Our neighbors are coming over tomorrow and they had some requests (lol, but whatever. If you are picky let me know beforehand). Luckily the big deal to them was dressing - not in the bird and no extras, like apples, grapes etc. It just so happens that I completely agree with most of this (although I will eat stuffing from the bird - I know that others are skeeved out by it so I don't subject my guests to eating it). I think that dressing is the best side, nearly tied with mashed potatoes and gravy. If I could, I would eat those three meals a day for the rest of the week.
I just finished making my gravy base, my herbed butter, prepped the brussels sprouts gratin, made the cranberry relish, and just need to make the dressing. I'm stressing a bit on that. Last year I used the crock pot and while it tasted great, it was crunchy on the sides and bottom of the crock. So I am debating on just baking it after the turkey comes out or lining the crock with foil. Anyone want to offer an opinion?