apple sausage stuffing with bacon, mushrooms & pecans

Ingredients For apple sausage stuffing with bacon, mushrooms & pecans

• 1 lb.

  bulk ground sausage, jimmy dean is fine, regular or hot
• 1/2 lb.

  lean thick bacon, cut into 1
• 1

  large onion, diced
• 2-3

  stalks celery, sliced
• 1 (8 oz.)

  container fresh sliced mushrooms
• 2

  apples, cored and diced (unpeeled), such as granny smith and red or golden delicious
• 1 Tbl.

  dried parsley flakes, or a small palmful of fresh if you have it
• 1 tsp.

  dried ground sage, (*be careful, 1 teaspoon not a tablespoon)
• 1 tsp.

  dried thyme, crush between thumb and fingers when adding
• 1/4 cup

  butter, melted, (half a stick)
• 1 1/2-2

  cups chicken broth, 2 for more moist stuffing
• 3/4 cup

  applesauce
• 1/2-1 cup

  chopped pecans, as desired
• 1/2 tsp.

  salt
• 1 tsp.

  pepper
• 1 (16 oz.)

  bag dried unseasoned breadcubes(or your own), *if seasoned add less sage