I've spent a lovely Thanksgiving at a gorgeous house in the Outer Banks of North Carolina with TA and his mother's side of the family.

I've featured a recipe or three of the MiL's in the past and though I was wary about the addition of Red Delicious apples in..well, anything, this stuffing was one of the best I've ever had.

The combination of the hot sausage and apples makes such a great pairing - I was truly surprised.

I've always been of the firm belief that there was no place in the world for Red Delicious apples. I love Granny Smith's and Golden Delicious for baking, Braeburn's and Honey Crisp for out of hand eating - and I'll always jump at the chance to get some wild or uncultivated apples like Gravenstein.

Red Delicious, though...no thanks. Too sweet, not enough crispness, altogether unimpressive.

In this stuffing, however, they've finally found their purpose. Even though it's past the holiday most famous for stuffing, some people cook a turkey on Christmas as well so I thought it was worth posting it now rather than waiting for next year.

I hope you had just as wonderful a Thanksgiving as we did here in the Outer Banks - filled with friends, family, and food. It's the one time of year you can stuff yourself without guilt.

If, like much of my family, you live outside the country - then Happy Thursday. Go cook a turkey and eat this delicious stuffing, courtesy of the MiL.

Apple and Sausage Stuffing

Yields approximately 12 servings

1/2 cup butter

2 large yellow onions, chopped

3 large Red Delicious apples, chopped

1 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg

1 1/2 lbs cooked ground hot pork sausage

2 teaspoons poultry seasoning

6 cups dried bread cubes

14 oz chicken broth

kosher salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 350F.

Melt butter in 4 quart saucepan and sauté onions until softened. Add rest of ingredients, mix thoroughly. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Remove from heat, let stand for 20 minutes. Cover and bake for 30 minutes.

Nutritional Estimate

This is a nutritional estimate, regard it as such.

1 serving = 1/12th recipe

460 calories

50 g carbohydrate

21 g fat

17 g protein