Cornbread Stuffing with Fresh and Dried Fruit

Ingredients

• Buttery Cornbread
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
• 4 cups chopped onions
• 4 cups chopped unpeeled McIntosh or Golden Delicious apples (about 2 large)
• 2 cups chopped celery with leaves
• 24 pitted prunes
• diced (about 10 ounces)
• 12 dried apricot halves
• diced (about 2 ounces)
• 1 tablespoon fennel seeds
• 2 teaspoons coarse kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 cup low-salt chicken broth

Instructions

1. Cut bread lengthwise into 1-inch-wide slices.
2. Place on baking sheet; cover with kitchen towel and let dry overnight.
3. Cut bread slices into 1-inch cubes.
4. Preheat oven to 375F.
5. Butter 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish.
6. Melt butter in heavy large skillet over medium heat.
7. Add onions and saute until translucent, about 10 minutes.
8. Add apples and celery.
9. saute until celery begins to soften, about 10 minutes.
10. Scrape contents of skillet into very large bowl.
11. Add prunes, apricots, fennel seeds, salt, pepper, and thyme; toss.
12. Add dried bread cubes and toss until evenly combined.
13. Transfer stuffing to prepared dish.
14. Pour broth evenly over.
15. Bake stuffing uncovered until heated through and top begins to form crust, about 40 minutes.