3998. APPLE BROWN BETTY with MAPLE-BACON FROZEN CUSTARD

Yield: One 9 x 9-inch Brown Betty, about 10 servings

Maple–Bacon Frozen Custard:

3 slices bacon

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup maple syrup

1 tablespoon water

5 egg yolks

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1 cup heavy cream

1 cup half and half cream

1 tablespoon bourbon

Apple Brown Betty:

1/2 cup granulated sugar, divided

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1/2 tablespoon all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon lemon zest

Pinch cinnamon

Pinch nutmeg

Pinch cloves

6 tart apples (such as King David), peeled, cored, and sliced 1/4-inch thick

1 cup panko bread crumbs

1/4 cup grated aged cheddar cheese

1 tablespoon unsalted melted butter

Butter at room temperature for prepping the cake pan

To make the frozen custard, preheat the oven to 350ºF. Lay the bacon on a sheet tray and bake for 15 to 20 minutes until crispy. Drain the bacon on a rack or paper towels and let cool. Chop very finely and set aside.

Place the brown sugar, maple syrup, and water in a small saucepan and heat to 250ºF. Remove from the heat and add the chopped bacon. Stir quickly to combine, then pour onto silpat or cookie sheet covered with wax paper. Let cool. (This will take about 20 minutes.) When the mixture has cooled and hardened, break into pieces and store in an airtight container.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the egg yolks and granulated sugar. Combine the heavy cream, half and half, and bourbon in a small sauce pot and heat over medium heat until just beginning to bubble. Slowly pour the hot cream into the egg yolk mixture, whisking constantly. Return the mixture to the pot and cook over very low heat, stirring constantly until the mixture coats the back of a spoon, about 5 minutes. Immediately remove from the heat and strain through a fine-mesh strainer. Allow the mixture to cool in the refrigerator overnight. Process the custard in an ice cream machine according to manufacturer’s instructions. Mix in the pieces of candied bacon. Store in the freezer until needed.

To prepare the Brown Betty, preheat the oven to 325ºF. Mix together 1/4 cup of the sugar, lemon juice, flour, lemon zest, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves in a large mixing bowl. Add the apple slices and toss to coat. In a separate bowl, mix together the panko, cheese, melted butter, and remaining sugar.

Grease a 9 x 9-inch pan with butter. Make a one-inch-thick layer of apple slices on the bottom of the pan. Sprinkle with the bread crumb mixture. Add another layer of apple slices and top with the remaining bread crumbs. Bake for 45 minutes or until brown and bubbly.

To serve, scoop out individual portions of the Brown Betty and place on serving plates. Top each serving with a scoop of maple–bacon frozen custard.

bacon recipe source: Tory Miller, L’Etoile, Madison, WI; James Beard Foundation

3794. MANGALOREAN BEEF and BACON GRAVY

serves 3

1 pound beef chuck cut into 1 1/2-inch cubes

2 tablespoon ginger paste

2 tablespoon garlic paste

1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

1 tablespoon white vinegar

Kosher salt

3 tablespoons vegetable oil (divided)

3 cloves

1 inch cinnamon stick

1 cup water

2 large onions cubed (about 3 cups)

3 small green chillies (such as Thai bird) slit lengthwise

1 tablespoon red chilli powder

¼ teaspoon turmeric powder

½ pound bacon, cut into 1-inch pieces

1 cup tomato puree

1/2 cup water

Combine meat, ginger paste, garlic paste, pepper, vinegar, and 2 teaspoons salt.

Heat 1 1/2 tablespoons oil in pressure cooker on medium high heat until shimmering. Add cloves and cinnamon and stir until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the marinated beef and cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned, about 5 minutes Add 1 cup water and close pressure cooker. Cook over high pressure for 45 minutes, then release pressure and allow steam to escape. Transfer beef and juices to a large bowl.

