3985. BACON and EGG POTATO SKINS

4 eggs

2 potatoes

2 pieces bacon

4 small rectangular slivers of cheese (to fit into the potatoes)

Salt & Pepper

Olive Oil

Parsley or cilantro to garnish

Optional toppings: chili flakes, salsa, avocado

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Microwave the 2 potatoes till cooked and cut them in half. Scoop out the insides of the potatoes - making little "potato boats" in the process. Add a sliver of cheese in each potato half and place potatoes on a baking tray. Brush potatoes with olive oil. Break an egg into each potato half and bake for 18-20 minutes. Cook strips of bacon and drain well on paper towels. Take the eggs out of the oven - making sure the whites are set. Sprinkle the potato skins with bacon and salt and pepper and parsley and chili flakes; avocados and salsa would make some super tasty toppings too.

bacon recipe source: Shashi, Runnin Srilankan (@RunninSriLankan), June 10, 2015

3970. ONE-POT PASTA with CHICKEN, BACON and BBQ SAUCE

Makes 6 servings

1 tablespoon bacon fat or olive oil

1 large boneless, skinless chicken breast half

sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

2 strips bacon, diced

½ medium onion, diced

1 garlic clove, minced

2 cups bone broth (see Notes)

1 15 oz. can stewed tomatoes, diced

½ cup milk

1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves

¼ teaspoon dried chili flakes

3 cups tricolor radiatori or other short pasta

⅓ cup BBQ sauce (homemade or store-bought)

½ cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Warm bacon fat or olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Season chicken with salt and pepper and place in the pot. Cook until golden brown without turning, 6-8 minutes. Flip and cook for another 6-8 minutes. Transfer chicken to a plate. Let cool for 5 minutes and then dice; it's OK if the chicken is raw in the middle as it will continue to cook when it's added back to the pot.

In the same pot, cook bacon and onion on medium heat, stirring occasionally, until bacon crisps and onion starts to brown, 8-10 minutes.

Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.

Add bone broth, tomatoes with juice, milk, thyme, chili flakes, pasta and diced chicken. Stir and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover and simmer for 5 minutes.

Uncover and continue simmering until pasta is cooked and liquid reduces, about 5 minutes.

Remove from heat and stir in BBQ sauce and cheese. Season with additional salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately.

Notes: Bone broth is made by simmering meaty bones for hours until they break down and release vitamins and minerals.


bacon recipe source: Alison Strickland (@AlisonTCG), Two of a Kind, June 2, 2015

3785. BACON and EGG BREAKFAST RAMEN

serves 1

Chili Oil

1 tablespoon oil

2 cloves garlic, niced

1 tablespoon chili flakes

Soy Dressing

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tablespoon soy sauce

1 tablespoon mirin

1 tablespoon rice vinegar

1 tablespoon sesame oil

1 teaspoon sugar

1/2 teaspoon dashi granules

Noodles

1 portion thick ramen noodles

3 crispy bacon

1 slow poached egg

Garnish

seaweed strips

sliced green onions

katsuobushi

toasted black sesame seeds

Heat up 1 tablespoon of oil in a small pan over medium-low heat. Add the garlic and chili flakes and cook, stirring, until the mixture heats up and sizzles, about 1-2 minutes. Do not burn – since this is a small amount, keep the heat low. You want the garlic mellow and the chili flakes to just release their spice. Remove from the pan and set aside to cool.

Mix together the soy dressing together in a small bowl. Set aside.

Cook the noodles according to the package and drain well. Toss with the soy dressing, to taste. Place the noodles in a shallow bowl and top with pork belly and a poached egg. Garnish with seaweed strips, green onions, katsuobushi, and toasted black sesame seeds. Serve with a generous amount of chili oil. Mix and enjoy!

bacon recipe source: Stephanie Le, i am a food blog (@iamafoodblog), September 6, 2015

3714. CHILI BACON JAM

makes two cups


600 grams (1 1/2 lb) good quality smoked rasher bacon
4 eschallots (brown shallots), thinly sliced
3 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 teaspoons smoked paprika
1 teaspoon dried chilli flakes
1/2 teaspoon ground mustard powder
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 bay leaves
3/4 cup (6 fl oz) whisky (substitute with brandy, or just water if preferred)
2/3 cup (7 fl oz) strong brewed coffee
4 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
3 tablespoons maple syrup
sea salt
freshly ground black pepper

Cut your bacon rashers into one inch pieces, then fry them in a large pot with a splash of oil until the meat is crisped and the fat has rendered out. Remove with a slotted spoon, then drain on paper towels. Set aside.

