Quilt Inn Country Style Stuffing

Quilt Inn Country Style Stuffing

2 cups onions, chopped
2 cups celery, chopped
1 apple or pear
1 clove garlic, minced
3/4 cup butter
4 tsp. sage
1 tsp. marjoram
1 tsp. thyme
1 tsp. savory
1/2 tsp. ginger
14 cups torn bread pieces
1/2 cup walnuts
1/2 cup currants, raisins, dates, prunes or dried apricots
1 cup fresh parsley, chopped
1 cup chicken stock or apple cider

Heat butter over medium heat. Add onion, celery, garlic, apple, marjoram, thyme, savory and ginger. Cook for 15 minutes, stirring frequently until tender. Combine bread, nuts, dried fruit, parsley and onion mixture. Season with salt and fresh ground pepper to taste. Toss with chicken stock to slightly moisten if necessary.
Normally a turkey will hold around 1/2 cup of stuffing per pound of bird. Don’t pack it in too tightly or the stuffing will come out dense and soggy.
No matter what you do, you always seem to be left with too much stuffing for the turkey. Place the rest in a lightly greased casserole, sprinkle with water (or wine) and cover. Place in oven along with turkey for the last 45 minutes cooking time and you will have extra stuffing for dinner or for adding to turkey sandwiches the next day.