Wild Rice, Mushroom, and Hazelnut Stuffing

DIRECTIONS

• Add the dried cherries to a small bowl and add in the port wine; let stand while making the stuffing.
• Bring a big pot of lightly salted water to a boil over high heat; add in the wild rice; decrease heat to medium.
• Boil uncovered until the rice is barely tender (some of the grains may have burst), about 45 minutes.
• Drain the rice into a sieve and rinse under cold water until cooled; drain well and place in a large bowl.
• In a very large skillet or flameproof casserole, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat.
• Add in the leeks and cook/stir often, until tender, about 5 minutes; add to the wild rice.
• In the same skillet, melt the remaining 2 tablespoons butter; add in the mushrooms and cook over med-high heat, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms give off their juices, about 5 minutes.
• Add in the port with cherries and the poultry seasoning and boil until the liquid is reduced to about 1/2 cup, 6-8 minutes.
• Stir the mushrooms and port into the bowl of wild rice; add in the hazelnuts, parsley, salt, and pepper; mix well.
• Transfer to a lightly buttered casserole, drizzle with broth, cover, and bake in preheated 350° oven until heated, about 30 minutes (for crustier stuffing, remove cover for last 15 minutes of cook time).