Kid-Helper Herby Bread Stuffing

What you need

• Bread or English muffins, 8 slices, day-old
• Dried sage, 1/2 spoon
• Dried thyme, 1/2 spoon
• Salt, 1/2 spoon
• Soft veggies (peppers, cucumber), 1 onion, chopped
• Soft veggies (peppers, cucumber), 2 stalks celery, chopped
• Butter, about 4 tablespoons
• Warm broth, 1 1/2 cups
• Big bowl, 1
• Big spoon, 1
• Greased baking dish, 1
• Pan, 1

How to do it

Grown-up prep: Gather the bread, herbs, broth and veggies, grease the baking dish, and chop the onion and celery with a sharp knife before the kids join in.

1. Rip the bread into small cubes and drop them in the big bowl.
2. A grown-up preheats the oven to 375°F. A grown-up does this
3. Sniff each dried herb and guess which smells most like Thanksgiving.
   Ask: Which herb smells the most like a holiday dinner to you, and why?
4. Sprinkle the sage, thyme and salt all over the bread.
5. A grown-up heats the pan over medium heat and cooks the veggies in butter. A grown-up does this
6. A grown-up pours the soft buttery veggies over the bread. A grown-up does this
7. Pour in the warm broth a little at a time while you stir.
   Ask: What do you think will happen to the dry bread when the broth touches it?
8. Spoon the stuffing into the greased dish and spread it flat.
9. Bake at 375°F for 30 to 35 minutes, until golden and crisp on top. A grown-up does this
10. Serve your stuffing to the family! What herb will you try next time?
    Ask: Which part do you like best, the crunchy top or the soft middle?

Play it again

• Herb detective: blindfold a helper and have them guess each herb by smell alone.
• Mix-in mission: add one surprise like dried cranberries or chopped apple and see who notices.
• Crunch test: bake two small dishes, one with a flat top and one bumpy, and vote on the crispiest.