Sausage, Apple and Herb Stuffing

This is the best-ever holiday stuffing! It's made with toasted cubes of ciabatta and baguette, and loaded with sweet Italian sausage, sautéed onions and celery, tart dried cranberries, crisp apples, and fresh herbs. You'll never want to make another recipe again, this stuffing is incredible.

Ingredients:
1/2 loaf day-old ciabatta bread, cut into cubes (about 4 cups)
1/2 loaf day-old baguette, cut into cubes (about 4 cups)
1 pound sweet Italian pork sausage
1 large onion, diced
5 stalks celery, diced small
2 tablespoons fresh sage, finely chopped
1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, finely chopped
1 1/2 teaspoons fresh thyme
1 granny smith apple, cored and chopped small
1 cup dried cranberries
1 1/2 cups chicken stock

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees

Spread the bread cubes on a baking sheet in a single layer and bake for 7 - 10 minutes until light golden brown. Transfer to a large bowl.

Add a couple tablespoons of olive oil to a large frying pan over medium heat. Once hot, add the onion, season with salt and pepper, and sauté for 5 minutes until softened. Add the sausage and cook, breaking up into small pieces, until browned. Add the celery, and all the herbs and cook for 2 more minutes. Taste for seasoning, and add salt and pepper if needed. 

Pour the sausage mixture over the bread in the bowl. Mix in the chopped apples and the dried cranberries. Pour into a 13 by 9 by 2 inch glass baking dish, and drizzle with the chicken stock. 

Bake covered in foil for 45 minutes. Remove foil and bake for 15 more minutes.