You may have noticed that some of the recipes on my website are the handiwork of “Bud.” Our dear friend Bud is an amazing cook. My family has been friends with Bud and his family for more than 30 years. As he describes the relationship, we’re really more like family than friends. Bud comes from a full house — six boys — where Thanksgiving was the biggest event of the year. Friends and family alike would always find their way to Bud’s house just for the delicious desserts alone. His mom, Maribeth, used to make over 20 desserts (sounds about right if you ask me)!

Whenever we get together we know we are going to have a lip-smacking good meal. One year, Bud and his family joined us for Thanksgiving and it's been a tradition ever since. We cook together for our traditional family Thanksgiving dinner, working side by side. To be honest, I wouldn't have it any other way! We can always count on Bud’s homemade Sausage and Dried Cherry Stuffing. I love the tasty combination of the savory breakfast sausage and sweet dried cherries with the herbs. It’s hands-down my favorite stuffing. It’s not Thanksgiving without it. Bud uses a whole country-style French loaf when he makes his delicious stuffing. He cuts the loaf into ¾-inch cubes then toasts them in the oven. Though regular pork sausage is fine for thisrecipe, Bud likes to use a sage-flavored breakfast sausage if he can find it. It’s just not Thanksgiving without it.