Drain all but 2 tablespoons of bacon fat from the pot. Add in your shallots and garlic over medium heat, and cook until the shallots are translucent. Add in the spices, brown sugar, chosen alcohol (if using) and a pinch of salt, cook for 3-4 minutes before adding in your other liquid ingredients: vinegar, coffee and maple syrup. Bring to the boil, then allow the liquid to reduce slightly for about five minutes.

Add in your reserved bacon, then immediately reduce the heat to low. Simmer, covered, for 30 minutes before stirring and allowing the mixture to evaporate. Cook for a further 30 minutes, or until the mixture is darkened, syrupy and fragrant.

Once at the desired consistency, allow the mixture to cool. Skim any oil off the surface with a spoon, and discard it alongside the bay leaves.

Transfer your cooled mixture to the bowl of a food processor. Process until it reaches the consistency of a chunky jam; you should still be able to see crunchy, crisp little bits of bacon amongst the syrupy, boozy spiced shallots. Taste, and add extra salt or pepper as required.


bacon recipe source: Laura's Mess, August 12, 2012

3578. FIVE-SPICE MILLIONAIRE'S BACON

serves 6 to 8

1 lb. thick-cut bacon
1 tablespoon lower-sodium soy sauce
1/4 teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder
1 cup packed brown sugar (light or dark)
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes 

Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 400°F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil and set a rack over the foil. Arrange the bacon in a single layer on the rack, leaving no space between the slices. In a small bowl, combine the soy sauce and five-spice powder, and then brush the mixture over the bacon. In another small bowl, combine the brown sugar and red pepper flakes. Evenly sprinkle the mixture over the bacon, covering each slice completely. Bake, rotating the sheet halfway through, until the sugar is melted and the bacon is brown and shiny, 30 to 40 minutes. Let cool on the rack for about 5 minutes, then loosen the slices from the rack with a metal spatula. Continue to cool for another 5 minutes before serving; the bacon will crisp as it cools.

 

 

bacon recipe source: Julissa Roberts, Fine Cooking (@finecooking), Issue 122 

3548. BACON KALE CAESAR SALAD

serves six


For the croutons:
4 slices white bread, cut into cubes
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 clove garlic, very finely minced
¼ teaspoon oregano
⅛ teaspoon chili flakes

For the dressing:
½ lb. bacon, cut into 1 inch strips
2 egg yolks, at room temperature
¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice
1 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoon umeboshi vinegar
2 anchovies, finely minced
1 tablespoon reserved bacon fat, melted
1 teaspoon fresh cracked pepper
2 large garlic cloves, very finely minced
⅓ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
sea salt, to taste

 

For the salad:

6 stalks of curly kale, washed, stem removed and torn into bite sized pieces

Optional: 1 cup red grapes, cut in half

For the croutons: Preheat the oven to 250 degrees. Place the bread cubes in a large bowl and toss with the olive oil, garlic, oregano and chili flakes. Pour the bread cubes onto a rimmed baking sheet and bake them in the oven for 15 minutes, or until they are crunchy. You want them to dry out, not toast. If they haven't dried out after 15 minutes leave them in the oven a little longer.

 

For the dressing: Slice the bacon into 1 inch strips (I always have some bacon in the freezer and find it very easy to slice from frozen) Place the bacon in a frying pan over medium high heat and cook, stirring often for 7-8 minutes, or until the bacon is crispy. Remove the bacon from the pan using a slotted spoon and reserve 1 tablespoon of the fat.

 

Place the room temperature egg yolks in a medium sized bowl. Add the 2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice and whisk them together. SLOWLY drizzle in the vegetable oil while whisking constantly. Once the dressing starts to thicken you can pour the oil in a little faster.

 

Once all the oil has been incorporated whisk in the remaining ¼ cup of fresh lemon juice, the umeboshi vinegar, anchovies, reserved bacon fat, fresh cracked pepper, garlic and parmesan cheese. Season to taste with sea salt.

 

To assemble the salad: Place the washed kale in a large bowl. Add the crispy bacon, and optional grapes. Pour the dressing overtop and toss so that everything is coated well. Let the dressing sit on the kale for at least 5 minutes before you serve it. Toss the croutons through the salad immediately before you serve it.

