Winter Fruit and Nut Stuffing

I haven't tried this sweet-looking stuffing yet, but I can't wait to!

• Ready In: 1 hr 5 mins
• Serves: 12

Ingredients

• 12  tablespoons butter
• 2  large pears, peeled, cored, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
• 1  tablespoon sugar
• 3⁄4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 4  cups  chopped onions
• 1 1⁄2 cups  chopped celery
• 1 1⁄2 cups  Sauternes wine or 1 1⁄2 cups  other  sweet white wine
• 1 1⁄2 cups  chopped  pitted prunes
• 1 1⁄2 cups  chopped  dried apricots
• 1  cup dried cranberries
• 2  tablespoons  chopped fresh rosemary
• 1  tablespoon  chopped fresh sage
• 14  cups  French bread cubes (1/2 inch)
• 1  cup pecans, toasted, chopped

Directions

1. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add pears; sprinkle with sugar. Saute until pears are golden, about 5 minutes. Transfer to very large bowl; mix in cinnamon. Melt remaining 10 tablespoons butter in same skillet over medium heat. Add onions and celery; saute until golden, about 15 minutes. Add wine and next 5 ingredients. Simmer until liquid is reduced almost to glaze and mixture is soft and moist, stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes. Mix into pears. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill. Reheat to lukewarm before continuing.).
2. Mix bread and pecans into fruit mixture. Season stuffing with salt and pepper.
3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Generously butter 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish. Transfer stuffing to prepared dish. Bake uncovered until heated through, about 35 minutes.