2 tablespoons butter or margarine
1 onion – chopped
1 celery stalk – diced
1 cup fresh bread cubes
1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
OR 1 teaspoon dried thyme
salt and pepper
4 trout, dressed (about 1/2 pound each)
8 bacon slices
celery leaves or parsley, for garnishing
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Preheat the oven to 450 F.
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Melt the butter or margarine in a frying pan. Add onion and celery and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat. Add the bread cubes, thyme, and season with salt and pepper to taste. Stir to mix well.
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Season the cavity of each trout with salt and pepper.
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Stuff each trout with the bread mixture, dividing it evenly among the fish. If necessary, secure the openings with wooden toothpicks.
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Wrap 2 bacon slices around each stuffed trout. Arrange in a baking dish, in one layer.
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Bake until the fish flakes easily when tested with a fork and the bacon is crisp, 35-40 minutes. Serve garnished with celery leaves or sprigs of parsley.