Holiday Cooking with Four Winds Casinos: Bacon Apple Walnut Dressing

It’s the time of year when holiday cooking is in full swing. From turkey and ham to homemade cookies and treats, this time of year is one of our favorite times at Four Winds Casinos. Our team brings a staple side dish of sweet and savory perfectly paired with the main dish! Bacon Apple Walnut Dressing will be gone in a flash and have you ready for another excuse to make this recipe.

Ingredients

• 8 Cups Pretzel Bread, Diced into ¼” pieces
• 1 Pound Bacon, Diced into large pieces
• 2 Cloves              Minced Garlic
• ½ Cup                   Diced Celery
• ½ Cup Diced Carrot
• 1 Cup Diced Onion
• 1 Cup Diced Apples
• ½ Cup Chopped Walnuts
• 2 Tablespoons Brown sugar
• ½ Tablespoon Rubbed Sage
• 3 Eggs (beaten)
• 3 Cups Apple Juice
• ½ Tablespoon Black Pepper
• 1 tablespoon Kosher Salt

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 250˚.
2. Place the diced pretzel bread on a sheet tray and place in the oven for 10 to 15 minutes to dry out the bread, paying attention not to brown it. Once the bread is dried out, remove it from the oven and turn the heat up to 350˚.
3. Place the bacon into a heavy bottom sauté pan, and place on stove top over medium-high heat. Render the bacon fat for 15 to 20 minutes, being careful not to crisp the bacon.  Once the fat has rendered, remove and reserve the bacon.
4. Return the sauté pan to the stove and turn the heat to high. Add the garlic and stir with a heat-resistant spoon for approximately one minute.
5. Add celery, carrot, and onion sauté for three to four minutes.
6. Add the apples and walnuts and sauté for an additional three minutes. Then add the brown sugar, sage, and reserved bacon. Remove the mixture from the heat and place in a large bowl to cool.
7. Once the mixture has cooled, stir in the dried pretzel bread.
8. Add apple juice and beaten eggs.
9. Mix everything together with a spoon to help the bread adsorb the juice and finish with salt and pepper.
10. Spray a baking pan with nonstick vegetable spray and place the dressing mixture into the pan.
11. Cover with foil and bake at 350˚ for 20 to 25 minutes, then remove foil and continue to cook for 10 to 12 minutes to color the top.

We hope you’ll try this amazing, one-of-a-kind recipe and share it with your family. When you don’t feel like cooking or just want to treat yourself, join us at one of our delicious venues: Copper Rock Steakhouse, Kankakee Grille, The Buffet, Timbers, or Edgewater Café. We hope you have a great holiday!