Wipe out pressure cooker, add remaining oil, and return to medium-high heat until shimmering. Add onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Add green chillis and stir until fragrant-about 2 minutes. Add red chilli and turmeric powder and stir vigorously, so as not to burn the spices and cook for 1 minute. If they tend to stick or discolor add a few drops of water. Add the bacon and stir until the bacon begins to render, about 5 minutes. Add the tomato puree and cook, stirring, until the oil is fragrant and separates from the mixture, about 5 minutes. Add water, bring to a simmer, and cook for 10 minutes. Return the beef and its juices to the pot and allow the whole dish to cook for another 15 minutes. Season to taste with salt if necessary, and serve with bread or rice.

bacon recipe source: Denise D'Silva Sankhe, Serious Eats (@seriouseats), November 20, 2012

3741. BACON BITTERS

2 cups bourbon (Everclear, or Wild Turkey 101)

1/2 lb. bacon

4 cloves

1 cinnamon stick

1 tablespoons cinchona bark

1 teaspoon cassia chips

1/2 teaspoon gentian root

1 tablespoon black walnut leaf

In a skillet over medium heat, sear off the bacon.  Remove and drain thoroughly on a paper towel.  Diced. In a 1-quart glass jar, combine all of the ingredients. Cover and shake well. Let stand in a cool, dark place for 2 weeks, shaking the jar daily. Strain the infused alcohol into a clean 1-quart glass jar through a cheesecloth-lined funnel. Squeeze any infused alcohol from the cheesecloth into the jar; reserve the solids. Strain the infused alcohol again through new cheesecloth into another clean jar to remove any remaining sediment. Cover the jar and set aside for 1 week.

bacon recipe source: Brian, Whit's Amuse Bouche (@WhitAmuseBouche), July 12, 2012

3651. BACON and FIG MARMALADE

serves eight


1 lb. fresh figs, chopped

¼ lb. bacon, diced
1 each yellow onion, diced
2 teaspoons fresh ginger, grated
1 tablespoon honey
1 cup red wine
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
Sachet of cloves, bay leaf, fresh thyme, star anise

 

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, add bacon and render until crispy. Remove bacon and reserve for later.  Reserve 1 tablespoon of bacon fat.

Sweat onion and ginger in bacon fat until translucent.

Add figs, and slowly caramelize over medium high heat. Add honey, red wine, balsamic vinegar and sachet of spice. Turn heat to low and slowly reduce mixture until a jam like consistency.

Transfer half of the mixture to a food processor and blend until smooth. Add this to the rest of the mixture and fold in crispy bacon.

Serve at room temperature on a crostini. Garnish with fresh tarragon and thyme.

 

 

bacon recipe source: Hall Wines (@HALLWines), 401 St. Helena Highway South, St. Helena, CA 94574

3610. RICH BEEF STEW with BACON and PLUMS

makes eight servings

 

 

1 3½ pound well-marbled beef chuck roast

1 tablespoon kosher salt

3 tablespoons olive oil

6 ounces thick sliced, center-cut applewood smoked bacon, cut into ½-inch pieces

1 medium butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1-inch pieces (about 4 cups)

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

Kosher salt

2 cups diced yellow onions

1 leek, white part only, split lengthwise (then blotted dry (reserve one long inner piece) and cut crosswide into slices

3 large cloves garlic, peeled, and roughly chopped (about 1 heaping tablespoon)

2 3/4 cups dry red wine (such as Pinot Noir)

1 cups chicken stock

1 stick cinnamon, broken

2 whole cloves

7 whole black peppercorns

3 fresh bay leaves (or 1 dried bay leaf)

1 tablespoon tomato paste

1/4 teaspoon dried thyme

5 stems fresh parsley, leaves picked and chopped, stems reserved

1 cup pitted prunes

 

Trim and cut roast into 2-inch pieces. Sprinkle evenly with the 1 tablespoon kosher salt. Cover; chill overnight. 

 

Preheat oven to 450ºF. Line a 15x10x1-inch baking pan with a silicone baking mat; set aside. Cook bacon in 1 tablespoon hot oil over medium-low heat until browned. Remove; drain on paper towel, reserving 3 tablespoons drippings. Place squash on prepared pan. Add 1 tablespoon butter and 1 tablespoon bacon drippings. Sprinkle salt; toss to coat. Roast 20 to 30 minutes or until tender and browned, stirring once. Cover with waxed paper; set aside. Reduce oven to 275ºF. 

 

Add remaining 2 tablespoons. olive oil to remaining 2 tablespoons bacon drippings in skillet; heat over medium-high heat. Blot beef well with paper towels; add to skillet in batches, being careful not to crowd the skillet. Brown deeply on all sides. Remove; set aside. 

 

Drain all but 1 tsp. fat from skillet. Add remaining 1 tablespoon butter and onions to pan. Sprinkle with salt. Stir over medium heat, scraping up browned bits from bottom of pan. Cook 3 to 4 minutes, stirring often, until onions just begin to soften. Stir in leek slices and garlic. Sprinkle with salt. Cook 4 minutes more. Transfer to a 3-quart baking dish; set aside. Pour wine into skillet. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Boil gently, uncovered, until reduced by half. 

