Chesapeake Memories Sausage and Oyster Dressing with Red Quinoa and Crisp Apples Recipe

In a large oven-proof chicken-fryer, saucepan or deep skillet with lid over medium-high heat, brown the sausage, uncovered, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes.

Remove sausage from pan and set aside; reserve 1 T. fat and drippings.

Reduce heat to medium; add 2 T. butter and scrape drippings loose from pan.

Add herbs, pearl quinoa, onion, celery and bay leaf; sautA until quinoa starts to crackle and onion and celery begin to sweat, about 3 minutes.

Return sausage to pan; add 1 3/4 c. chicken stock.

Drain oyster liquor from oysters into pan with sausage mixture, and chop oysters into 1/2a pieces; add oysters to pan.

Add lemon juice and zest; cover and simmer 15 minutes or until quinoa is tender but firm.

Remove bay leaf; check cooking liquid for seasoning.

Meanwhile, toast English muffins until golden, then butter each half with equal portions remaining 4 T. butter, and cut muffins into 1/2a cubes; add muffins to liquid.

Add sun-dried tomatoes.

Stir mixture to moisten, adding more warm stock if needed; replace lid, turn heat to lowest setting and allow to warm for 5 minutes.

Remove lid from dressing, add additional warm stock to moisten, if desired, and toss with diced apple and parsley.

Check seasoning.

Serve immediately or cover and place in a warm oven until ready to use.

If stuffing a bird with dressing, proceed according to bird roasting instructions, placing leftover dressing in a greased casserole dish to pass.

Bake casserole, covered, for at least 30 minutes at 350 degrees if raw poultry was in contact with dressing.