An Ode to Stuffing

My world is all the better for the fact that I am able to eat stuffing. That may sound simple. Materialistic. Unnervingly food-centric. But, this is one of my greatest culinary loves. While my dad will surely prepare the traditional kind for our meal this Thursday, here's a recipe that I am thinking of making and eating in one big gulp!

Pear, Prosciutto and Hazelnut Stuffing

Ingredients:

• 3 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil divided
• 4 ounces prosciutto thinly sliced, cut into ribbons
• 2 cups onion chopped
• 2 cups diced fennel bulb
• 1/4 cup minced shallot
• 2 teaspoons minced fresh sage
• 2 teaspoons minced fresh thyme
• 1 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary
• 8 cups stale baguette preferably multi-grain (not sourdough), cut into 1/2-inch cubes
• 2 Bosc pears ripe but firm, chopped
• 1/3 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
• 1/3 cup chopped hazelnuts toasted
• 1 14-ounce can reduced-sodium chicken broth
  
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• freshly ground pepper to taste

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.

Heat 1 teaspoon oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add prosciutto; cook, stirring, until crispy, about 5 minutes. Drain on a paper towel.

Wipe out the pan and heat the remaining 2 teaspoons oil over medium-high heat. Add onion, fennel and shallot and cook, stirring, until softened and beginning to brown, 6 to 8 minutes. Add sage, thyme and rosemary and cook, stirring, for 1 minute more. Transfer everything to a large bowl and gently stir in bread, pears, parsley, hazelnuts and the prosciutto. Add broth; toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper. Spoon the stuffing into the prepared baking dish; cover with foil.

Bake for 40 minutes; remove the foil and bake until the top is beginning to crisp, 25 to 30 minutes more.

To toast chopped nuts & seeds: Cook in a small dry skillet over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until fragrant and lightly browned, 2 to 4 minutes.Ingredient note: If you don't have stale bread ready to use, spread the baguette cubes on a baking sheet and toast at 250°F until crisped and dry, about 15 minutes.

Image and recipe found here.