Celebrities, they’re just like us during the holidays! Many are staying home for smaller, more intimate Thanksgiving gatherings this year. In fact, Travelocity’s recent 2020 Holiday Travel Outlook found that just 1 in 4 Americans plans to travel to see friends and family this November (with about 80% planning road trips and small group gatherings close to home). Additionally, 1 in 5 say they will gather around the table virtually, and partake in other virtual holiday celebrations like cooking meals together.
Actor Sarah Michelle Gellar, best known for her roles in TV’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the popular Scooby-Doo movie franchise, is no different. That’s why Travelocity teamed up with the mom/celeb/producer/co-founder of baking brand Foodstirs to host a virtual Zoom cooking demo on November 24, 2020.
Gellar created two signature travel-themed Thanksgiving dishes during the live Zoom cooking demo, including her Holiday Safecation Stuffing Muffins and Southern Thanksgiving Cornbread Muffins. The cornbread muffins are a nod to the South and the many Thanksgivings her family has spent there, and both recipes are easy to pack and grab on-the-go. “Who wouldn’t want a savory muffin made from the big day’s stuffing?” says Gellar. “The best part? Making them in tins means there are more crispy edges.”
Throughout the live event, Gellar shared her favorite Thanksgiving travel memories and guided attendees step-by-step as she prepared both dishes.
“My Thanksgiving menu for Travelocity is inspired by planning a safe Thanksgiving with my family and making not only our family’s holiday classics, but also serving some dishes inspired by some of our past Thanksgiving guests,” says Gellar. “Since we can’t celebrate this year by traveling, we will bring the holiday travel to us and plan the best holiday ‘safecation’ with a dish we made to cater to some of our past Southern visitors. My Holiday Safecation Stuffing Muffins and Southern Thanksgiving Cornbread Muffins are perfect for all ages, and everyone can follow along – especially little ones who may be looking for something fun to do.”
For those who couldn’t join the live Zoom event on Tuesday, November 24, Travelocity is sharing Sarah’s recipe for Holiday Safecation Stuffing Muffins below. Travelocity is also sharing a Thanksgiving menu from the world’s wisest wanderer, the Roaming Gnome. Families can cook travel-inspired twists on classic Thanksgiving dishes, such as “I yam not home right now” and “baggage wrapped green beans.”
Photo courtesy of Sarah Michelle Gellar
Sarah Michelle Gellar’s Travelocity Thanksgiving Recipe for Holiday Safecation Stuffing Muffins
Yield: 12 Muffins
Ingredients:
5 cups ½ pieces day-old white bread
6 tablespoons (¾) stick unsalted butter, plus more for the muffin tin
1 ½ cups diced onions
¾ cup chopped celery
½ cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped
1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage
2 tablespoons fresh thyme
1 teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
1 ¼ cup chicken broth
1 large egg
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 250 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a 12-cup muffin tin with butter.
Place the bread pieces in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake for about 1 hour, until dried out. Let cool. Transfer the cooled bread to a large bowl. Raise the oven temperature to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
In a skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the onions and celery and cook until soft, about 8 minutes. Transfer to the bowl with the bread and a mix to combine.
Add the herbs, salt and pepper and toss to combine. Slowly add half the broth and toss in a separate bowl, combine the remaining broth and egg and whisk to blend. Add the egg mixture to the bread and seasoning and fold until incorporated.
Place an ice cream scoop full of the stuffing mixture into each cup of the prepared muffin tin. Cover the aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes, then uncover and bake for 10 to 15 minutes more, or until the tops are golden.
Travelocity Editors
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Awesome idea! Looking forward to being one of the lucky 1,000 people to watch Sara do her thing!
Sounds like a fun time!