My family and I have always cheated when it comes to making stuffing for Thanksgiving and Christmas. As in cheating I mean we have always used box stuffing. I know, I am ashamed. Some of you probably have delicious, homemade, family recipes, but for those of you who do not, I have found the best stuffing recipe everyone is sure to love this year for Christmas dinner.

Stuffing is a dinner table staple for holiday meals because it is hardy and pairs wonderfully with meat. I did a little researching on the internet for simple and delicious stuffing recipes to make for this year's Christmas dinner. I came across one of my favorite chefs- Food Network's Ina Garten and her amazing stuffing recipe. Please give it a try if you don't already have your own homemade recipe. I promise, everyone will love it.

You will need:

16 cups 1-inch bread cubes (1 1/2 pound loaf)
3/4 pound sweet or spicy Italian sausage
2 yellow onions, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
2 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and chopped
2 Tbsp chopped flat leaf parsley
1 stick unsalted butter
1 cup chicken stock
1 cup dried cranberries
Salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.  Place the bread cubes in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake for 7 minutes. Remove the bread cubes and place into a large bowl; crank up the oven heat to 350 degrees F.

In a large saute pan, melt the one stick butter and add the chopped onions, celery, apples, and parsley. Season with salt and pepper. Saute over medium heat for 10 minutes until all veggies are softened. Add the veggie mixture to the bread cubes.

In the same saute pan, add the sausage and cook over medium heat for about 10-15 minutes until browned, breaking it up with a fork or wooden spoon while cooking. Add the sausage to the bread cubes. Next, add the chicken stock and dried cranberries to the mixture and mix well. Pour into a 9 by 12-inch baking dish and bake for 30 minutes, until browned on top and hot in the middle.

I hope you all love this recipe. Have a Merry Christmas!

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