CHRISTMAS STUFFING TRAY BAKE

INGREDIENTS

20m prep 35m cook makes 8

• 65g (1/3 cup) dried cranberries

• 1 lemon, rind fnely grated, juiced

• 1 tbsp olive oil

• 1 brown onion, chopped

• 100g pancetta slices, coarsely chopped

• 2 garlic cloves, crushed

• 1 pane de casa or vienna loaf, unsliced

• 2 eggs, lightly whisked

• 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves, plus extra sprigs, to serve

Method

1. Preheat oven to 180C/160C fan forced. Lightly grease a 3cm deep, 23 x 28cm baking dish.

2. Combine the cranberries and lemon juice in a bowl and set aside to soak until needed.

3. Heat the oil in a frying pan over medium heat then cook the onion, stirring occasionally, for about 3 minutes or until softened. Add the pancetta and cook for a further 3-4 minutes or until golden brown. Stir in the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds. Transfer the mixture to a large bowl and set aside to cool.

4. Cut the crust off the whole loaf of bread without taking too much of the bread with it. Cut or tear the bread into 2-3cm pieces. Add to the pancetta mixture with the soaked cranberries, lemon rind, egg and thyme. Season then stir until combined.

5. Transfer the stuffng mixture to the prepared dish and spray with oil. Bake for 25 minutes or until golden and crisp on top. Sprinkle the stuffng tray bake with extra thyme leaves and serve hot.

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

• 8 shortcut bacon rashers, coarsely chopped

• 30g (1/2 cup) panko breadcrumbs

• 4 baby cos lettuce, halved

• 125g cherry tomatoes

• Caesar salad dressing, to drizzle

• Shaved parmesan, to serve

METHOD

1. Heat the oil in a non-stick frying pan over mediumhigh heat. Add the bacon and cook, stirring, for 3 minutes or until golden brown. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towel. Add the garlic butter and breadcrumbs to the pan and cook, stirring, for 1-2 minutes or until golden. Transfer to a bowl.

2. Arrange the lettuce on a serving platter in a wreath shape (use the picture as a guide). Cut half the tomatoes in half and the remaining into quarters and arrange on top of the lettuce. Drizzle over the dressing and sprinkle with the bacon, breadcrumb mixture and parmesan to serve.