3919. BUTTER LETTUCE SALAD with HAZELNUTS and BACON BITS

Yield: 2 servings for lunch or 4 servings as a side



1 tablespoon white balsamic vinegar

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 head butter lettuce, separated into leaves

2 thin slices bacon, cooked until crisp and broken into bite-size pieces

2 hard-boiled eggs, halved and lightly salted and peppered

1/4 cup toasted hazelnuts, roughly chopped

1 1/2 ounces Roquefort or other blue cheese, crumbled


Whisk to combine the vinegar, oil, chives and salt and pepper to taste in a bowl.



Toss the lettuce with the dressing in a large salad bowl. Divide the lettuce between 2 large bowls or plates. Divide the bacon, eggs, nuts and cheese between the 2 plates, layering them in that order.




bacon recipe source: Valerie Bertinelli

, "Best Girls' Night In," Valerie's Home Cooking; adapted from One Dish at a Time: Delicious Recipes from My Italian-American Childhood and Beyond by Valerie Bertinelli (Rodale, 2012).

3798. BLUE CHEESE BURGER with BACON WALNUT CHUTNEY

Servings: 1

For Burger:
6-8 ounces ground beef (or beef blend)
Salt and pepper
1/3 cup (2 ounces) blue cheese, crumbled and divided
1 bun, toasted
1-2 tablespoons (1 1/2 ounces) Walnut Bacon Bourbon Chutney (recipe below)
2 large leaves butter lettuce

For Walnut Bacon Bourbon Chutney:
1 pound thick cut bacon, diced
1 medium onion, diced
3/4 cup combination of chopped fruits/vegetables: pears, fennel and/or rehydrated apricots, sun dried tomatoes, figs, dried cranberries, cherries or yellow raisins
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 teaspoon thyme
2 tablespoons brown sugar, packed
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
2 tablespoons bourbon
1/2 cup water
3/4 cup walnuts, toasted and chopped
Salt and fresh ground pepper to taste

For burger: Season beef with salt and pepper to taste and form burger. Use preferred method to stuff burger with 1 ounce blue cheese; grill burger to desired doneness. Top bottom of bun with some bacon walnut chutney and lettuce; place grilled burger over lettuce and garnish with remaining blue cheese and additional chutney.

For chutney: In large pan, fry bacon until crisp; remove bacon and drain all but enough bacon fat to coat bottom of pan. Add onion and sauté until translucent; add fruit and/or vegetables, garlic and thyme; sauté another minute. Add sugar, vinegar, bourbon and water; simmer covered until liquid is reduced by 3/4. Remove from heat and cool slightly. Add cooked bacon and walnuts. Season with salt and pepper. Top blue cheese burger with chutney. Reserve remaining chutney for additional burgers.

bacon recipe source: Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board (@WisconsinCheese), 8418 Excelsior Drive, Madison, Wisconsin 53717

3564. AVOCADO, BACON and MANGO SALAD with QUESO FRESCO DRESSING

serves 3-4

 

For salad:

1 head butter lettuce, or any soft lettuce like Boston Bibb

1 avocado, pitted, peeled & sliced

1 mango, peeled & sliced

4-5 strips bacon, cooked until crisp and chopped

queso fresco for garnish

For dressing:

½ cup olive oil

¼ cup rice wine vinegar

3 tablespoons mayonnaise

3 tablespoons queso fresco

salt to taste

Salad: Place lettuce in a large serving bowl. Top with avocado and mango. Drizzle dressing, if desired, then sprinkle with bacon and extra queso fresco for garnish.

 

Dressing: In a mixer or food processor, process all ingredients together until smooth. Season to taste. Pour into an airtight container and refrigerate until ready to use.

