Sausage, Sage and Apple Stuffing

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spread bread cubes on 2 baking sheets and bake 16 to 18 minutes, stirring once, until lightly toasted. Pour into a large bowl. Cook sausage in a large skillet over medium- high heat, breaking up chunks, until browned. Drain fat. Add sausage to bread in bowl. Wipe out skillet. Add butter and melt. Add onions, celery and garlic and cook about 8 minutes until almost tender. Add apples and cook about 5 minutes until apples are just tender. Add to bread along with pecans, sage, thyme, salt and pepper. Stir well to mix. Slowly add broth and toss stuffing until moistened.