Supporting the local economy by buying from farmers markets, small business bakeries, and small grocers will earn you an extra feather in your holiday cap. This stuffing creatively uses ingredients available from area stores. If you must get everything from the grocery store, you can still add this delicious recipe to your holiday cache.
Ingredients:
8 cups of cubed wheat bread
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
2 cups homemade chicken stock
2 white or yellow onions, diced
4 apples, peeled and diced
5 celery stalks, chopped
6 dried apricots, chopped
3 local, organic eggs
½ cup fresh parsley, rough chopped
To prepare:
Preheat your oven to 350° and spread the bread on cookie sheets. Bake the bread until it is a nice golden color, tossing occasionally to ensure that it cooks evenly. Set aside and allow to cool.
Melt butter in a medium saucepan; add onions and sauté until golden in color. Add the apples, fennel and celery, stir for 3-5 minutes. Prepare a baking dish with nonstick spray and bump your oven up to 375. Combine the bread, sautéed produce, herbs, fruit, beaten eggs, and stock in a large mixing bowl. Place in baking dish, cover with foil and cook for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and bake until top is browned; about 20 minutes.
