Dressing and stuffing

[nighttowll]

lol. ON that note, I don't see where that boxed nastiness can make any type of decision on what that particular food is.

I totally agree. I can't stand the stuff. It's like a squishy sponge to me, but my dad loves it. It's his favorite, so he gets a box of it all to himself, and the rest of us enjoy the made from scratch cornbread dressing.

 

[pigletgirl]

But I will NEVER say "supper" over "dinner." Supper sounds "country."

And why is that a problem? I usually say supper and I'm not from the south. I don't understand why you said this.

On this note, we always say stuffing. Haven't thought it through much.

 

[Zandy595]

now.

But I will NEVER say "supper" over "dinner." Supper sounds "country."

I don't know what it is about the word "supper", but I won't say it either. When I hear someone else say it I cringe a little. Don't have a clue why.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Yep, I agree, Pigletgirl. Why is it even a discussion or issue???

There seems to be an almost angry vehemence from those who have a distaste for perfectly acceptable vocabulary words????

It's like if I say supper instead of dinner, or dressing (which is not just for salad) instead of stuffing, Them's fightin' words!

PS: stuffing IMHO could just as easily be associated with something completely inedible, such as the poly-fill inside a 'stuffed' animal or pillow. (J. R. Puffinstuff, anyone?)
And I have to wonder about how limited someones experience and vocabulary are if the only definition of dressing is something out of a plastic bottle from Kraft.

 

[nighttowll]

Does this whole thing remind anybody else of Amelia Bedila? Or is it just me?

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Are they the same thing? Or different? I never heard the term dressing until I moved south. Enlighten me please.

We use the same recipe and one is cooked in the turkey (stuffing) and one batch is in the pan (dressing).

That being said we use the term "stuffing" for both. We don't ever called it "dressing".

 

[Christine]

And why is that a problem? I usually say supper and I'm not from the south. I don't understand why you said this.

Only because we were discussing the regionality of stuffing vs. dressing and the south versus other areas. I've heard people say supper vs. dinner and they have been from various areas of the U.S. But anytime I hear someone say it, it has a real country/folksy sound to it rather than a southern sound to it. I sort of feel that way about stuffing versus dressing (and I use both terms). I find the term stuffing to seem more country, yet not necessarily southern. Hmm...probably not explaining myself well.

 

[Christine]

I don't know what it is about the word "supper", but I won't say it either. When I hear someone else say it I cringe a little. Don't have a clue why.

Exactly, it just grates on me for some reason. Dressing vs stuffing, not at all, though!

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

I'm from Texas. Personally, I'm a dressing girl. The difference is whether or not it is in the bird. If it is stuffed in the bird, it is stuffing. If it is on the side dressing up the bird, it is dressing. Now, I personally never stuff the bird. I see it in the same way I see barbecue sauce. The meat (a good brisket in barbecue, fowl/poultry when it comes to Thanksgiving) should have good enough flavor on its own that it doesn't need the addition (sauce for barbecue, stuffing for the bird). And I will never,I repeat NEVER, use Stovetop Stuffing. I have recently discovered, through the help of my MOPS group, that I am a Thanksgiving food snob. I don't do Stovetop Stuffing or cranberry sauce from a can. I make things from scratch. My dressing (again, because it dresses, not stuffs, the bird) is a cornbread dressing with poultry seasoning, chicken broth, onions, salt and pepper, celery, and a few other special ingredients. I don't put meat in my dressing, but others do. To each their own there.

 

[Wendy31]

I hate the term dressing. Dressing goes on a salad LOL. We've always called it stuffing regardless of whether it was made in a pan or stuffed in the bird. The Stovetop Stuffing makers seem to agree!

This is how I feel too!

THANK YOU. This.

Well, as a proud southern girl, stuffing is what is "stuffed" inside the turkey. If it's outside the turkey, it really can't be stuffing.

Although, as I mentioned previously, if it's a looser, more deconstructed type dish, I tend to go ahead & call it stuffing. However, that's not the type of dressing/stuffing that is typically served in the south w/ turkey.

Dressing, being that it's separate from the turkey, complements the turkey - hence, "dressing." The dish is the turkey's dressing.

We've used Stove Top stuffing as a side before - but only for a normal weeknight dinner. It's simply not special enough to be considered "dressing" for our Thanksgiving dinner.

(Unless you're my BIL who's from the North. He prefers Stove Top stuffing to anything else, so, on Thanksgiving, my mom makes him his own special Stove Top in addition to her wonderful cornbread dressing.)

Also, we tend to use "supper" & "dinner" interchangeably - unless it's something special like Thanksgiving dinner or Christmas dinner.

