Cornbread Dressing with Chorizo and Apples

Ingredients

• 2 (8 1/2-ounce) packages corn muffin mix
• 1 pound fresh chorizo or hot Italian sausage, casing removed, coarsely chopped
• 2 medium onions, chopped (2 cups)
• 3 celery ribs, chopped (1 1/2 cups)
• 2 carrots, chopped (3/4 cup)
• 2 large Granny Smith apples, peeled if desired, cored, and chopped (3 cups)
• 1 1/2 cups chicken broth
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 1/3 cup chopped Italian parsley

Preparation

1. 1. Bake muffin mix according to package directions in 2 (8-inch square) baking dishes. Cool and cut into 1-inch cubes. Preheat oven to 400°. Spread cornbread cubes in a single layer onto 2 (15- x 10- x 1-inch) jellyroll pans; bake 10 minutes or until lightly browned.
2. 2. Cook sausage in a large skillet over medium-high heat, stirring often, 5 minutes or until browned. Remove from skillet with a slotted spoon. If less than 3 tablespoons of sausage drippings remains in skillet, add enough butter to make 3 tablespoons of liquid.
3. 3. Add onion, celery, and carrot to skillet, and cook, stirring occasionally, 8 minutes or until softened. Stir in apple, and cook 5 minutes or until beginning to soften. Stir in broth, salt, and pepper. Transfer mixture to a large bowl; stir in sausage, cornbread cubes, eggs, and parsley. Transfer to a 9- x 13-inch greased baking dish. Bake, covered, at 350° for 25 minutes; uncover and bake 5 more minutes.