Maple Roasted Stuffed Bacon Rolls

Serves: 2

Santiago Howell

1 January 1970

Based on User reviews:

48

Spice

44

Sweetness

50

Sourness

42

mins

Prep time (avg)

4.4

Difficulty

Ingredients:

Directions:

1

Special equipment: Food processor Shallow baking sheet and roasting rack wooden tooth picks For the bread crumbs: Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F

2

Tear the bread into pieces (leave the crusts on) and place in the bowl of your food processor fitted with the steel blade and process until of fine crumb consistency (see note)

3

Measure your bread crumbs (3 generous cups) and place on a shallow baking sheet

4

Place in the oven and set your timer for 10 minutes

5

When the timer goes off, check the crumbs

6

They should feel dry with a light golden color

7

If still soft, swish them around to redistribute and place back into the oven for a few minutes and check again but don't allow them to scorch

8

Remove from the oven and pour the crumbs into a bowl

9

Note: Generally, between 5 and 6 slices of bread will yield 1 cup of crumbs

10

To prepare the stuffing: Melt 3 tablespoons butter in an 8inch skillet over medium heat

11

When the butter is hot and bubbling, stir in the minced onions, celery and garlic

12

Saute the vegetables until softened and fragrant 3minutes

13

Stir in the minced water chestnuts and thyme

14

Cook gently for one more minute just to release the flavor of the thyme

15

Stir in the parsley and remove from the stove

16

Pour the contents of the skillet into the bowl with the crumbs and fold together to combine

17

Replace the skillet to the stove over medium heat and melt 2 more tablespoons of butter

18

When hot, add the chicken livers in a single layer and sear on both sides until golden

19

Reduce the flame, cover and simmer for 2 minutes just to cook through

20

(Avoid overcooking the liver

21

They should retain pinkness in the center

22

) Uncover the skillet, raise the heat and cook just a bit to caramelize the bits of onion and liver that cling to the bottom of the skillet

23

Remove the livers to a cutting surface and allow them to cool slightly

24

Meanwhile, pour the butter out of the skillet but do not wipe out the interior

25

Place the skillet back over medium heat and pour in the chicken stock

26

Bring the stock to a boil and reduce by 1/2 as you occasionally scrape any bits of caramelized liver and vegetables up off the bottom of the pan

27

While the stock reduces, chop the chicken livers into small but still textural pieces making sure they don't become "pastelike"

28

Fold into the bowl of crumbs

29

When not more than 1/2 cup of stock remains in the skillet, remove from the stove and *swirl in the remaining 3 tablespoons butter

30

Pour the reduced and concentrated stock/butter mixture into the bowl of crumbs and when just warm, stir in the beaten egg

31

Season well with salt and freshly ground black pepper

32

To work with bacon: Lift small walnut sized portions of the stuffing mixture and gently squeeze to help the crumbs bind together

33

Roll each portion into a ball and place on a tray

34

Cut your packages of bacon in half widthwise using sharp kitchen shears

35

Take two pieces of bacon (equal to 1 whole piece) and lay them in a "crisscross" on your work surface

36

Continue assembling as many pairs of bacon strips as can comfortably fit on your work surface

37

To assemble bacon rolls: Brush the exposed (facing up) side of the bacon lightly with some maple syrup

38

Take one ball of stuffing and place in the center where the two pieces of bacon cross and overlap

39

Wrap the exposed bacon around the stuffing alternating with the bottom, side, top and side strips

40

Secure the roll with one or two tooth picks

41

If not baking right away, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until needed

42

To roast: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees

43

Place the stuffed bacon rolls on a roasting rack that sits over a shallow baking sheet

44

Roast them in a preheated oven until crisp and piping hot throughout, about 30 to 35 minutes (see TimeManagement Tip)

45

Serve hot or at least warm