Chestnut Stuffing

Ingredients

• 6 cups torn bite-size pieces of day-old homemade-style white bread
• 2 onions, chopped
• 4 ribs of celery, chopped
• 3 tablespoons minced fresh sage leaves or 1 tablespoon dried, crumbled
• 2 tablespoons minced fresh thyme leaves or 2 teaspoons dried, crumbled
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary leaves or 1 1/2 teaspoons dried, crumbled
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh savory leaves or 1 teaspoon dried, crumbled
• 1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter
• 1 pound fresh chestnuts, shelled and peeled chopped coarsely, or 3/4 pound vacuum-packed whole chestnuts, chopped coarsely (about 2 cups)
• 1/2 cup finely chopped fresh parsley leaves

Directions

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. In a shallow baking pan arrange the bread pieces in one layer, bake them in the oven, stirring occasionally, for 10 to 15 minutes, or until they are golden, and transfer them to a large bowl. In a large skillet cook the onions, celery, sage, thyme, rosemary, and savory in the butter over moderately low heat, stirring, until the vegetables are softened, add the chestnuts, and cook the mixture, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the vegetable mixture to the bread pieces, tossing the mixture well, stir in the parsley and salt and pepper to taste, and let the stuffing cool completely. This stuffing may be made 1 day in advance and kept covered and chilled. (To prevent bacterial growth do not stuff the turkey cavities in advance.)

TO SHELL AND PEEL CHESTNUTS

With a sharp knife cut an X on the round side of each chestnut. Spread the chestnuts in one layer in a jelly-roll pan, add 1/4 cup water, and bake the chestnuts in a preheated 450 degree F oven for 10 minutes, or until the shells open. Remove the chestnuts, a handful at a time, and shell and peel them while they are still hot.