Chili Loaf

Total Time: 1 hr Preparation Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 50 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 1 (1 lb) round or oval french bread
• 1 tablespoon butter, melted
• 1 cup neufchatel cheese
• 2 large eggs
• 3/4 cup nonfat milk
• 1/4 cup flour
• 1/2 teaspoon ground mild california chili powder or 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 (7 ounce) can diced green chilies
• 1/2 cup 2% low-fat cheddar cheese, shredded
• 1 (1/2 lb) firm-ripe avocado
• 1 tablespoon lime juice
• green tomatillo sauce

Recipe

• 1 cut the top off the loaf leaving an edge 3/4-1 inch from crust rim. pull out the center of the loaf. tear the center bread into 1/2 inch bread chunks.
• 2 brush the interior of the loaf with enough butter to coat. wrap the crust with foil.
• 3 bake at 350 until interior is lightly toasted, 7-9 minutes.
• 4 blend neufchatel cheese, eggs, 1/2 cup milk, flour, chili, and salt. stir chilies into cheese mixture.
• 5 set hot crust on a baking sheet and pour filling into it.
• 6 add remaining 1/4 cup milk, stir with a fork, then push enough 1/2 inch chunks of bread into the filling to bring it up to the crust rim.
• 7 return loaf to the oven. bake until center is firmly set when loaf is gently shaken, 40-45 minutes.
• 8 remove from oven and immediately sprinkle with cheddar cheese. let cool at least 15 minutes. remove foil.
• 9 peel and thenly slice or dice avocado, mix with lime juice, and arrange on the chili loaf.
• 10 cut loaf and serve with tomatillo sauce and salt to taste.