 

Place beef and bacon over onions. Pour reduced wine over. Add stock to almost cover. Using kitchen string, tie cinnamon, cloves, and peppercorns in a piece of cheesecloth; tuck into beef mixture. Add bay leaves. Dollop tomato paste around beef mixture. Sprinkle with thyme. Tie together parsley stems and inner leek piece; add to beef mixture. Place parchment paper over dish. Top with a triple layer of heavy foil. Seal tightly. Place on rimmed baking sheet. Bake 2 hours. Uncover; add prunes. Cover; bake 45 minutes to an hour more or until meat is easily pierced with a knife. Uncover; skim fat. Remove cheesecloth bag and parsley stems; discard. Increase oven to 350ºF. Add butternut squash. Bake uncovered, 20 minutes, basting once or twice. To serve, sprinkle with parsley leaves.

 

 

bacon recipe source: Scott Peacock, Better Homes and Gardens (@BHG)

3464. BACON CONFIT with CHILES and PICKLES

yields 4-6 servings 


Bread-and-Butter Pickles
1 cup apple cider vinegar
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup sliced white onions
2 tablespoons salt
1 tablespoon sliced jalapeño
3/4 teaspoon turmeric
3/4 teaspoon yellow mustard seeds
1 whole clove
2 Kirby cucumbers, cut into 1/8-inch-thick slices

Pickled Chilies
2 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons white wine
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons pickling spice, wrapped in cheesecloth and tied with string
2 Fresno chiles, seeded and cut into 1/8 inch thick slices
 
Bacon Confit
2 cups duck fat

1/2 pound slab bacon, cut into 1/2-inch slices

1 shallot, peeled

1 small sprig rosemary

1 large garlic clove, peeled

1 small bay leaf

1 whole clove
1 bunch Thai basil or regular basil

Make the bread-and-butter pickles: combine the apple cider vinegar, sugar, water, onions, salt, jalapeño, turmeric, mustard seeds, and clove in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat. Pour over the sliced cucumbers in a heatproof bowl. Let cool and refrigerate for at least 1 day.

Make the pickled chiles: combine the water, wine, white wine vinegar, salt, sugar, and pickling spice in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer for 10 minutes. Pour over the chiles in a heatproof bowl and let stand at room temperature for 1 hour. 

Make the bacon confit: preheat the oven to 210ºF. Put the duck fat in a small, ovenproof pot and melt over low heat. Add the bacon. (It should be submerged in the fat). Add the shallot, rosemary, garlic, bay leaf, and clove. Bring to a simmer over medium heat. Cover and place in the oven. Cook until the bacon is tender when pierced with a knife, about 1 hour. 

When the bacon is done, remove it from the fat and cut into 1/2-inch pieces. 

While the bacon is still warm, place each piece on a skewer. Finish each skewer with a slice of bread-and-butter pickle, a pickled chile, and a basil leaf.


bacon recipe source: Ty Kotz, Topping Rose House, One Bridgehampton, Sag Harbor Turnpike, Bridgehampton, NY 11932; James Beard Foundation, 167 West 12th Street, New York, NY 10011

2963. POACHED FEIJOAS with FRENCH TOAST and CRISPY BACON

serves four


500 grams feijoas (8 small or 4 large)
1/2 cup red wine
1/2 cup apple juice
1/2 cup green ginger wine
1 cinnamon stick
1 vanilla pod
6 whole cloves
6 julienned strips of lemon peel
1/4 cup brown sugar
French toast (recipe below)
bacon

French Toast
4 eggs
pinch of salt
1 cup milk
8 slices of white bread
butter

Break eggs into a wide shallow bowl, add salt and milk and whisk together. Heat a flat fry pan over medium heat and coat with butter. Place the bread slices in the egg mixture and allow to soak both sides. Place in fry pan and cook on each side until golden brown. Grill or fry bacon rashers until crispy.