 

 

bacon recipe source: Dianna Muscari (@TheKitchenPrep), Honest Cooking, May 28, 2014

2764. BACON, ASPARAGUS and BUTTER LETTUCE SALAD

serves 4-6


8 oz. asparagus spears
1 bunch butter lettuce, torn in pieces
1 handful of arugula leaves
3 ripe tomatoes, cut into wedges
12 black pitted olives
1/4 cup pine nuts, toasted
8 slices bacon, fried medium crisp and crumbled (divided)
1/4 cup fresh mozzarella, cubed 1/4 inch

Dressing:
1 teaspoon lemon extract
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon whole grain mustard
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
sea salt
black pepper

Steam asparagus for 4 minutes. Rinse in cold water. Cut into 1 to 2 inch pieces. Toss all the ingredients together and arrange on salad plates. Drizzle dressing over top. Top with a few reserved bacon crumbles.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Nueske's, 203 N. Genesee Street, Wittenberg, Wisconsin 54499

2600. CHICKEN BACON TACOS with SOUR CHERRIES and BRIE CHEESE

1 box taco shells
4-5 cups shredded cooked chicken
1 tablespoon cumin
½ teaspoon chili powder
1 cup sour cherries
1 tablespoon chopped garlic
2 tablespoon butter, sweet, unsalted
1 cup red onions, diced
 2 small wheels brie cheese, sliced
½ head shredded butter/bibb lettuce
1 cup sliced scallions
1 cup sour cream
1 cup cooked & crumbled bacon
2 cup salsa

Preheat Chicken to 325 to heat taco shells in oven as directed on box. When done, set aside. In a medium sauté pan place vegetable oil and heat on high add chicken garlic and onions, cherries, sprinkle seasoning and sauté for 3-5 minutes. Fill Taco shells with chicken filling and top off with shredded lettuce, brie cheese, sour cream & scallions, crumbled bacon.


bacon recipe courtesy of: KY3, PO Box 3500/999 West Sunshine Street, Springfield, MO 65808

2202. BUTTER LETTUCE SALAD with PEPPERED BACON, D'ANJOU PEARS, CANDIED WALNUTS and GORGONZOLA VINAIGRETTE

serves eight


1 head butter lettuce, torn into bite-size pieces
1 D'Anjou pear, sliced
2 strips of peppered bacon, cooked and chopped into pieces
1/2 cup candied walnuts

Dressing:
1 clove garlic
1 teaspoon thyme leaves
1 small shallot
1/4 cup crumbled gorgonzola
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground pepper

Put all of the salad dressing ingredients in a blender and blend well. Toss the greens with half the dressing, then add the walnuts, bacon and pear slices. Taste. If the salad needs more dressing, add a little bit at a time. Gently toss one more time and serve.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Caroline Fey, Mariposa Kitchen, San Francisco, California

2194. CRISPY DUCK LEG SALAD with POACHED PEARS and a WARM BACON VINAIGRETTE

yields four servings


Duck Confit
1 clove garlic, peeled and roughly chopped
1 bay leaf
4 tablespoons coarse sea salt
1 1/2 teaspoons black peppercorns
4x4 duck legs, thighs attached
1 pound rendered duck fat

Pears
3 pears, peeled, cored and cut into large dice
4 cups simple syrup
1 lemon

Vinaigrette
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 shallots, finely chopped
1 garlic clove, peeled and finely minced
3/4 cup diced double smoked bacon
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/4 cup hazelnut oil
1/4 cup grape seed oil
1 tablespoon rice vinegar

Salad
2 butter lettuce
1/4 cup finely sliced radicchio
lemon, juice only
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup Roquefort cheese, crumbled
1/4 cup toasted walnut pieces

Duck Confit: Mix together garlic, bay leaf, thyme, coarse sea salt and peppercorns in a roasting pan. Rub the seasonings onto duck legs and arrange them in one layer in the pan. Cover and refrigerate for 12 hours. Preheat the oven to 250 - 275 F. Take out duck from the refrigerator. Melt rendered duck fat (or lard) in a saucepan on medium heat and pour over duck legs, covering them completely. Cover the roasting pan with aluminum foil, shiny side in. Bake in the oven for 2 to 3 hours, or until the meat falls from the bone. Remove from the oven and allow duck to cool in the fat. Place duck legs in an airtight container and cover with duck fat strained through a fine-mesh sieve. Can be prepared ahead up to this point; will keep in the refrigerator for up to 1 month or in the freezer for up to 1 year.

Pears: Place simple syrup in a large saucepan. Cut lemon in half and squeeze juice into simple syrup and also add lemon pieces. Add diced pears and bring to a simmer for about 20 – 25 minutes or until tender (can be easily pierced with a paring knife). Remove from heat and allow to cool in liquid.