 

 

bacon recipe source: Kristen, The Endless Meal (@TheEndlessMeal), July 13, 2014

3594. BACON and BROCCOLI with SOBA NOODLES

serves four


8 oz. soba noodles
3 cups broccoli, cut into florets
8 rashers of bacon
1 garlic clove, minced
1 large lemon, zested and juiced
½ teaspoon dried chili flakes
2 tablespoons pine nuts
1/4 cup basil pesto
1/4 cup parmesan, grated

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the noodles and cook them for 5 to 6 minutes, or until they are just tender. Add the broccoli to the pan for the last 4 minutes. Cook bacon in a frying pan. Once the bacon is done remove from pan and chop. Be sure not to drain the fat from the pan. Saute the garlic, lemon zest, pine nuts and chilli flakes until garlic is aromatic, about 2 minutes. Add the lemon juice and pesto to the pan and cook for another 2 minutes. Add the noodles, broccoli and bacon to the pan and stir until well mixed. Serve with parmesan cheese.


bacon recipe source: Laura Hunter, Small Wallet Big Appetite (@wallet_appetite), July 9, 2013

3366. HONEY and BACON ONIGIRI

makes 4 onigiri 

1/2 batch of sushi rice* at room temperature (*see here)
1 teaspoon soy sauce or tamari
1 teaspoon sesame oil
2 teaspoons honey
1 stalk green onions, finely chopped
2 slices cooked bacon, finely chopped
a pinch of chili flakes
kosher salt
sesame seeds
4 strips of seaweed

To make the filling, mix together the soy sauce, sesame oil, honey, green onion, bacon, and chili flakes. To mold the onigiri, refer to this handy guide. Sprinkle with salt and sesame seeds. If you are eating them immediately, wrap in seaweed and enjoy! If you are saving some for later, wrap them in plastic wrap and store in the fridge. Add the seaweed right before consumption so it is crunchy!


bacon recipe source: Molly Yeh, My name is Yeh, November 2013

2957. SPINACH and LYCHEE SALAD with BACON and WATER CHESTNUTS

yields four servings


For Dressing:

1/3 cup vinaigrette
2 tablespoons syrup from canned lychees
1 scallion, finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon sesame seeds

For Salad:

1 (9-ounce) package baby spinach
1 (8-ounce) can sliced water chestnuts, drained and liquid reserved
1/2 (20-ounce) can lychees in syrup, juice reserved
1/4 cup real bacon crumbles
2 large hard-boiled eggs, peeled and quartered

 

In a jar or sealable container, combine vinaigrette and 2 tablespoons reserved lychee juice, scallion, red pepper flakes, and sesame seeds. Shake vigorously; set aside. Add spinach and water chestnuts to a large bowl. Add dressing and toss. Top with lychees, bacon bits, and eggs. 

 

 

bacon recipe courtesy of: Sandra Lee, "Asian Flavor," Semi-Homemade Cooking, Food Network, 2008 

2640. COLD CORN SOUP with BACON and BASIL-CHILI OIL

serves eight


6 large ears corn
2 slices bacon, diced
1/2 small onion, chopped
salt and pepper
1 cup loosely packed basil leaves, rinsed
1/2 cup olive oil
1 pinch red chili flakes

Using a sharp knife, cut the corn kernels from the cobs and set aside. (You should have about 6 cups of corn kernels.) Put the corn cobs in a large saucepan and cover them with 2 quarts of water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then lower the heat and simmer gently for about 15 minutes.

In a large pot, cook the bacon over medium heat for about 5 minutes, until it has rendered most of its fat and is crispy. Add the onion, a large pinch of salt and pepper to taste and cook until the onion is translucent, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the corn kernels, stir through and cook for another minute.

Carefully strain the corn cob cooking liquid through a fine mesh sieve and add 6 cups to the corn mixture, reserving the rest. Bring to a boil over high heat, then lower the heat and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes so that the flavors have a chance to meld. (Do not overcook -- the kernels should still have a bit of a bite.)

Meanwhile, to make the basil-chili oil, blanch the basil leaves in boiling water for about 30 seconds, drain and plunge into a bowl of ice water. (This is a bit of a pain, but if you don't do it, your "basil-chili oil" will end up looking like gray sludge.) Remove and dry thoroughly. Combine the basil leaves, olive oil, a sprinkling of salt and the chili flakes in a blender and purée until smooth. Transfer to a small bowl, cover and set aside until ready to use it will be better after an hour or two.

