DATE, BACON AND ROSEMARY CORN BREAD

Date, Bacon and Rosemary Corn Bread image

Provided by Molly O'Neill

Time 45m

Yield 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 14

Ingredients

2 tablespoons vegetable oil, plus more for greasing the pan
1/2 cup chopped pitted dates, plus 12 dates, peeled, halved lengthwise and pitted
1 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup yellow cornmeal
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary
1 egg
1 cup milk
8 strips bacon, fried, drained and diced
2 tablespoons maple syrup
Pinch cayenne pepper

Steps:

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Grease a 9-inch springform pan with vegetable oil. Line the inside perimeter of the pan with the halved dates, putting the rounded side of the dates toward the pan. Set aside.
In a mixing bowl, stir together the flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, salt, pepper and rosemary. In another bowl, whisk the egg and milk together. Whisk in the 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil. Add the flour mixture, the chopped dates and the bacon and stir just to combine.
Scrape the mixture into the prepared pan. Bake until the bread is lightly browned and firm to the touch, about 20 to 25 minutes.
Mix the maple syrup and cayenne together. Remove the sides of the pan and brush the dates and the top of the bread with the maple syrup. Cut into thin wedges and serve warm with roast chicken, lamb or pork.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 348, UnsaturatedFat 11 grams, Carbohydrate 41 grams, Fat 17 grams, Fiber 2 grams, Protein 8 grams, SaturatedFat 5 grams, Sodium 280 milligrams, Sugar 16 grams, TransFat 0 grams