Vinaigrette: In a large fry pan heat olive oil over medium heat. Add shallots and garlic and sauté for about 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally as not to brown. Add bacon and cook until crisp. Stir in brown sugar and remove from heat. Add balsamic and Dijon mustard. Mix in hazelnut oil, grape seed oil, and rice vinegar. Return to heat for about 1 minute and keep warm.

Salad: Divide greens between 4 large plates. Add a little Roquefort, poached pears and walnuts to each salad. Place crispy duck leg on top and spoon over warm bacon vinaigrette. Serve immediately.

Assembly: Preheat the oven to 350 F. Remove duck legs from fat, wiping off excess with a paper towel, and place on a baking sheet or in an oven proof fry pan. Put in the oven for 10 to 15 minutes to heat through and to crisp skin. Remove from the oven and keep warm. In a large stainless steel bowl, add salad greens, lemon juice and season with salt and freshly ground white pepper. Drizzle in olive oil and toss together. Divide greens between 4 large plates. Add a little Roquefort, poached pears and walnuts to each salad. Place crispy duck leg on top and spoon over warm bacon vinaigrette. Serve immediately.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Rob Feenie, New Classics with Chef Rob Feenie, Food Network Canada

1492. WARM SALAD with JERUSALEM ARTICHOKES, BACON and RADICCHIO

makes four servings


6-8 Jerusalem artichokes, scrubbed
5 slices thick-cut bacon, cut into 1/2-inch slices
1 small red onion, thinly sliced
1 small head radicchio, halved and thinly sliced
1 large head butter lettuce
1 small handful flat leaf parsley, roughly chopped
4 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
extra virgin olive oil to taste (optional)
shaved Parmesan

Boil the artichokes in salty water until just soft, but nowhere near mushy. Slightly cool and cut into chunks.

Meanwhile, sauté the bacon in a large skillet until beginning to brown, then add the artichokes. Add onions and cook over high heat, stirring only occasionally, until everything is crispy.

Transfer the contents of the skillet into a large bowl, and season with salt and pepper. Add the balsamic vinegar, and, depending on the fat content of your bacon, a little olive oil to moisten. Add the radicchio and lettuce, and toss well. Transfer to serving plates and top with shaved Parmesan.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Cook With Jamie: My Guide to Making You a Better Cook by Jamie Oliver. Hyperion, 2007

1323. BUTTER LETTUCE with BACON, DRIED CHERRIES and ROQUERFORT VINAIGRETTE

makes 6 servings


8 slices bacon, diced (about 3/4 cup)
3 tablespoons mayonnaise
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 cup crumbled Roquefort cheese (about 4 ounces)
2 large heads of butter lettuce, outer leaves removed (reserve for another use), remaining leaves torn into large pieces
1/2 cup dried cherries (preferably tart; about 3 ounces)

Sauté bacon in heavy medium skillet over medium-high heat until brown and crisp. Using slotted spoon, transfer bacon to paper-towel-lined plate to drain. Whisk mayonnaise and vinegar in medium bowl. Gradually whisk in oil, then cheese. Season vinaigrette with salt and pepper.

Toss torn lettuce leaves, half of cherries and half of bacon with enough dressing to coat. Divide salad among 6 plates. Top with remaining cherries and bacon and serve.


courtesy of: Bon Appétit, December 2001

1050. GRILLED NECTARINE and BUTTER LETTUCE SALAD with BACON and PISTACHIOS

makes 6 servings


1 nectarine, peeled and pitted
3 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
3 tablespoon sherry or champagne vinegar
2 tablespoon honey
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 nectarines, pitted
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, flattened slightly
salt and pepper to taste
8 cup washed and torn butter lettuce, lightly packed
1/3 cup shelled pistachios
6 strips crisp, cooked bacon, crumbled
2 green onions, sliced

Combine all dressing ingredients in a blender or food processor and puree until smooth. Cover and chill until ready to serve. Cut each nectarine into 8 slices. Place on a well-oiled grill over medium-high heat and cook for a few minutes on each side to lightly brown. Season chicken with salt and pepper; place on grill and cook for about 5 minutes on each side or until cooked through. Let cool.* Place lettuce in a large salad bowl. Cut chicken into bite-size strips and add to bowl with pistachios, bacon, green onions and dressing; toss well. Add grilled nectarines and toss again lightly.


courtesy of: California Tree Fruit Agreement, 975 I Street, P.O. Box 968, Reedley, California 93654-0968, (559) 638-8260