It's the most wonderful time of the year.....

That's right.  I know you sang that line in your head.  Do not deny it!  Well, we are heading into the holiday season and for my family this means a party at my brother's house.  This is my brother.....

Next to him is his lovely wife.  Once, my brother put on a Snow White wig to entertain my niece and I swear it was me with a goatee!

Now my brother loves many of the holiday dishes I make every year.  The first is my stuffing recipe...

I think it's a beauty.

Today I am going to focus on this stuffing recipe (technically this is dressing).  This one is simple and everyone needs a good, basic stuffing recipe for their holiday table.

Begin with a loaf of good french bread.

Cube it, place it on a baking sheet, and then place into a 300 degree oven until completely dried out.  This should take about an hour.

Then we start on the mix-ins  Start by chopping an onion into a small dice....

Then chop two carrots and three ribs of celery into a small dice...

Then chop one Granny Smith apple and one Braeburn apple into a small dice....

As you chop just place it all into a bowl.....

I know some people cook it all separate and one at a time, but who the heck has time for that?!!!!!!  Now preheat a skillet on medium high heat and melt about 3 tablespoons of butter and 1 tablespoon of olive oil....

We always use cast iron and the results are beautiful.  This one is even large enough for you to bake the dressing (aka stuffing) right in it.  However, we are heading to a dinner party so corningware it is!!

Butter it!!!  You do not want the stuffing to stick!

Now back to this....

Season with salt and pepper.  Cook until the carrots have softened a bit.  They are chopped into a small size so it should only take about 10 minutes total.

As you can see, it reduces in volume....

Then pour it over your bread cubes that should be in a VERY large bowl....

RESIST THE URGE TO STIR IT!!! (Kevin!  STOP TRYING TO STIR IT!!!)

Now onto the sausage...

Remove it from the casing and crumble it slightly.

Place it in a pan and brown it.

Pour the sausage into the same bowl as the vegetable and bread cubes.

Now pour over 1/3 of a 32 ounce box of chicken or vegetable stock or turkey stock...

Add 1/3 of a cup of dried cranberries that have been reconstituted in hot water.

Stir it up and pour another 1/3 cup of stock...

Now place it into your buttered baking dish.....

Spread it into an even layer and add thin pats of butter over the top to brown the top of the stuffing.

Put it in a 350 degree oven for one hour...

Once an hour has passed you will have a delicious stuffing to enjoy!

Now, you can change this stuffing in SO MANY ways.  You can add nuts or dried fruit (make sure you reconstitute is in hot water).  You could add a layer of parmesan cheese on the top.  Happy Cooking!!!