Wild-Mushroom Stuffing

Bring Marsala to a simmer in a saucepan. Pour over dried porcini in a bowl, cover, and let stand for 1 hour.

Meanwhile, heat 2 tablespoons oil in a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add sausages, and cook, crumbling with a spoon, until browned, about 8 minutes. Add onion, and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer sausage and onion to a bowl.

Add 4 tablespoons butter and fresh mushrooms to skillet, and cook until browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain dried porcini, reserving liquid, and squeeze in paper towels to remove any excess liquid; coarsely chop. Add dried porcini to skillet along with herbs, prunes, salt, and pepper. Cook for 3 minutes.

Add mushroom mixture to sausages. Strain reserved Marsala through a sieve lined with cheesecloth or a paper towel. (Mushroom-sausage mixture and Marsala can be refrigerated separately in airtight containers overnight.)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place bread on a rimmed baking sheet. Toss with remaining 2 tablespoons oil, red-pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Bake until golden brown, about 15 minutes.

Add toasted bread mixture and reserved Marsala to mushroom-sausage mixture, and toss. Reserve 2 to 3 cups for stuffing the pork roast (see recipe, page 110). Transfer remaining stuffing to an 8-inch baking dish. Pour stock over top, and dot with remaining 2 tablespoons butter cut into small pieces. Cover with parchment and then foil, and bake for 20 minutes. Uncover, and bake until top is crisp, about 25 minutes more.