Stuffed onions

6 large onions
1 tbsp olive oil
3 rashers bacon, trimmed, finely diced
1 cup fresh breadcrumbs
1/3 cup grated tasty cheese (can substitute brie)
1/4 cup semi-dried tomatoes, finely chopped
1 egg, whisked
salt and pepper to season
20g butter, cubed
shredded flat leaf parsley leaves to serve

1. Preheat oven to 180C. Line an oven tray with baking paper. Put onions in a large deep saucepan and cover with water. Bring to the boil over a medium heat. Reduce heat and simmer for 15-20 mins or until onions are tender. Drain and refresh under cold water. Set aside to cool.
2. Use a small teaspoon to remove centres of onions and discard, leaving roots intact and 2cm thick shells. Heat oil in frying pan over a medium heat. Add bacon and cook for 3 mins or golden.
3. Combine bacon, breadcrumbs, chees, tomato and egg in a bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Gently spoon mixture into onions. Put on prepared tray and top onions with butter. Bake for 30 mins or until light golden. Top with parsley and serve immediately.

Cranberry, mint and almond shoulder of lamb

1 bunch mint, leaves picked
1 cup dried cranberries
1 cup fresh homemade white breadcrumbs
1 egg, whisked
salt and pepper, to season
2x 1kg boned shoulders of lamb, fat trimmed
2 bunches baby carrots, trimmed
200g green beans, trimmed
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tbsp flaked almonds, toasted

1. Preheat oven to 200C. roughly chop 1/2 the mint and put in a medium bowl. Add cranberries, breadcrumbs and egg. Season with salt and pepper. Put lamb on a large chopping board, skin side down. Top with cranberry mixture, pressing down firmly. Roll up lamb to enclose filling and secure with kitchen twine.
2. Put lamb in a roasting pan. Season with salt and pepper. Roast for 1 1/4 hours for medium-rare or until cooked to your liking. Transfer to a serving platter. cover to keep warm.
3. Put carrots into a large deep frying pan and cover with water. Bring to the boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 8 mins or until tender. Add beans, cook for 1 min, drain.
4. heat oil in a small saucepan over a medium heat. When hot, add remaining mint leaves, 4 at a time, and cook for 30 seconds or until crisp. Transfer to prepared plate. Sprinkle toasted almonds and mint leaves over lamb. Serve with carrots and beans on the side.

Cauliflower and Toasted Crumbs

Ingredients

Serves 4 as side dish or entree

1 tight head of fresh white cauliflower
1 head of garlic
1 x 7 g tin anchovies – drained, blotted of excess oil and chopped
1/2 loaf sour dough bread to yield 1 to 1.5 cups coarse breadcrumbs
2 tablespoons lemon thyme
2 tablespoons chopped flat leaf parsley
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil

Method

Cut cauliflower into 1” chunks and blanch. Separate garlic cloves and blanch (five minutes in boiling water then into ice water and drain). Peel garlic after blanching and gently sauté in some of the extra virgin olive oil until almost cooked through and almost golden (around seven minutes). Add the lemon thyme and cauliflower pieces and cook till pieces golden and cooked through. Add breadcrumbs and brown then chopped anchovies and freshly chopped parsley, garlic cloves and it’s ready to serve. Add Grated pecorino if desired.

Originally from: http://www.abc.net.au/tv/cookandchef/txt/s1749831.htm