Cornbread and Apple Dressing

Ingredients

• 1 lb. sweet Italian sausage
• 5 tbsp. unsalted butter
• 1 c. finely chopped red bell pepper
• 2 c. finely chopped yellow onion
• 2 c. chopped celery
• 1 tsp. salt
• ½ tsp. ground black pepper
• 4 c. crumbled cornbread
• 4 c. fresh bread crumbs
• 2 Granny Smith apples
• ¼ c. finely chopped fresh parsley
• 2 tbsp. chopped fresh sage
• 2 tsp. dried thyme
• 1 c. low-sodium chicken broth

Directions

1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees F. Remove the casings and crumble and brown the sausage in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat -- about 10 minutes. Remove and set aside the sausage and reserve 1 tablespoon of fat.
2. Melt 2 tablespoons butter with the fat, add the peppers, onions, celery, salt, and black pepper, and cook over medium-low heat until vegetables are soft -- about 15 minutes.
3. Toss in the sausage, cornbread, breadcrumbs, apples, parsley, sage, and thyme. Transfer to a 9- by 13-inch baking pan, pour the broth over the dressing, and dot with remaining butter.
4. Bake until the dressing is heated through and golden -- about 1 1/2 hours.
5. Source: countryliving.com