Starting with a clean blender and working in small batches so you don't burn yourself, purée about 3/4 of the corn soup until smooth. Combine with the remaining soup, taste and add more salt and pepper if necessary. Transfer the soup to a large bowl and refrigerate until icy cold (you may also eat it hot if you prefer). Serve the soup in individual bowls with a generous drizzle of the basil chili-oil.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Food52.com, New York, New York

2627. BAKED SEA BREAM with BACON, TOMATOES and CORIANDER

serves four


4 large potatoes, about 1kg/2lb. 4 oz.
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
pinch dried chilli flakes
pinch saffron
1 bunch coriander, roughly chopped
4 whole sea bream, cleaned and gutted
1 tablespoon olive oil, plus extra for greasing
juice 2 limes
125ml white wine
handful sundried tomatoes
handful pine nuts, toasted
4 thin slices smoked streaky bacon  

Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Slice the potatoes thinly, put in a large saucepan and cover with cold salted water. Bring to the boil and drain, then lay onto the base of a lightly oiled large baking tray. Scatter over the garlic, chilli, saffron and a little of the coriander. 

Slash the fish through the flesh down to the bone - this allows it to cook evenly and quicker than normal. Season and rub with the olive oil. Lay the fish on the potatoes and top with the lime juice, wine, tomatoes and pine nuts. Lay the pancetta slices over the fish and bake for 20-25 mins or until the fish is cooked through. Check by pulling out one of the fins on the back, it should come away easily. Serve the fish scattered with the remaining coriander.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Matt Tebbutt, Good Food magazine, July 2010

2568. KALE CAESAR SALAD with CRISPY BACON, GARLIC PANKO CRUMBS and WHITE ANCHOVIES

yields four servings


6 strips bacon
1 tablespoon butter
1 1/4 teaspoons chopped garlic, divided
generous 1/4 teaspoon chopped fresh oregano
pinch chile flakes
1/4 cup panko bread crumbs
1 teaspoon chopped anchovies
1 egg yolk
2 tablespoons Worchestershire sauce
4 teaspoons Frank’s brand hot sauce or other hot sauce
4 teaspoons lemon juice
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1/2 cup olive oil
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for plating
pepper to taste
1 bunch kale, washed and ribs removed
8 white anchovies for garnish

Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Place a metal cooling rack on a sheet tray. Lay the bacon over the cooling rack and roast in the oven until crispy, about 20 minutes. Remove and transfer to paper towels to drain. When the bacon is cool enough to handle, break it up into 1-inch pieces and set aside.

Melt the butter in a wide sauté pan over low heat. When the butter begins to bubble, add 1/4 teaspoon of the chopped garlic, the chile flakes, and the oregano. Cook for one minute, then add the panko. Continue cooking until the crumbs are golden brown, about another minute. Remove from heat and set aside.

For the dressing, process the remaining garlic and the chopped anchovies in a food processor until smooth. Add the egg yolk, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, lemon juice, and Dijon mustard and blend until smooth. Slowly stream in the olive oil while blending. When all of the oil is added, add the Parmesan and blend a final time. Season to taste with pepper.

To serve, place the kale in a mixing bowl and toss with the dressing. Divide the kale among 4 salad plates. Sprinkle with panko and Parmesan. Top with a couple of white anchovies and several pieces of bacon.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Marc Orfaly, chef of Marco (253 Hanover Street, North End, Boston, MA 02113), Pigalle (75 Charles Street South, Boston, MA 02116), and Remick's Restaurant (1657 Hancock Street, Quincy, Massachusetts 02169)

2460. TACO SOUP with BACON and CACTUS

½ lb. ground (hamburger) beef
2 slices bacon
½ onion, chopped
¼ cup jalapeno, sliced
2 tablespoons garlic, minced
1 cup cactus, chopped, with serrano peppers
1 can whole tomatoes
1 can pinto beans with jalapenos
1 handful baby carrots, quartered
4 potatoes, chopped
1 can corn
¼ teaspoon cumin
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper
2 teaspoons chili powder
lime juice (to taste)
Tabasco sauce (to taste)

Cook hamburger with onion, garlic, jalapenos, and cactus. Drain. Cook bacon in sauce pan, add to hamburger mixture. Not, too crispy, it should still be fatty-white. In large stockpan, combine all ingredients and cook for 1 hour, or until potatoes and carrots are tender. Stir occasionally. Add Tabasco and lime juice to taste.