Peel the feijoas, leaving flower end intact. Cut across bottom so that the fruits sit upright in saucepan. Mix all remaining ingredients together and pour over the fruit. Bring to the boil and simmer gently for 10 minutes until fruit softened. Remove fruit and set aside with half of the poaching syrup. Continue to simmer the remaining syrup until it has reduced by half and thickened. Serve the poached feijoas alongside French toast and crispy bacon with a small dish of the reduced syrup.


bacon recipe courtesy of: New World Supermarket, Foodstuffs Limited, PO Box 5401, Wellington, New Zealand

2818. POT ROAST studded with ALMONDS and BACON

serves six


3 pounds (1.35 kg) brisket in one piece, trimmed of some of the fat

1½ tablespoons slivered almonds

8 ounces (225 g) bacon or ham, cut into small pieces

3 large ancho chiles, seeds and veins removed

1½ tablespoons mild vinegar

¾ cup (185 ml) water

3 whole cloves, crushed

½-inch (1.5 cm) piece of cinnamon stick, crushed

4 peppercorns, crushed

6 sprigs fresh thyme or 1½ teaspoon dried

6 sprigs fresh marjoram or 1½ teaspoon dried

¼ teaspoon dried mexican oregano, or ½ teaspoon dried oaxacan oregano

3 garlic cloves, roughly chopped

3 tablespoons lard or vegetable oil

Salt to taste

1½ pounds (675 g) red bliss or new potatoes

 

Preheat the oven to 325°F (165°C).

Pierce the meat all over with a knifepoint and insert the almonds and bacon. Set it aside while the sauce is prepared.

Toast the chiles lightly, turning them often so they won’t burn. Put the chiles into a bowl, cover with hot water, and leave them to soak for about 10 minutes.

Put the vinegar and water into the blender jar, add the spices, herbs, and garlic, and blend as smoothly as possible. Add the chiles and blend to a fairly smooth consistency.

Heat the lard in a Dutch oven and when it is very hot sear the meat well all over. Remove the meat and set it aside. Drain off the fat, leaving only 2 tablespoons in the pan. Add the sauce to the pan and let it cook fast for about 5 minutes, stirring it all the time. Add salt to taste.

Return the meat to the pan and baste it with the sauce. Cover the casserole with a tightly fitting lid and cook the meat in the oven for about 2 hours.

Put the potatoes, unskinned, into a saucepan, cover them with boiling water, and let boil fast for 5 minutes. Drain them and set them aside to cool. When the potatoes are cool enough to handle, skin.

Remove the casserole from the oven, turn the meat over, and baste it well with the sauce. Scrape the sauce from the sides and bottom of the pan and add a little water if it has thickened too much.

Put the potatoes into the sauce around the meat, replace the lid, and let the meat cook until it is very tender, but not falling apart-test after 1 hour and 10 minutes. Slice the meat fairly thick and place it on a serving dish with the potatoes around it. Pour the sauce over it. 


bacon recipe courtesy of: Diana Kennedy, The Essential Cuisines of Mexico; Men's Fitness

2786. BACON FAT GINGERSNAPS

makes 3 to 4 dozen cookies 


3/4 cup bacon drippings (from 1 1/2 to 2 pounds bacon), at room temperature 
1 cup granulated sugar, plus more for the work surface 
1/4 cup molasses (not blackstrap) or cane syrup 
1 large egg 
2 cups all-purpose flour 
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt 
2 teaspoons baking soda 
2 teaspoons ground ginger 
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves 
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Combine all of the ingredients in a food processor and pulse just until a smooth, stiff dough forms. Wrap the dough tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least a few hours and up to 2 days. Preheat the oven to 350°F (176°C). Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Place about 1/4 cup sugar in a shallow bowl. Break off 1-tablespoon chunks of cookie dough and roll them into balls. Drop them in the sugar, roll to coat, and place them on the baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart. If desired, gently flatten the dough. Bake the cookies for 10 to 12 minutes, until dark brown. Let cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.


bacon recipe courtesy of: CookFight: 2 Cooks, 12 Challenges, 125 Recipes, an Epic Battle for Kitchen Dominance, by Julia Moskin and Kim Severson; Ecco, 2012 | Leite's Culinaria, November 30, 2012

2773. POLENTA with BACON-WRAPPED SHRIMP and PORT WINE FIG SAUCE

1 cup polenta
6 thick slices bacon, chopped into chunks
1 shallot, chopped
2 1/2 cups whole milk
1 cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
3 tablespoons butter

Port Wine Fig Sauce:
1 teaspoon butter
1 shallot, chopped
1 cup dried figs, chopped
1/4 cup red onion, chopped
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup sugar
3 cup port wine
1 1/2 cups red wine
1 cinnamon stick
6 cloves
10 whole Allspice
10 whole black peppercorns
4 pieces star anise

