Sausage and Apple Stuffing

Ingredients

• 2 sticks plus 3 tablespoons butter, divided
• 2 cups water
• 2 large bags of your favorite dried cornbread stuffing mix
• 1 pound pork sausage (not links)
• 1 large onion, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 stalks celery, diced
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
• 1 teaspoon dried sage leaves
• 1 cup chopped walnuts
• 3 medium apples, cored, sliced
• 2 to 3 cups homemade giblet stock or low sodium canned chicken broth

Directions

In a large pot melt 2 sticks butter in water. When melted add dry cornbread stuffing stirring to incorporate liquid, set aside.

In a large saute pan set over medium-high heat melt 1 tablespoon butter and add sausage. With a wooden spoon break up sausage and saute until lightly browned and cooked through. Transfer sausage to paper towels to drain. In the same pan melt remaining butter and saute onions with the garlic, celery, thyme, and sage until onions are translucent and celery is crisp tender. Add walnuts and saute for 1 minute. Add apples and saute for one minute more. Remove from heat. Combine cornbread stuffing with sauteed ingredients and stuff turkey. Roast turkey as usual.

Alternatively: fill a 10 by 15 by 2 inch pan with the stuffing, moisten with the giblet stock, and bake in a preheated 350 degree F oven, covered with foil for 1/2 hour. Remove foil and bake until top is lightly browned, about 15 minutes more.