bacon recipe courtesy of: "buffy871" of Longview, Texas, for Frugal Village

2442. PENNE with CABBAGE, BACON and CURRANT SAUCE

2 pounds penne pasta
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 small red onion, sliced
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 strips bacon
1/4 teaspoon chile flakes
1/2 head red cabbage, finely shredded
1/2 lemon, zested and juiced
1/4 cup currants
3 tablespoons red-wine vinegar
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for garnish

Boil pasta 2 minutes short of package instructions and drain. Reserve 1 cup of pasta cooking water. In a large 12- to 14-inch skillet, add oil and saute onions, garlic, bacon, and chile to soften and slightly render bacon, about 2 minutes. Add the cabbage, lemon zest, and currants and cook to caramelize, then cook the cabbage until barely tender, about 6 minutes. Add the vinegar, stirring to deglaze the pan. Add the pasta water, milk, and cheese. Stir to heat and melt cheese. Add the penne to the pan. Squeeze over half the lemon. Serve with extra grated cheese.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Lucinda Scala Quinn, Mad Hungry, April 2011

2424. STEAMED BACON and SMOKED BEAN CURD with WINTER-SACRIFICE BEANS

7 oz. smoked bacon slices, thickly cut, rinds discarded if necessary
7 oz. smoked bean curd
1/2 cup winter-sacrifice beans (SUBSTITUTION NOTE: 2-3 tablespoons black fermented beans and a spoonful or two of chili oil with sediment)
1/2 teaspoon dried chili flakes
1 tablespoon peanut oil or lard
fresh coriander (cilantro) or parsley to garnish (optional)

Place the bacon in a steamer and steam over a high heat for 5-10 minutes, until cooked. Cut each slice into about 3 pieces. Cut the bean curd into thickish slices to complement the bacon.

Lay alternate slices of bacon and bean curd into the bottom and up the side of an earthenware or china bowl. Place any remaining slices on top. Spoon the beans, the chili flakes, and the oil or lard over. (You can prepare up to this stage in advance).

Place the bowl in a steamer and steam for at least 30 minutes, or up to an hour, until the flavors have blended.

You can simply serve the dish in a steaming bowl, and just give everything a good stir with chopsticks before digging in. For greater elegance, however, cover the bowl with a serving dish, swiftly invert, and then serve it unmolded with a garnish of fresh coriander or parsley.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Revolutionary Chinese Cookbook: Recipes from Hunan Province by Fuchsia Dunlop. Page 93. W.W. Norton & Company, 2006

2359. GRILLED CLAMS ON THE HALF SHELL with BACON, GARLIC and HOT PEPPER

yields four servings


32 littleneck clams on the half shell
1/4-pound bacon, finely diced
6 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon hot pepper flakes
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons finely chopped flat-leaf parsley
1/2 cup fresh bread crumbs
freshly ground black pepper

Preheat grill to high.

Place a medium saute pan over medium-high heat, add the bacon and cook until lightly golden brown. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and continue cooking until the bacon is crisp. Remove from the heat, stir in the olive oil, parsley, and bread crumbs and season with black pepper, to taste.

Top clams with bacon mixture and place on the grill. Grill for about 1 minute or until just cooked through. Serve immediately.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Bobby Flay, "Seafood Feast," Boy Meets Grill, Food Network

1837. GIGANTES BEANS with BACON and CRETAN GRAVIERA CHEESE (Γίγαντες με Μπέικον και Γραβιέρα)

makes four servings


½ lb. dried Gigantes beans
¼ lb. Cretan Graviera cheese
2-3 slices extra-thick cut bacon
1 medium sized onion
1 red bell pepper (diced)
1 cup strained tomato pulp/sauce
½ cup olive oil
3 garlic cloves
A small bunch of parsley, finely chopped
1 tablespoon boukovo or red pepper (chili) flakes
1 tablespoon dried Greek oregano
salt and pepper

