Fireworks!

Fireworks!
Local Shows

°

Homepage / Food
Text Size

Stuff This: Birds Of A Different Feather

For John Wellen, Thanksgiving became pretty much the perfect holiday a few years back.

That's when he discovered he didn't have to stop eating those small square hamburgers known affectionately as "sliders" served at White Castle restaurants just because he was having turkey at his parents' house.

And he started making his special turkey stuffing. Slider stuffing.

"It's excellent," said Wellen, 28, of Forest Park, a suburb of Chicago. "We were amazed how much we liked it and we've been making it ever since."

Wellen is part of a small but devoted army of White Castle aficionados who love the burgers so much they make the trip the day before Thanksgiving or that morning, order a sack of sliders -- without pickles, of course -- and turn them into an integral part of their Thanksgiving celebration.

"You get a couple of extra so you can eat them," advised Wellen, who as a systems engineer knows something about problem solving.

The stuffing is, not surprisingly, the brainchild of a White Castle employee.

Eleven years ago, Kim Bartley crafted the recipe by using her grandmother's stuffing as a starting point, but subbing the burgers for the sausage her grandmother used. For every pound of turkey, she used one slider -- a name the company has trademarked, although it spells it "Slyder."

Want to try it yourself? Here, straight from the White Castle Web site, is your recipe:

(Oh, and for those of you, like me, marooned in cities without a White Castle, the Slyders sold in the freezer case of your local grocer are quite tasty and usable here.)


10 White Castle hamburgers, no pickles
1 ½ cups celery, diced
1 ¼ tsp. ground thyme
1 ½ tsp. ground sage
½ tsp. coarsely ground black pepper
¼ c. chicken broth

In a large mixing bowl, tear the burgers into pieces and add diced celery and seasonings. Toss and add chicken broth. Toss well. Stuff cavity of turkey just before roasting. Makes about 9 cups (enough for a 10- to 12-pound turkey). Note: Allow 1 hamburger for each pound of turkey, which will be the equivalent of ¾ cup of stuffing per pound.

Of course, "exotic" stuffings are nothing new. That gaping hole in a dressed turkey has invited all manner of culinary inventiveness over the centuries.

Ever had fruit in your stuffing? There are recipes out there for everything from fairly rational fruits like raisins and currants all the way up to full-bore oddity like mango and durian.

Stuffing meat with more meat is popular, especially down South. There are all manner of sausage stuffings, oyster dressings and the like. Turducken fans will no doubt be familiar with the Cajun jambalaya stuffings very popular in those creations. You haven't lived, according to many Cajuns, until you've had a turducken stuffed to the gills with spicy shrimp jambalaya.

Also in the Cajun vein, although not done by Cajun method, is Blackened Turkey. While you may not want to follow the recipe, it's worth a read.

Perhaps the oddest, though, are certain recipes calling for UNPOPPED popcorn to be used, in fairly good quantities, as part of the stuffing. There are dozens of different versions, but they all end with the turkey's hindquarters being blown off by exploding popcorn to indicate the bird being done.

Allow me to be a food nerd for just a moment and point out that, if the stuffing reaches the proper temperature to cause the popcorn to pop, the bird will be a carbonized hulk, probably immune to explosion, fire or blunt instrument.

Got a weird or unusual stuffing recipe? Drop us a line..

Sponsored Links

Links We Like

Sponsored Content
You should feel safe and secure in your house, but ignoring hidden dangers could risk your family's safety. Learn on how to prevent accidents in the home. More

Find out what a sputtering economy and an increasingly difficult to crack job market means to you. More

Make your dreams of a college education come true and take advantage of over 4 million tuition-free scholarships available to real people just like you! More

Looking for a qualified service professional to help you with your next project? Follow these ten steps and get the job done right. More

Most Popular

Marketplace

  • JobsClick to Expand

    • Interview Take-Along Checklist

      You’re interviewing for a job tomorrow, and you think you’re prepared. We’ve created this handy checklist so you won’t forget a thing.

    • Select The Right Career Path

      Whether you're a college student preparing for graduation or an established professional unsure about a midlife change, deciding upon a career can be difficult.

    • Avoid These 7 Cover Letter Mistakes

      While some employers don't bother reading cover letters, most do. And they will quickly eliminate you if you make these mistakes.

    • Job Termination & Your Resume

      No matter how you left, you need to present the best accomplishments you made at the job to prospective employers.

  • WomenClick to Expand

    • Healthy Living In Your 40s

      Your guide to looking and feeling your best.

    • Manage Stress, Find Balance

      The idea of living a balanced life may seem like an oxymoron. Yet working toward balance and self-care is key to feeling in control and more joyful at home and work.

    • Weight & Exercise: The Right Mix

      Being healthy is related to how well you take care of yourself. But it’s never too late! A woman can learn new, healthy habits at any age.

  • InsuranceClick to Expand

    • Auto Insurance Quotes

      Simply enter your zip code and get great deals on your car insurance from the top companies. Click here and start saving today!

    • Health Insurance Quotes

      No matter where you live, you shouldn’t have to pay too much for health insurance. Your zip code is all you need and we’ll do the rest to find you great insurance rates.

    • Home Insurance Quotes

      Your home is your most valuable asset. So make sure you have coverage that fits your needs and doesn’t break the bank.

    • Life Insurance Quotes

      What would happen to your family if you were suddenly gone? Don’t leave their future to chance and find top quality life insurance before it’s too late.

    • Business Insurance Quotes

      Don’t take chances when it comes to insuring your business. To get the best rates from top companies in your area just enter your zip code.

  • BudgetingClick to Expand

  • Your LifeClick to Expand

Question Of The Day

What are your plans for the fourth of July holiday weekend?