Bacon stuffed cabbage balls with potato and leek purée

Name: Bacon stuffed cabbage balls with potato and leek purée
Ingredients: 100g/3½oz smoked streaky bacon; 110g/3½oz unsalted butter; 2 sprigs fresh thyme, leaves only, chopped; 2 garlic cloves, chopped; 1 onion, finely chopped; 3 small carrots, peeled and finely chopped; 2 tbsp vegetable oil; 300g/10½oz pork mince; 2 tbsp chopped fresh flatleaf parsley; 1 Savoy cabbage, leaves removed, frozen and defrosted, central vein removed; 350ml/12fl oz chicken stock; 30g/1oz unsalted butter; 2 sprigs fresh thyme, left whole; 2 leeks, finely sliced; 100ml/3½fl oz double cream; 100ml/3½fl oz full-fat milk; 2 large potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks; 100ml/3½fl oz chicken stock; 1 carrot with leaves, peeled and then peeled into long strips