Soak the dried Gigantes beans overnight (use at least a 3:1 ratio of water to beans). Rinse and add rehydrated beans to a generous pot of boiling water and cook for 45 minutes over a medium heat, until the beans are soft. Using a large spoon, periodically skim away any surface foam that may develop. In a large sized skillet/pan, fry off the bacon until cooked but not completely crisped, then remove the bacon from pan but retain the fat. Cut the bacon into thin strips and set aside. Add the diced onion to the pan with the bacon fat and sauté until soft. Press and add garlic to the pan along with two tablespoonfuls of olive oil; stir for a few turns and then add the diced red pepper for several turns/tosses. Season with oregano, salt and pepper to taste. Stir in the tomato sauce along with 1 cup of water and half the bacon strips along with the chopped parsley and boukovo, bring to a boil, then lower heat to medium-low and let simmer for 15 – 20 minutes. Preheat oven to 375°F/190°C and place an earthenware / stoneware / clay baking vessel in the oven to warm. When the beans are cooked (i.e. soft), drain them and add them to the pan with the sauce to combine. Take the heated vessel out of the oven, add the beans to it, pour the remaining olive oil over top and return to oven. Bake for 35 minutes. Remove baking vessel from oven; add cubed cheese and bacon strips over top of the beans and bake for another 10 minutes until the cheese has melted. Serve immediately along with some chewy sourdough village-style bread.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Sam Sotiropoulos, Greek Gourmand™: Greek Food Recipes and Reflections, January 7, 2010

1741. BACON and CHILI CORNBREAD

serves six


1 tablespoon corn oil
12¼ oz. smoked streaky bacon, diced
2 spring onions, finely chopped
4¼ oz. corn kernels
½ teaspoon dried chili flakes
10½ oz. polenta
12¼ oz. plain flour
1 tablespoon caster sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
13½ fl oz. buttermilk
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 tablespoon maple syrup
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Preheat the oven to 200C/390F/Gas 6. Lightly butter a cake tin. Heat the oil in a frying pan and fry the bacon until it is crisp and releases its fat. Add the spring onions and cook for five minutes, then add the corn kernels and chili flakes and stir to combine. Allow to cool slightly. Combine the polenta, flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add the bacon mixture, the buttermilk, eggs, maple syrup, black pepper and half the melted butter. Mix well. Pour the batter into the prepared cake tin and brush the top with the remaining melted butter. Bake until golden (about 20-25 minutes). Serve warm.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Antony Worrall Thompson, Saturday Brunch, BBC-Food

1605. LINGUINE with COLLARD GREENS and BACON

makes 4 to 6 main-course servings


10 bacon slices (1/2 lb), chopped
3/4 cup pine nuts (1/4 lb)
1/4 lb shallots, finely chopped (3/4 cup)
6 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon dried hot red pepper flakes
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 lb collard greens, stems and center ribs discarded and leaves chopped
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups water
1 lb dried linguine
1 lb grape or cherry tomatoes, quartered
1 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano shavings, made with a vegetable peeler from a 6-to 8-oz wedge

Cook bacon in a 5-quart heavy pot over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until crisp, about 5 minutes, then transfer with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain. Pour off all but 3 tablespoons bacon fat from pot. Add pine nuts to pot and cook over moderate heat, stirring, until golden, about 2 minutes. Transfer nuts with slotted spoon to paper towels to drain and season with salt.

Add shallots to pot and cook over moderate heat, stirring, until softened, about 4 minutes. Add garlic and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add oil and half of collard greens and cook, stirring, until slightly wilted, about 1 minute. Add remaining greens and salt and continue to cook, stirring, until greens are crisp-tender, about 2 minutes more. Add water and cover pot, then simmer greens, stirring occasionally, until just tender, about 15 minutes.

While collard greens are simmering, cook linguine in a 6- to 8-quart pot of boiling salted water until al dente.

Drain linguine in a colander. Add drained linguine and tomatoes to pot with greens and cook over moderately high heat, stirring constantly, 1 minute. Season pasta with salt and pepper and serve topped with bacon, pine nuts, and cheese shavings.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Gourmet, July 2003

1538. TAGLIATELLE with BACON and TOMATO

serves one


2 tablespoons olive oil
2 slices bacon, diced
2 spring onions, chopped
pinch chili flakes
2/3 tin tomatoes
4-5 sheets pasta, cut into thick strips
Pecorino cheese to grate
3-4 basil leaves to garnish

Heat the oil and fry the bacon and spring onions in the olive oil for 3-4 minutes. Add the chili and tomato and simmer for two minutes. Cook the pasta strips in boiling water for 3-4 minutes until tender. Drain and add to the pasta sauce. Toss through and serve with the cheese and basil on top.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Gino D'Acampo, Ready Steady Cook, BBC Food