Bacon Wrapped Shrimp:
6 slices thin cut bacon
12 large shrimp, tail on shelled and deveined
1 tablespoon thyme, picked
Salt and pepper, to taste 
Oil, as needed

Garnish:
Frisee greens (for example arugula) 
Extra virgin olive oil, as needed
Salt and pepper, to taste

Polenta: Render bacon and caramelize the shallots, then strain the contents and reserve the bacon fat. Add the milk, cream, salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer then whisk in the polenta. Simmer on low until most of the liquid has cooked out and the polenta is soft. Stir in the butter.

Port Wine Fig Sauce: In a medium saucepan, heat the butter and sauté the shallot, dried fig and red onion. Season with the salt. When the mixture has sweat out, add the sugar and turn the heat to high. Caramelize the sugar, then add the port, red wine, cinnamon, cloves, allspice, black peppercorns and star anise. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Reduce the sauce until it is sauce consistency, nape. Strain the sauce through a fine mesh strainer. Turn the heat off, then let the halved figs sit in the sauce to reconstitute.

Bacon Wrapped Shrimp: Cut the bacon strips in half, lay them all out and sprinkle the thyme on each strip. Wrap the shrimp, thyme on the inside, starting at the head end of the shrimp. Then, in a large sauté pan over medium high heat, using a bit of oil, sauté the bacon wrapped shrimp. The pan needs to be hot enough that the bacon doesn't stick to the pan but not too high because you don’t want the bacon to brown before the shrimp is cooked through. When the bacon is golden brown the shrimp should be done. Season to taste.

Assembly: Place the polenta in the center of a small plate, then place the shrimp on top of it in an interlocking position. Drizzle the sauce and place the figs. Two shrimp and two figs per plate. Garnish with some frisee greens tossed with extra virgin olive oil, salt and pepper.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Grayson Schmitz, Top Chef, Season 9, Episode 2, Elimination Challenge; Bravo

2759. CHERRY COKE BRAISED BACON

2-3 lbs slab of smoked bacon with skin
3 tablespoons cherry jam
1/4 cups dried cherries
1 vanilla bean split in half lengthwise
15 whole cloves
2 liter bottle of Coke
1 Granny Smith apple, peeled and sliced
1 small head of cabbage, cored and shredded

Put the bacon in a large bowl and cover with water. Put it in the fridge overnight to reduce the amount of salt. Put the rack in the lower position and preheat your oven to 275 degrees. Place the bacon into a heavy pot that it will fit snugly into (you may want to cut it into 2-3 smaller pieces). Add the jam, vanilla, cloves, and cherries and pour enough Coke over to cover the pork. Bring it to a boil over the stove, cover and put it in the oven until the meat is fork tender (about 3 1/2 to 4 hours). Remove the bacon from the braising liquid and place it skin-side up on a rack over a baking sheet and tent with foil. Skim off the fat from the braising liquid and strain half of it into a sauce pan. Boil this until it is a nice syrupy sauce. Put the cabbage and apples into the other half and simmer until both are tender about 30-40 minutes. When you’re ready to serve, move the rack to the middle position and heat the oven to 450 degrees. Uncover the bacon and put it in the oven for about 15 minutes or until the the skin is nice and crispy. Serve immediately with reduced braising liquid drizzled on top along with some of the braised cabbage and apples.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Marc Matsumoto, No Recipes, March 23, 2008

2057. ROAST PARTRIDGE with BACON and KALE, SPICED APPLE SAUCE and WALNUT SAUCE

serves four


For the roast partridge
1 tbsp olive oil
4 whole oven-ready partridges
salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 rashers streaky bacon
5oz curly kale leaves, roughly chopped
2oz unsalted butter

For the spiced apple sauce
2lb 4oz sweet red apples, peeled, cores removed, each apple cut into eight wedges
17fl oz dry cider
9oz caster sugar (approximate measure: see step 6 below)
¼ tsp ground cinnamon
¼ tsp ground cloves
¼ tsp mixed spice

For the walnut sauce
1 pint beef stock
3½fl oz walnut oil
1 lemon, juice only

To serve
3½oz whole walnuts, shells removed
½ bunch fresh marjoram, leaves only
3½fl oz rapeseed oil

Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4.

Heat the olive oil in a very large, ovenproof frying pan over a medium heat. Season the partridges all over, to taste, with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Lay one slice of streaky bacon over the breast of each partridge.

