Apple, Celery, and Smoked Ham Stuffing

Name: Apple, Celery, and Smoked Ham Stuffing
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 1 5 cups 1/2-inch cubes crustless firm white bread (about 7 ounces); 1 5 tablespoons butter; 1 4 cups chopped onions; 1 2 cups chopped celery; 1 4 cups small cubes peeled Granny Smith apples; 1 2 1/3 cups small cubes Black Forest ham; 1 2 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley; 1 1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme; 1 1 tablespoon minced fresh sage; 1 1 tablespoon minced fresh marjoram; 1 1/2 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary; 1 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg; 1 1 1/4 cups low-salt chicken broth; 1 2 large eggs

From the kitchen of Carly

Tart apples and smoky ham turn classic stuffing into something sharper and more interesting. Celery brings earthiness, fresh herbs add brightness, and butter toasts everything into golden, savory comfort. This version actually tastes like something.

Prep: n/a
Cook: n/a
Total: n/a
Servings: 4
Difficulty: medium

Ingredients

4 servings

15 cups 1/2-inch cubes crustless firm white bread (about 7 ounces)
15 tablespoons butter
14 cups chopped onions
12 cups chopped celery
14 cups small cubes peeled Granny Smith apples
12 1/3 cups small cubes Black Forest ham
12 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley
11 tablespoon minced fresh thyme
11 tablespoon minced fresh sage
11 tablespoon minced fresh marjoram
11/2 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary
11/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
11 1/4 cups low-salt chicken broth
12 large eggs

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake bread cubes on large rimmed baking sheet until dry and beginning to brown, about 12 minutes. Place bread in large bowl and cool.
Melt 4 tablespoons butter in heavy large skillet over high heat. Add onions and celery; sauté until tender and beginning to brown, about 10 minutes. Add apples; sauté until tender and beginning to brown, about 10 minutes. Add mixture to bread. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in same skillet. Add ham; sauté 5 minutes. Add ham to bread; mix in herbs and nutmeg. Add broth to same skillet and bring to boil, scraping up any browned bits. Pour broth into small bowl; cool. (Stuffing and broth can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover separately; chill.)
Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish. Beat eggs into broth; mix into stuffing. Transfer stuffing to prepared dish. Bake uncovered until cooked through and browned on top, about 35 minutes.