Preheat oven to 350°F.
In a large bowl, combine bread crumbs, apples, celery, onion, pepper, and ¼ cup of butter. (Add optional cooked sausage.)
Stir in the chicken broth a little at a time until it is wet but firm.
Transfer to a greased baking dish and put sprigs of herbs over the top.
Cover with foil and bake 1 ½ to 2 hours until firm. Uncover, spread remaining butter over the top, and bake another 15–20 minutes more, until golden and crisp. For an extra crispy top, you can broil it for a few minutes (be careful not to burn it!).
After taking it out of the oven, let it stand for 10-15 minutes to firm up a little more.
