APPLE, CELERY, AND SMOKED HAM STUFFING

Apple, Celery, and Smoked Ham Stuffing image

Yield Makes 10 servings

Number Of Ingredients 14

5 cups 1/2-inch cubes crustless firm white bread (about 7 ounces)
5 tablespoons butter
4 cups chopped onions
2 cups chopped celery
4 cups small cubes peeled Granny Smith apples
2 1/3 cups small cubes Black Forest ham
2 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley
1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme
1 tablespoon minced fresh sage
1 tablespoon minced fresh marjoram
1/2 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 1/4 cups low-salt chicken broth
2 large eggs

Steps:

Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake bread cubes on large rimmed baking sheet until dry and beginning to brown, about 12 minutes. Place bread in large bowl and cool.
Melt 4 tablespoons butter in heavy large skillet over high heat. Add onions and celery; sauté until tender and beginning to brown, about 10 minutes. Add apples; sauté until tender and beginning to brown, about 10 minutes. Add mixture to bread. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in same skillet. Add ham; sauté 5 minutes. Add ham to bread; mix in herbs and nutmeg. Add broth to same skillet and bring to boil, scraping up any browned bits. Pour broth into small bowl; cool. (Stuffing and broth can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover separately; chill.)
Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish. Beat eggs into broth; mix into stuffing. Transfer stuffing to prepared dish. Bake uncovered until cooked through and browned on top, about 35 minutes.