Cheesy Pumpkin and Bacon Baked Slice

Preheat your oven to 180°C/356°F. Start by roasting the diced pumpkin in a roasting pan, drizzled with a bit of olive oil. Season it with some freshly cracked pepper and a pinch of salt. Roast until just tender, approximately 20-25 minutes. Roasting the pumpkin first gives it an amazing depth of flavor rather than a raw taste.

In a pan, sauté the chopped bacon until crispy to extract its full flavor. Remove bacon from the pan and sauté onions in the same pan to let it absorb the bacon flavor. Add garlic to the pan when onions turn golden brown.

In a mixing bowl, combine eggs, milk, and flour. Stir until combined. To ensure your slice holds up well, make sure there are no lumps in the mixture.

To assemble your slice, line a baking dish with the roasted pumpkin, sautéed bacon, onion, and garlic. Pour the egg mixture over the top, ensuring it reaches the corners and covers the filling. For the cheese lovers, sprinkle some grated cheese over the top at this point.

Bake for about 30-40 minutes or until the surface becomes golden brown and the mixture has set. Use a skewer to check; it should come out clean that indicates the slice is cooked well inside too.

Remove from the oven and let it rest for a bit before serving. Garnish with fresh herbs for an added burst of flavor.