Festive Holiday Charcuterie Wreath

Preparation
Bowl icon

15

Minutes

Total Time
Clock icon

15

Minutes

Serves
Portions icon

6 to 8

servings

  • Ingredients

  • Preparation

  1. Assemble deli wreath onto a large platter by placing the brie or camembert at the top as a starting point.
  2. Stagger meat and cheese into the shape of a ring. Place bay leaves around the outside of the wreath tucked firmly under the meats and cheeses.
  3. Garnish with nuts, dried fruit, herbs and crackers.
Tips icon

The possibilities are endless to creating your favorite charcuterie. Try replacing nuts and dried fruit with olives and cherry tomatoes!

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Marbled Bacon Walnut Bark

Preparation
Bowl icon

10

Minutes

Total Time
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40 + 30 min chilling

Minutes

Serves
Portions icon

12- 20

pieces

  • Ingredients

  • Preparation

  • 6slices Maple Leaf® Original Bacon OR Lazy Maple Bacon
  • 1250g bag good quality bittersweet chocolate chips
  • 1225g bag good quality pure white chocolate chips
  • 2tbsp toast walnuts or pecans, finely chopped
  • Lemon juice – optional
  1. Preheat oven to 400°.
  2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and lay 6 slices of bacon flat. Cook on center rack of oven for 15 to 20 minutes or until completely crisp and golden brown. Remove onto a cooling rack and blot bacon completely on both sides, set aside to cool.
  3. Meanwhile pour bittersweet chocolate into a microwave glass bowl and the white chocolate into a second bowl. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Microwave bittersweet chocolate for 35 to 40 second intervals stirring each time until chocolate has melted. Be careful not to overheat and burn the chocolate during the last interval – reduce time to ensure smooth melted chocolate.
  4. Using a rubber spatula pour the chocolate onto prepared baking sheet.
  5. Using an off-set spatula spread the chocolate into the shape of a square being careful not to spread too thin.
  6. Repeat heating step for white chocolate.
  7. Spoon dollops of white chocolate all over the bittersweet chocolate. Drag your rubber spatula in a zig zag pattern across the chocolate
  8. On a clean surface chop cooled bacon into fine pieces and immediately sprinkle evenly over marbled chocolate. Sprinkle nuts over top and softly press down with the back of a clean spoon any toppings that are not adhered to the chocolate bark.
  9. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. Once completely chilled use a butter knife and crack bark into desired number of pieces. Enjoy right away or place in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 1 week.
Tips icon

Be creative! Make this your own – need thought starters? Things that go great with bacon… Smores bark – bacon, mini marshmallows and crushed graham crackers Bacon, fruit and nut – bacon, assorted nuts and chopped dried fruit such as apricots and cranberry

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Bacon Wrapped Cranberry Stuffing Bites

Preparation
Bowl icon

5

Minutes

Total Time
Clock icon

35 to 40

Minutes

Serves
Portions icon

10

stuffing bites

  • Ingredients

  • Preparation

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  2. Divide stuffing to make 10 round balls.
  3. Wrap each ball with bacon and secure with toothpick. Place on a parchment paper lined baking sheet.
  4. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or desired doneness for bacon.
  5. Spoon a small dollop of prepared cranberry sauce on to each bites and garnish with rosemary. Serve immediately.
Tips icon

Sprinkle bacon with course black pepper and paprika before wrapping bites for an added flavor punch.

**Use stove top method on stuffing box for a moister bite or the stuffing method for a drier bite.

**Double the recipe to batch it up for a crowd

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Tangy Pomegranate Chicken

Preparation
Bowl icon

5

Minutes

Total Time
Clock icon

50

Minutes

Serves
Portions icon

4

Portions

  • Ingredients

  • Preparation

  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F.
  2. Insert the onion inside the chicken cavity.
  3. Thoroughly mix the olive, salt, pepper, and thyme together. Evenly pour mixture over chicken.
  4. Roast chicken for 45 minutes.
  5. Meanwhile, in a saucepan stir in all ingredients of the glaze and bring to a boil over medium heat. Stir occasionally and reduce to ¾ of its original size and set aside.
  6. Halfway through the cook time, baste the chicken with the glaze and baste again at 40 minutes. Chicken should be a deep golden brown colour and cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F.
  7. Allow to rest a few minutes before carving.
Tips icon

Serve with orange slices and pomegranate for a decorative look – and squeeze orange over chicken for an added tangy taste!

If the chicken is browning too quickly, cover loosely with tin foil and remove for the last 10 to 15 minutes of cook time.

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Bacon Sweet Potato Mash

Preparation
Bowl icon

5

Minutes

Total Time
Clock icon

20

Minutes

Serves
Portions icon

4

Portions

  • Ingredients

  • Preparation

  1. Heat a large skillet over medium high heat.
  2. Cook bacon until just crisp, about 5 to 6 minutes.
  3. Using a slotted spoon, remove onto a paper towel lined plate and keep warm.
  4. Add heavy cream, maple syrup, butter, and cooked bacon to the prepared mashed sweet potatoes and combine until all ingredients are incorporated and have a silky texture.
  5. Add salt to taste.
  6. Serve immediately.
Tips icon

Tight on time? Swap our Maple Leaf® Original Natural Bacon to our Maple Leaf® Ready Crisp® Fully Cooked Natural Bacon Pieces!

