or ham.
Prepare the cornbread according to the instructions on the package for making a double dish. Let cool for 30 minutes; crumble in a large bowl.Melt 1/3 cup butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat; add the chopped celery and onion and simmer for 10-12 minutes or until soft. Add the sage, pepper and salt. Combine the celery mixture and bread cubes with the crumbled cornbread in a bowl, stirring gently, until smooth. Add the chicken stock and eggs and mix gently until smooth. Spoon the mixture into a lightly greased 11-inch x 7-inch baking dish.Bake at 350 ° for 45-50 minutes or until golden brown. Decorate if desired.Note: For testing purposes only, we used the Martha White Cotton Country Corn bread mix. To prepare in advance, prepare according to the step-by-step recipe, cover with plastic wrap; cover with strong aluminum foil or a container lid. If desired, you can freeze the dressing without baking for 3 months. Defrost in the refrigerator for 24 hours. Let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees, 1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes, or until golden brown.Sausage dressing: Cook as directed in the instructions, step by step, without adding 1/3 cup butter. Cook 1 pack (16 oz) of pork sausage in a large skillet over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, for 10-12 minutes or until the meat is crumbled and no longer pink. Remove the cooked sausage from the pan with a slotted spoon and drain, leaving 2 teaspoons of water in the pan. Add the chopped celery and onion and simmer for 10-12 minutes or until the vegetables are tender; add the sage, pepper and salt. Add the cooked sausage. Follow the recipe as directed. If desired, follow the cooking instructions.Oyster Dressing: Prepare the recipe according to the instructions in Step 2 by adding fresh oysters from 1 container (12 oz), dried, to the cornbread mixture. Follow the recipe as directed, increasing the baking time to 50-55 minutes or until golden brown. If desired, follow the cooking instructions.