Dried Cherry Dressing

Total Time: 1 hr 25 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 1 hr 5 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 12
• 8 ounces bacon
• 2 cups chopped onions
• 2 cups chopped celery
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 apples, minced
• 1 cup dried cherries or 1 cup raisins or 1 cup dried cranberries, soaked in bourbon
• 1/4 cup minced fresh herb (parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme)
• 12 cups bagged bread stuffing mix (include at least of 6 cups corn bread stuffing)
• water or chicken broth or turkey broth
• black pepper
• salt

Recipe

• 1 saute bacon in large frying pan until fat is rendered, but the bacon is not quite crisp.
• 2 remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels; chop when cool.
• 3 remove excess fat from pan (or substitute cooking oil or margarine for a lighter version) and saute vegetables until soft.
• 4 add apples, cherries and herbs and toss briefly over medium heat.
• 5 mix vegetables, bacon and breads together in a large bowl and add enough water or stock to moisten and bind all of the ingredients.
• 6 season with salt and pepper.
• 7 place mixture in a well-buttered baking dish, cover and bake in 325-degree oven for 50 minutes.
• 8 leave uncovered for last 10 minutes to brown slightly.
• 9 note: 1 cup toasted pecans can be added to this stuffing for an added southern accent.
• 10 add with the apples, cherries and herbs.
• 11 a 16 ounce bag of stuffing bread crumbs equals 3 cs.