Hosts have free rein when it comes to planning a holiday menu. Despite that freedom, many hosts feel obligated to prepare some holiday season staples their guests will surely expect when they sit down at the dinner table.

Stuffing is a dish many celebrants can't wait to see on the holiday dinner table. For hosts trusted with preparing holiday meals, the beauty of stuffing lies in its versatility. A host of unique ingredients can be added to holiday stuffing without adversely affecting the popularity of this beloved side dish. In fact, adding some unique ingredients can make people love stuffing even more. Such could be the case with this recipe for "Pecan-Cherry Bread Stuffing" from Lines+Angles.

Pecan-Cherry Bread Stuffing



Makes: 8 servings

• 1 loaf crusty white or wheat bread, cut into 3/4-inch cubes
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus extra for baking dish
• 1 medium yellow onion, peeled and diced
• 2 large celery stalks, rinsed, trimmed and diced
• 4 cloves garlic, peeled and roughly chopped
• 1 cup packed dried tart cherries
• 1 cup roughly chopped toasted pecans
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh sage leaves
• 1 tablespoon crushed fennel seed
• Coarse salt, to taste
• Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 1/4 cup fresh chopped parsley
• 3 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Position oven racks in the middle and lower third of the oven. Arrange bread in a single layer on two rimmed baking sheets. Toast until dry and golden brown, 10 to 12 minutes. Let cool.
2. Lightly butter a 9 x 13-inch baking dish. In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add onion, celery and garlic and cook, stirring frequently, until onion and celery are softened, about 7 minutes. Add cherries, pecans, sage, and fennel seed; cook, stirring for 1 minute. Transfer to a large bowl and season with salt and pepper.
3. Add parsley, eggs and bread to the cherry mixture; stir to combine. Add broth in two additions, stirring until absorbed. Season generously with salt and pepper; transfer stuffing to buttered baking dish. Bake on middle rack until the top is deep golden brown, about 25 to 30 minutes. Let sit for 5 minutes before serving.

Preparation time: 30 minutes
Cooking time: 50 minutes
Resting time: 5 minutes