And I reckon, if some can be snooty about "supper" vs "dinner," I can be snooty about dressing!



Fun discussion!

 

[luvmy3]

I'm from Texas. Personally, I'm a dressing girl. The difference is whether or not it is in the bird. If it is stuffed in the bird, it is stuffing. If it is on the side dressing up the bird, it is dressing. Now, I personally never stuff the bird.

But the stuff is still the same, why does it need a different name because its not in the bird? (I ask all in good fun )

While we are on the subject of names, why is the gelatinous blob that comes out of the can in the shape of the can, called cranberry sauce? That is no sauce...........

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

But the stuff is still the same, why does it need a different name because its not in the bird? (I ask all in good fun )

While we are on the subject of names, why is the gelatinous blob that comes out of the can in the shape of the can, called cranberry sauce? That is no sauce...........

Cranberry sauce is what got me labeled as a Thanksgiving Food Snob! We were planning our Christmas party and they were talking about bringing "cranberry sauce" that comes out of the can and has that shape to it. I told them that was not cranberry sauce and we could not actually serve it. Lo and behold, I am now responsible for the sauce.


As for why it needs a different name, well, that's because "stuff" and "dress" are verbs. They are action words. Thy must, simply by definition, fulfill their role. If it stuffs nothing, it cannot be stuffing. If it dresses nothing, it cannot be dressing. Is there no respect for our English language anymore? (I also say in all good fun)

 

[luvmy3]

Cranberry sauce is what got me labeled a a Thanksgiving Food Snob! We were planning our Christmas party and they were talking about bringing "cranberry sauce" that comes out of the can and has that shape to it. I told the that was not cranberry sauce and we could not actually serve it. Lo and behold, I am now responsible for the sauce.


As for why it needs a different name, well, that's because "stuff" and "dress" are verbs. They are action words. Thy must, simply by definition, fulfill their role. If it stuffs nothing, it cannot be stuffing. If it dresses nothing, it cannot be dressing. Is there no respect for our English language anymore? (I also say in all good fun)

 

[Minnesota!]

I only use the term 'stuffing' -- whether it is cooked inside a turkey or on its own.

I live on the west coast (WA) but lived on the east coast (VA) until I was 8. We always called it stuffing.

I won't eat stuffing if it's actually cooked inside the turkey. Too much risk, and yes, just greasy and bleh.

I loooooove stuffing. I grew up with my mom adding minced giblets, minced mushrooms, and I think a very tiny amount of minced celery. Yummy! I really like it with the giblets (same with giblet gravy). I haven't tried adding the giblets when I cook a Thanksgiving meal, though. I'm scared I'll ruin it.

I have never had my stuffing - from in the turkey - come out greasy?

I"ve grew up using the term "dressing." My grandmother was from Massachusetts and our whole family said "dressing." We don't have a stitch of "southern" in us. Her "dressing" was made with crackers and giblets and had a very wet and dense texture to it. Based on that, I assumed that "stuffing" was more "bread like". But I'm sure I'm wrong.

I've been living in VA for 20 years and it seems I've switched to using the term "stuffing" because most people around me say that so it's just a habit for me now.

But I will NEVER say "supper" over "dinner." Supper sounds "country."

I HAAAATE the word supper. It's one of those words on my list of "these words hurt my ears". It is VERY country to me. My BFF grew up in "the city" with me...always called dinner. She moved to a teeny tiny town and now calls it supper b/c of her farmer inlaws. I get on her every time about it, lol!

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

Well, as long as we are going to chase the "supper vs dinner" rabbit down that rabbit hole, why the hades to people use "country" as a derogatory term? Why yes, I do use the word "supper". So do many Brits, for that manner. Supper is the last meal of the day. Lunch is the meal you eat in the middle of the day. Dinner is the largest meal of the day. That can be at night or during the daytime. What makes it "country"? And what makes "country" a bad thing?

 

[Wendy31]

Well, as long as we are going to chase the "supper vs dinner" rabbit down that rabbit hole, why the hades to people use "country" as a derogatory term? Why yes, I do use the word "supper". So do many Brits, for that manner. Supper is the last meal of the day. Lunch is the meal you eat in the middle of the day. Dinner is the largest meal of the day. That can be at night or during the daytime. What makes it "country"? And what makes "country" a bad thing?

I'm wondering the same thing!

To me, dinner is an event - Sunday Dinner, Thanksgiving Dinner, Christmas Dinner, "Let's meet for dinner," "Let's go out for dinner," etc.

Supper is just your typical weeknight 3rd meal of the day - Breakfast, Lunch, & Supper.

I use supper/dinner interchangeably but probably do use supper a bit more than dinner.

