SOURDOUGH, ITALIAN SAUSAGE, AND CHESTNUT STUFFING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Butter a shallow 3-quart baking dish and a sheet of foil. Place bread in a very large bowl.
• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add chestnuts, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring often, until chestnuts are golden and crisp, about 5 minutes. Transfer to bowl with bread with a slotted spoon.
• Heat remaining 1/4 cup oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Add sausage and cook, stirring occasionally and breaking into small pieces with a wooden spoon, until browned and cooked through, 8-10 minutes. Transfer to bowl with slotted spoon.
• Add onions, celery, and chiles to skillet, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring often, until onions are translucent and soft, 5-7 minutes. Add apple, garlic, and sage and cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are golden brown and apple is soft, about 5 minutes. Discard chiles. Add onion mixture to bowl.
• Add onions, celery, and chiles to skillet, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring often, until onions are translucent and soft, 5-7 minutes. Add apple, garlic, and sage and cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are golden brown and apple is soft, about 5 minutes. Discard chiles. Add onion mixture to bowl.
• Reduce heat to medium and cook Sherry in skillet, scraping up any browned bits, until almost all evaporated, about 1 minute. Add 1/2 cup butter; cook, stirring, until melted. Drizzle over bread mixture.
• Whisk eggs and 2 cups stock in a medium bowl; pour over bread mixture. Season with salt and pepper and toss, adding more stock 1/4-cupful at a time as needed (you may not use it all), until combined and bread is hydrated. Transfer to prepared dish and dot with remaining 1/4 cup butter.
• Cover with buttered foil; bake until a paring knife inserted into the center comes out hot, 30-35 minutes. Increase oven temperature to 450°. Uncover and bake until top is golden brown and crisp, 20-25 minutes. Let sit 10 minutes before serving.
• Do ahead: Stuffing can be assembled 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.