Stuffing - Edible Santa Barbara and Wine Country

Ingredients

• 1/2 pound sausage (optional)
• Butter (or olive oil)
• 1 yellow onion (chopped)
• 1 tart apple (cored and chopped (not peeled))
• 1 large stalk celery (chopped)
• 3/4-1 loaf crusty bread (cut into cubes)
• Salt and freshly ground pepper (to taste)
• 1 small bunch Italian parsley (leaves chopped (stems discarded))
• A few sage leaves (or thyme leaves, chopped (optional))
• 1/2 cup raisins (or sun-dried tomatoes or dried pears or dried cranberries (optional))
• 1/2 cup almonds (chopped, or walnuts or other nuts (optional))
• Some vegetable broth and/or beaten egg