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Maria’s Secret Stuffing Recipe

Maria’s Stuffing Recipe serves 12-16 

Divide recipe in half for smaller crowd unless you LOVE leftovers 

Ingredients 

1 lb.                Breakfast Sausage (Jimmy Dean Country Sage) optional 

1/2 stick          Butter (optional) 

1 cup              Chicken Stock 

2 cups            Celery, diced 

2 cups            Onion, diced 

1 bag              Maria’s Croutons or  2 boxes Cornbread stuffing mix 

½ cup             Apple Juice or Cider (add more for moister stuffing) 

3 leaves          Fresh Sage, chopped 

1.5 tsp            Poultry Seasoning (DIY: Equal parts thyme, dried sage, marjoram & white pepper. 

8 oz.               Apple Sauce (Chunky) – or Apple Pie Filling 

Directions: 

Sauté the sausage until browned in a pan – remove sausage from pan keeping some rendered fat to sauté the celery & onion. Sauté celery & onion till translucent.   

Add herbs, juice, chicken stock, apple sauce & poultry seasoning incorporating all ingredients together. 

(This will deglaze the pan for extra flavor) 

In a separate mixing bowl (large enough for ALL ingredients) combine Maria’s croutons & browned sausage with the mixture. Mix well. 

Transfer mixture to a 9×13 baking pan or Pyrex & bake at 350 degrees for approx. 45 minutes. 

Alternative methods: 

    • For a moister stuffing add more chicken stock/ For a drier stuffing use less chicken stock 
    • Substitute portabella mushroom for breakfast sausage 
    • For additional flavor and texture add 8 oz cooked chestnuts