Kepta Kiðkiena (Baked Rabbit)

http://ausis.gf.vu.lt/eka/food/meat.html

Ingredients:

• 1 k (2 lbs) rabbit meat, cut into medium pieces
• 200 g (3/4 cup) bacon, sliced
• 50 g (4 tablespoons) butter
• 1/2 cup bread crumbs; 1 cup sour cream
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• seasonings, pepper, 10 juniper berries, 1 teaspoon caraway seed, salt
• MARINADE
• 4 cups water
• 1 cup vinegar
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• bay leaves, salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

• Cook marinade, cool and soak rabbit pieces 24-48 hours, refrigerate.
• Remove rabbit from marinade, blot dry, lard pieces with bacon slices, rub pieces with oil and ground seasonings.
• Layer remaining bacon on bottom of roaster, place rabbit pieces on top, pour 1/2 cup of marinade and bake in preheated oven at 350F/180C, basting with pan juices until rabbit is soft.
• Serve baked rabbit pieces covered with bread crumbs and sprinkled with melted butter.
• A sauce made with pan juices and sour cream is served together and mashed potatoes and stewed beets.