So did my parents - but, then, my mom's from northern Alabama, & my dad's from northern Georgia, so I guess maybe I've got country roots?

 

[Christine]

Well, as long as we are going to chase the "supper vs dinner" rabbit down that rabbit hole, why the hades to people use "country" as a derogatory term? Why yes, I do use the word "supper". So do many Brits, for that manner. Supper is the last meal of the day. Lunch is the meal you eat in the middle of the day. Dinner is the largest meal of the day. That can be at night or during the daytime. What makes it "country"? And what makes "country" a bad thing?

Did anyone say it was a bad thing? I guess because I said that is one term I wouldn't use interchangeably (like I do stuffing and dressing) that I'm somehow slamming people. Yes, I used the term "country" to make the distinction that it wasn't "southern." There is a difference. I was raised in Maryland and we have people from more urban areas and we have very rural, country areas. Neither is better than the other. I just noticed, in my travels, that the people that use the term supper are from more country/rural areas. A friend of mine from upstate New York (a very rural part) uses it. My SIL, who grew up saying "dinner" but has lived in a VERY small town in Massachusetts for 30 years now says supper.

My British grandma never said supper.

So, I am sorry if my note on supper versus dinner offended all that say supper. It is just one of those terms that niggles at me for some reason and I dislike the sound of it. I don't think less of people who use it and, in fact, hold many of them dearly. Again, I want to iterate that I use stuffing/dressing interchangeably even though I was raised on dressing. I don't think one is right/wrong or superior. I did hear once that stuffing used to be the original term but during Victorian times in England the upper crust of society thought stuffing was inferior and they chose the use of dressing to make themselves sound better, or so they thought.

 

[mhsjax]

Well, as long as we are going to chase the "supper vs dinner" rabbit down that rabbit hole, why the hades to people use "country" as a derogatory term? Why yes, I do use the word "supper". So do many Brits, for that manner. Supper is the last meal of the day. Lunch is the meal you eat in the middle of the day. Dinner is the largest meal of the day. That can be at night or during the daytime. What makes it "country"? And what makes "country" a bad thing?

Thank you.

 

[Mousemom234]

Born and raised in New England, still live there.

Stuffing: is 'stuffed' into the bird (or roast, or veggie)
Dressing: is cooked separately - it 'dresses up' the meal (can be same as stuffing, but onlywhat wouldn't fit in the space) At least that's how the difference was explained to me

No giblets - those are the cats holiday treats

Dinner is formal - used mostly for the big (noonish) meal on Sunday and holidays, but also used as in 'dinnertime'
Supper is casual - used most of the time to refer to the meal itself "what's for supper?" Never used for a daytime meal - always the evening meal, and moreso when it's a soup & sandwich type meal, rather than a plated meat, starch & veggie one.

Cranberry 'sauce': agreed, it ought to be called 'jelly', and that's exactly what it was called in our house when I was growing up.
But, it does make a very nice sauce, when it's melted down, and some frozen orange juice concentrate, a splash of white wind and about a Tbsp of minced candied ginger bits is mixed in
I serve 'jelly' for DH, and make either a cranberry-orange relish or a cranberry chutney for all of us.

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

Did anyone say it was a bad thing? I guess because I said that is one term I wouldn't use interchangeably (like I do stuffing and dressing) that I'm somehow slamming people. Yes, I used the term "country" to make the distinction that it wasn't "southern." There is a difference. I was raised in Maryland and we have people from more urban areas and we have very rural, country areas. Neither is better than the other. I just noticed, in my travels, that the people that use the term supper are from more country/rural areas. A friend of mine from upstate New York (a very rural part) uses it. My SIL, who grew up saying "dinner" but has lived in a VERY small town in Massachusetts for 30 years now says supper.

My British grandma never said supper.

So, I am sorry if my note on supper versus dinner offended all that say supper. It is just one of those terms that niggles at me for some reason and I dislike the sound of it. I don't think less of people who use it and, in fact, hold many of them dearly. Again, I want to iterate that I use stuffing/dressing interchangeably even though I was raised on dressing. I don't think one is right/wrong or superior. I did hear once that stuffing used to be the original term but during Victorian times in England the upper crust of society thought stuffing was inferior and they chose the use of dressing to make themselves sound better, or so they thought.

I'm not sure which post was yours so there is a good chance I wasn't referring to you. I am more commenting on people saying that they cringe when they hear the word because it is "country" or people who call their friends out when they say it because they were raised in the city and that the word is "country". To me, saying that you cringe when you hear a word is not exactly a good thing. Then, citing that you cringe because it is "country" tells me that you cringe because "country" speak is a bad thing.