Ingredients

• 12 slices bread (any kind)
• margarine
• 100 g bacon (rindless)
• 1 small onion
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 cup shredded tasty cheese
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic (or more, jar ok)
• 1 tablespoon oil
• 4 tablespoons plain flour
• 2 1/2 cups milk
• 1/2 teaspoon mustard or 1 pinch dry mustard
• salt and fresh pepper

Instructions

1. Cut the crusts from your bread, and the tips off the corners.

2. Spread with margarine, very lightly.

3. Press, butter side down, into a 12 hole muffin tin, or a tart pan.

4. Bake at 180°C for about 15 minutes, until the breadcases are dry. (These can then be frozen for a few months).

5. Melt your butter and oil over medium heat, using a medium sized fry pan.

6. Add the diced bacon and diced onion and saute for about 5 minutes, then add the garlic and saute a minute longer.

7. Using a metal strainer, strain the bacon and onion mixture.

8. In a middle size heavy saucepan, measure in 2 tablespoons of the strained oil, and the bacon mixture. (if you need to add oil to make up the 2 tablespoons, that's fine).

9. heat until sizzling, then stir in 2 tablespoons of the plain flour, stirring with a wooden spoon.

10. When the flour is absorbed, add another tablespoon, stir until you cant see any flour, and then sprinkle the last spoonful, stirring until it is totally absorbed. (all flour is different, you only need enough to absorb all the flour, without white "bits").

11. Keep stirring and add 1.5 cups of milk.

12. Stir briskly until the mixture thickens, and there are no lumps.

13. Add the last cup of milk.

14. Allow to cook for about 2 minutes, stirring constantly.

15. Take off the Heat and add the cheese and mustard, stirring until the cheese has melted. (the mustard brings out the flavour of the cheese, but if you don't like it, you can leave it out).

16. refrigerate the mix till serving time.

17. Put the bread cases onto a tray, and fill with the cheese mixture. You may like to sprinkle a little more cheese on top, either Cheddar or Parmesan.

18. Bake at 180°C for about 15 minutes.

19. Leave to cool slightly before serving.

20. You can make a heap of variations to this recipe, like replace the bacon with a small tin of savoury tuna or salmon, or leave out the bacon and add chopped smoked salmon with the cheese.