Apple-Sausage Focaccia Stuffing from Loews Royal Pacific Resort

Courtesy of Universal Orlando Resort..

1 ½ Sticks of Unsalted Butter (12 tablespoons)
4-6 Granny Smith Apples (cored, peeled and cut into 1 inch cubes – 4 Large or 6 Small)
¼ cup Apple Cider Vinegar
¼ cup Apple Juice
½ cup Chicken Stock (low sodium is best)
6 Celery Stalks (halved lengthwise, thinly sliced crosswise)
1 Yellow Onion Large (peeled, finely diced)1 lb Italian Sausage (casing removed)
12 inch Plain or Herb Focaccia Bread (cut into ½ inch cubes)
1 tbsp Thyme (finely chopped)
1 tbsp Sage (finely chopped)
1 tbsp Rosemary (finely chopped)
To taste Kosher Salt and Ground White Pepper

A special note — not all bakeries keep Focaccia in stock at all times. So make sure to call your favorite bakery or grocery store ahead of time to order a plain or herb Focaccia. It is also a super simple bread to make the day prior — search for a recipe and add the ingredients to your Thanksgiving shopping list and you will be good to go.

• Preheat the oven to 450 ℉.

• Heat 2 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium heat until it melts. Add the onions and celery, sauté until translucent. Add apples and cook for 4 minutes. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Add apple cider vinegar and apple juice and stir. Cook for 2 minutes and transfer to a large bowl to cool.

• In the same skillet, cook the sausage, breaking it up in pieces with a spatula and sautéing until browned.

• While cooking the sausage, melt 3 tablespoons of butter and toss the focaccia cubes to coat in a baking dish. Bake in the preheated oven until the focaccia is toasted, 8 to 10 minutes.

• Combine the focaccia, sausage, and apple mixture with the sage, thyme, and rosemary. Add a pinch of salt and pepper and stir in the chicken broth. Make sure to taste the mix and adjust seasoning to taste with salt and pepper.

• Set the oven to 350 ℉. Brush a 9-by13-inch baking dish with 1 tablespoon of melted butter. Transfer the stuffing mixture to the dish and dot with the remaining 3 tablespoons of butter on top.

• Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 40 minutes, then uncover and continue to bake until golden brown, about 20 minutes.
• Enjoy this stuffing warm with you Thanksgiving meal or, even better, as an awesome leftover the day after.

​Send us a photo of your creation using #uorfoodsubmits to be share on our instagram. 
Recipe courtesy of Universal Orlando Resort..

Xavier.H.

​I'm Xavier- a food enthusiast and full-time blogger, theme park lover(especially Universal), and Halloween Horror Nights fan. I so happen to also lead the Universal Food Blog team on our trek to find the best dishes around Universal Orlando Resort to report to you!