BREAD STUFFING WITH BACON & CARAMELIZED ONIONS

(MAKES ABOUT 12 CUPS)
For the best flavour, make sure to cook the onions until they are a deep golden-brown colour.
1 pound bacon, cut crosswise into ½-inch strips
6 medium onions, chopped (about 7 cups)
4 stalks celery, chopped
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
½ cup fresh parsley leaves, chopped fine
12 cups dried French or other white bread cubes (dried—see note*)
1 cup chicken stock or low-sodium canned broth
3 large eggs, lightly beaten


*Note: to dry bread cubes: leave slices of bread out overnight to dry on cookie sheets. The next day, cut the slices into half-inch cubes and allow them to dry in a single layer for an additional night. QUICKIE METHOD: place cubed bread in a 225 degree oven for 30 minutes or until dried but not browned. You will need a one-pound loaf of bread to obtain the 12 cups of bread cubes necessary for the recipe (that’s about a regular sized loaf of bread).

1. Cook bacon in large skillet or Dutch overn over medium heat until crisp and browned, about 12 minutes. Remove bacon from pan and drain on paper towels. Discard all but 3 tablespoon of rendered bacon fat.
   
2. Increase heat to medium-high and add onions and ¼ teaspoon of salt. Cook onions until golden in colour, making sure to stir occasionally and scrape sides and bottom of pan, about 20 minutes. Add chopped celery. Reduce heat to medium and continue to cook, stirring more often to prevent burning, until onions are deep golden brown, and celery is soft, another 5 minutes. Transfer contents of pan to large bowl.
   
3. Add remaining ¾ teaspoon salt, pepper, and parsley to bowl and mix to combine. Add bread cubes. Add drained bacon.
   
4. Whisk stock and eggs together in small bowl. Pour mixture over bread cubes. Gently toss to evenly distribute ingredients.
   
5. Stuff turkey with stuffing. Or bake the whole thing in a baking dish.
   The stuffing can be covered and refrigerated for one day. Place any stuffing that won’t fit in the bird in a greased baking dish. Dot with pats of butter, and cover with piece of foil that has been smeared with butter or sprayed with non-stick spray. Bake in 400 degree oven for about 25 minutes

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