The best bread sauce

Method

1. Top, tail and peel the onion, reserving the trimmings for the gravy, if making our zero-waste Christmas dinner. Halve the onion and put in a medium pan with the milk, cloves, peppercorns and bay leaf. Bring almost to the boil, then remove from the heat and cover. Leave for at least 20 minutes to infuse.
2. Strain the milk into another pan and add the breadcrumbs. Cook for a few minutes, stirring, until warmed through and thickened. Add the cream and a splash of water, then season with salt, pepper and freshly grated nutmeg. If making ahead, cool, then keep covered in the fridge for up to 24 hours. Gently reheat before serving.