Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.

Season the roast with the Essence and place on a rack in a roasting pan, rib ends up. Wrap the tips of the bones with foil and roast for 1 1/2 hours.

To make the stuffing, heat a large saute pan or saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and cook, stirring, until no longer pink, about 7 minutes. Remove the meat with a slotted spoon and discard all but 1 tablespoon of fat from the pan.

Add the onions, celery, garlic and cayenne to the fat remaining in the pan and cook, stirring, until soft, about 3 minutes. Add the walnuts and cook, stirring, until lightly toasted and fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the apples and rice and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the stock, water, bay leaf, salt, pepper, sage and thyme and bring to a boil. Stir well, reduce the heat and cook undisturbed at a bare simmer until the rice is tender and liquid has been absorbed, about 50 minutes. Remove from the heat. Let stand undisturbed for 10 minutes.

Discard the bay leaf and fluff the rice with a fork. Add the cooked sausage.

Remove the roast from the oven and fill the cavity with the stuffing. (If any stuffing is left over, place in a lightly greased baking dish.)

Roast the stuffed pork until it reaches an internal temperature of 160 degrees F., about 1 1/2 hours.

Remove from the oven and transfer to a platter. Remove the aluminum foil and cover the bone ends with paper frills. Let the roast stand for 10 to 15 minutes. Present tableside.

Spoon the stuffing into a serving bowl and carve the roast. Serve the stuffing on the side.

2 1/2 tablespoons paprika

2 tablespoons salt

2 tablespoons garlic powder

1 tablespoon black pepper

1 tablespoon onion powder

1 tablespoon cayenne pepper

1 tablespoon dried leaf oregano

1 tablespoon dried thyme

Combine all ingredients thoroughly and store in an airtight jar or container.

Yield: about 2/3 cup

Recipe from "New New Orleans Cooking", by Emeril Lagasse and Jessie Tirsch. Published by William and Morrow, 1993.