FENNEL SEED CORNBREAD STUFFING WITH BACON

STUFFING:

INGREDIENTS

• 1 stick (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter, cut into several slices 
• 1/4 pound bacon, diced
• 1 large leek, white part only - cleaned, halved and chopped 
• 4  celery stalks, chopped and leaves reserved
• 6 croissants, cut into 1-inch cubes (about 12 cups)
• Fennel-seed cornbread (recipe follows), cut into 1-inch cubes
• 2  tablespoons chopped fresh sage
• 2  tablespoons chopped fresh thyme 
• 2  cups chicken, beef or pork broth
• 1/2 cup heavy cream 
• 4  large eggs
• 1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne

 DIRECTIONS 

1. Preheat the oven to 325°F.

2. In a large 10-12 inch skillet, sauté the bacon until 80-90% cooked. After the bacon is cooked, carefully pour off the fat and reserve for later.

3. Add the butter. After the butter has melted, add the leek and celery. 

4. Cook, stirring occasionally, for about 5 minutes, until the leek mixture is soft and translucent. Add the sage and thyme in the last minute of cooking. Remove from the heat. 

5. Place the corn bread and the croissant in a large mixing bowl and toss in the leek-herb and bacon mixture.

6. In a small bowl, combine the broth, cream and eggs and stir together. Incorporate this into the bread mixture and season with the salt and cayenne.  

7. Return to the skillet, cover with aluminum foil and bake for 45 minutes.

8. After 45 minutes, remove the aluminum foil and brush the surface of the stuffing with the reserved bacon fat. Bake for an additional 15-20 minutes or until golden brown on the surface. Allow to cool slightly before serving. 

CORNBREAD:

INGREDIENTS 

• 2  tablespoons bacon grease or canola oil
• 1 1/2 cups yellow cornmeal
• 1/2  cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4  cup sugar
• 2  teaspoons baking powder
• 2  teaspoons Kosher salt
• 2  teaspoons fennel seed (toasted and ground)
• 1/2  teaspoon baking soda
• 2  cups buttermilk
• 2  large eggs, beaten
• 2  tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

DIRECTIONS 

1. Preheat oven to 425°F. Coat a 9- or 10-inch cast-iron skillet with the bacon grease and place it in the oven to heat while you mix the batter.

2. Combine the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, ground fennel seed, and baking soda in a large bowl and stir to mix. Add the buttermilk, eggs, and butter and stir until just combined; do not over-mix. The batter should be lumpy.

3. Pour the batter into the hot skillet and sprinkle the top with a little salt and the whole fennel seeds. 

4. Bake until the top is golden brown and a sharp knife or cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean, about 25 minutes.