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Baked Black Forest Ham with Brazilian Pineapple and Cranberry Chutney

Preparation
Bowl icon

10

Minutes

Total Time
Clock icon

20

Minutes

Serves
Portions icon

4

Portions

  • Ingredients

  • Preparation

  • 1600gr Maple Leaf Black Forest Smoked Ham, cooked per package directions and kept warm
  • 3cups ripe pineapple, cut into ½ inch pieces
  • ½cup frozen cranberries, par thawed
  • 1tbsp brown sugar
  • ¼tsp cinnamon
  • Pinch nutmeg
  • 1tsp maple syrup
  • 2tbsp butter
  • Pinch salt
  1. In a large bowl combine pineapple, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, maple syrup and salt. Stir well to combine.
  2. Heat butter over medium high heat in a large nonstick skillet. Add pineapple mixture and cook stirring occasionally. Allow pineapples to brown and caramelize, about 3 to 4 minutes.
  3. Add cranberries and cook for about 2 to 3 minutes more until cranberries just start to soften and burst.
  4. Slice ham and spoon chutney over top.
Tips icon

Make ahead alert! This chutney is so good you will want to make a double batch. Make ahead and keep in an airtight container for
3 days.

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Quick Skillet Holiday Tuscan Chicken

Preparation
Bowl icon

5

Minutes

Total Time
Clock icon

30

Minutes

Serves
Portions icon

4 to 5

Portions

  • Ingredients

  • Preparation

  • 2pkg Maple Leaf Prime RWA Thin Sliced Chicken
  • 2tbsp olive oil
  • 3tbsp butter
  • 1tbsp garlic, minced
  • 1pint cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1142gr cup baby spinach
  • 1cup cream
  • ¼cup chicken stock
  • 1cup parmesan cheese, finely grated
  • 2sprigs fresh rosemary
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • Fresh Pomegranate Arils
  • Sage
  1. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium high heat. Working in batches brown chicken 2 minutes on each side. Set aside and keep warm.
  2. Heat butter in the same skillet. Add garlic and cook stirring frequently for about 1 minutes. Add tomatoes and cook for about 2 to 3 minutes more. Add spinach and allow to wilt.
  3. Pour in cream and chicken stock and warm through, about 2 minutes. Add parmesan and stir well until melted into sauce.
  4. Return chicken to skillet and add rosemary sprigs. Cover and reduce heat to low. Simmer for about 20 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and has reached 165 degrees.
  5. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Remove onto patter and garnish with pomegranate and sage.
Tips icon

Serve with sauce over mashed potatoes for a complete meal. Try sweet potato mash for a switch up!

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Bacon Braised Collard Greens

Preparation
Bowl icon

15

Minutes

Total Time
Clock icon

1h 45

Minutes

Serves
Portions icon

6

(side dish)

  • Ingredients

  • Preparation

  • 1375g pkg Maple Leaf® Original bacon, diced
  • 2bunches collard greens, woody ends and thick veins removed – cleaned and roughly chopped
  • 1large onion, thinly sliced
  • 1tbsp garlic, minced
  • 2cup chicken broth
  • 1 ½tsp apple cider vinegar
  • Freshly ground pepper
  • Hot pepper sauce – to taste, optional
  1. Place bacon in a large deep nonstick skillet with tight fitting lid or a Dutch oven.
  2. Cook bacon over medium high heat stirring for about 3 to 4 minutes until just starting to turn golden brown. Add onions and cook for 2 minutes more. Add garlic and cook for an additional minute. Add collard greens and combine with bacon mixture and allow to wilt for 2 to 3 minutes. Pour chicken broth and apple cider vinegar into mixture and stir well. Cover and reduce heat to low and allow to simmer for about 1 to 1 ½ hours.
  3. Season with fresh ground pepper and add hot sauce to taste if using.
Tips icon

This makes for a wonderful savory and luxurious side dish to your holiday table. Easily clean your collard greens by plunging leaves into a large bowl filled with cold water. Swirl around to loosen any debris. Allow to stand for about 10 minutes to let debris fall to the bottom. Carefully lift leaves out onto paper towel – don’t disturb the water as it will redistribute onto the leaves. Fold leaves in half and cut along the vein to remove from leaf. Roughly chop and you are done!

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Bacon Two Bite Stuffed Mushrooms

Preparation
Bowl icon

10

Minutes

Total Time
Clock icon

45-48

Minutes

Serves
Portions icon

18

mushrooms

  • Ingredients

  • Preparation

  • 6slices Maple Leaf® Original Bacon, small dice
  • cup parsley, minced
  • 18mushrooms, cleaned and stems removed and reserved
  • ½cup seasoned breadcrumbs
  • ½cup Italian cheese blend, fine shred
  • ½cup Parmesan cheese, find shred
  • 2tbsp red pepper, minced
  • 1tbsp garlic, grated
  • ½cup herb and garlic cream cheese, softened
  • Freshly ground pepper
  • Olive oil
  1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
  2. Prepare a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Line mushrooms onto baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil.
  3. Finely chop mushrooms stems and set aside.
  4. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat and cook bacon for 3 to 4 minutes. When bacon is just crisping and turning golden brown add chopped mushroom stems and red peppers. Cook for about 2 to 3 minutes until vegetables are just softening. Add garlic and parsley and cook for about 1 minute longer stirring frequently. Remove from heat and set aside.
  5. In a large bowl add cheeses, breadcrumbs, cream cheese and reserved bacon mixture.
  6. Mix and combine well with a wooden spoon. Divide mixture and with clean hands mold mixture into small balls and stuff mushroom cavities.
  7. Place stuffed mushrooms onto prepared baking sheet.
  8. Tent mushrooms loosely with tin foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove tin foil and cook for about 6 to 7 minutes longer. Broil on low for last 2 minutes of cooking until mushrooms are golden
Tips icon

Make ahead! Prepare mixture up to 1 day in advance and stuff mushrooms when ready to use!

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