Almond-Apricot Dressing

Ingredients

• 1 (15 ounce) bag seasoned stuffing mix
• 8 ounces dried apricots
• 6 ounces or more sliced almonds
• 1 cup minced onion
• 1 cup minced celery
• 1/2 cup apple or orange juice
• 1 whole egg, beaten
• 1 egg white, lightly beaten
• 2 cups vegetable broth, heated
• 2 tablespoons butter or margarine

Instructions

1. Reconstitute the apricots by soaking in a small bowl of hot water for 10 minutes; drain, blot and snip into slivers with kitchen scissors.
2. Toast the almonds in a small dry skillet, stirring constantly so they don't burn. Remove from pan. In the same skillet, heat the juice. Add the celery and onion and simmer for 5 minutes.
3. Using a large mixing bowl, toss the stuffing mix with the almonds and apricots, then add the celery-onion-juice mix. Stir in the egg and egg white, then add the vegetable broth slowly, stopping when the mixture is holding together, but not soggy wet.
4. Coat a 2-quart oblong baking dish with cooking spray. Mound mixture into dish, then dot with pea-size pieces of butter or margarine.
5. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes at 350 degrees F.