Autumn Harvest Stuffing (aka Throw Away The Box Of Stove Top!)

Total Time: 40 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients

• 3 slices bread, good quality
• 2 slices whole wheat sandwich bread, good quality
• 1/3 cup celery, diced
• 1/3 cup onion, diced
• 1/2 small red apple, left unpeeled and diced small
• 5 dried apricots, finely chopped
• 6 fresh thyme sprigs
• 3 tablespoons wine
• 1 1/2 cups chicken stock or 1 1/2 cups chicken broth
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary (the finely chopped one)
• 1/4 teaspoon paprika
• 3/4 teaspoon dried parsley
• 3/4 teaspoon ground sage
• 1/4 teaspoon turmeric
• salt and pepper, to taste
• 1/4 cup chopped pecans (optional)

Recipe

• 1 toast bread slices lightly. tear by hand into small pieces and place in a medium sized bowl.
• 2 remove leaves from thyme sprigs and add to bread. set aside.
• 3 in a large pan, add 2 tbsp butter and celery and onion. season with salt and pepper. saute over low to medium heat until vegetables are softened.
• 4 add dried bread cubes, apple, apricot, and butter. stir well.
• 5 when butter has absorbed into bread, add wine. stir until absorbed.
• 6 add onion powder, rosemary, paprika, parsley, sage, and turmeric. add 1/2 cup of chicken stock and simmer until liquid is absorbed. season again with salt and pepper.
• 7 stir in apple cider vinegar and transfer stuffing to a medium pot with a lid.
• 8 add remaining 1 cup chicken stock and cover. allow to simmer covered over low heat for 20 minutes.
• 9 season again with salt and pepper. add pecans if using.
• 10 *** if making for turkey dinner, add 1/3 cup of turkey drippings to stuffing when adding chicken broth for a deeper flavor.