"Thanksgiving in a Dish" Sausage Maple Bread Stuffing

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 lb. dense, chewy bread, cut into 3/4 inch cubes (I use sourdough), about 13 cups
• 10 Tbsp. butter, softened
• 1/3 cup chopped fresh thyme leaves
• 1/3 cup chopped fresh sage leaves
• 3/4 tsp. poultry seasoning
• 3 cups medium-diced yellow onion, about 2 medium
• 3 cups medium-diced celery, about 6 stalks
• 7 1/2 cups low-salt chicken broth
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 smoked ham hock
• 1 lb. bulk pork breakfast sausage
• 1/3 cup pure maple syrup
• 1 1/2 tsp. ground pepper
• kosher salt