Mike Eagan: Chef Mike E's Recipies

I've been gettin a lot of requests for my Original Oyster Rockefeller Dressing recipe. This a dish I developed many years ago because I love oysters rock, and I love Thanksgiving!

so here ya go:

           Mike E's Oyster Rockefeller Stuffing                                    email:      mikeythechef2@aol.com

   ingredients for ten servings:
     1 pkg 16oz Pepperidge Farm herb seasoned regular dressing
     1 sleeve saltine crackers (crumbled)
     1/2 lb bacon
     1 large yellow onion finely chopped
     4 celery stalks w/ top leaves finely chopped
     peppers ( 1 cubanelle, 1 banana, 1 Anahiem, 1/2 red bell) fine chop
     4 cloves garlic mashed/minced
     2 bags fresh spinach med. chopped
     1 quart oysters (well drained) (reserve liqour)
     chicken stock
      white wine
      heavy cream
      2 eggs (whisked)
      2 oz Pernod liquor (very hard to find, but one bottle lasts for years)
      4 tbsp butter
      Chopped fresh sage and tyme is nice (1 tbls each) or dry 1tsp ea.
      cracked pepper, salt to taste
      1 cup grated parmesan cheese
       juice and zest of one lemon

 directions:
Heat the oven to 375°F. Saute' drained oysters  in a little butter for a couple minutes. Drain (retain liquid), and let them cool off, then chop med dice. Roughly chop bacon and saute' till crisp. Remove bacon and leave 4 tbls grease. Add 4 tbsp butter, onion, celery, peppers, seasonings and saute' on med for a few minutes. Add garlic and spinach and cook until wilted (2min).
     Get the BIGGEST mixing bowl you have and add the veg mix, stuffing, crackers, oysters, reserved bacon (crumbled), cheese and 3 cups liquid (start with the reserved oyster liquids, lemon juice and whisked eggs and then make up the balance w/ equal parts of wine, stock, cream and 2 oz Pernod) Fold it all together (clean hands work best!)
   Spoon the stuffing mixture into a buttered 9x13 baking dish (PYREX preferred).Sprinkle w/ paprika, cover and bake for 40 minutes.
Tip: For crunchier stuffing, uncover for the last 15 min of baking!