When the pan is hot, add the partridges, breast-side down, and fry for 1-2 minutes, or until browned. Continue to turn the partridges, cooking until browned on all sides.

Transfer the pan to the oven and roast the partridges for a further 10-12 minutes, or until cooked through. (NOTE: The partridges are cooked through when the juices run clear when the partridges are pierced in the thickest part using a skewer.) Remove from the oven and set aside to rest on a warm plate for five minutes. Reserve the pan and its juices.

Meanwhile, for the spiced apple sauce, bring the apple wedges and cider to the boil in a large frying pan. Reduce the heat to a simmer and continue to simmer for 12-15 minutes, or until the apple wedges have broken down to the consistency of apple sauce. Strain the softened apple mixture through a fine sieve.

Weigh the strained apples, then weigh out half of the apple weight of sugar (this procedure will give the correct measurement of one part sugar to two parts apple mixture.)

Heat the apple mixture, sugar, cinnamon, cloves and mixed spice in a saucepan until all of the moisture has evaporated, about 20 minutes. (NOTE: The apple mixture is ready when a spoonful of the mixture placed onto a plate does not release any liquid.)

Meanwhile, for the walnut sauce, bring the beef stock to a simmer over a low heat. Continue to simmer for 6-8 minutes, or until the volume of stock has reduced to 150ml/5fl oz.

Blend the warm, reduced stock and the walnut oil in a food processor until the mixture is thick and glossy. Squeeze in the lemon juice. Set aside.

Blanch the kale in a large pan of boiling, salted water for 2-3 minutes. Drain well and refresh in ice cold water. Drain again and set aside.

Just before serving, heat the butter in the frying pan you used to cook the partridge. Remove the bacon from the partridge breasts and chop into pieces. When the butter is foaming, add the bacon and curly kale, and season, to taste, with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Continue to cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring well, until warmed through.

To serve, mix together the walnuts, marjoram and rapeseed oil in a bowl until well combined. Set aside.

Spoon the spiced apple sauce into a piping bag. Dot the plate with small spots of spiced apple sauce. Spoon the kale and bacon mixture into the center of each of four serving plates. Carve the legs and breast away from the partridges, placing the meat back onto the carcass for presentation. Place each partridge on top of the kale and bacon mixture. Drizzle over the walnut sauce. Spoon the walnut and marjoram dressing around the edge of each plate.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Lawrence Keogh, Saturday Kitchen, BBC-Food

2037. LOIN of HARE with BACON and IRISH WHISKEY CREAM

serves six


1-1/4 pounds boneless hare loin, well trimmed
2 slices bacon
5 tablespoons Irish whiskey
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 cup brown chicken stock
1/2 cup whipping cream

For the spice mixture:
6 juniper berries
2 whole cloves
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon whole black peppercorns
1/2 teaspoon salt

To make the spice mixture, grind all the spices together in a small mortar with a pestle or in a spice grinder.

Slice the hare loin into 12 even-sized medallions and sprinkle the meat evenly with the spice mixture. Drizzle 2 tablespoons of the whiskey over them. Wrap each medallion with a slice of bacon around its circumference and fix it in place with a wooden toothpick.

In a heavy frying pan, heat the oil over high heat and add the butter. When the butter foams, fry the medallions for about 3 minutes on each side. Pour the remaining 3 tablespoons whiskey into the pan and ignite it to flame the hare. Remove the meat and allow it to rest in a warm place while finishing the sauce. Add the cream and the stock to the pan and boil over high heat until a sauce consistency is achieved.

Place 2 medallions on each warmed individual plate and pour the sauce around the medallions.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Gourmet Ireland: From the Public Television Series by Paul and Jeanne Rankin

1980. ROAST BACON with DRIED CHERRIES and PEACHES

serves 6-8


1.2kg-piece organic bacon, rind on
1 cup dry sherry
½ cup sherry vinegar
juice of 1 lemon
4 tablespoons olive oil
½ cup honey
75 grams fresh ginger, sliced
6 garlic cloves, finely chopped
6 golden shallots, sliced
1 cinnamon stick, split
150 grams dried cherries or cranberries
2 cups chicken stock
8 dried peach halves
mashed potato, to serve

Combine all ingredients, except peaches and potato, in a large bowl. Cover and put in the fridge overnight, turning bacon occasionally.

Preheat oven to 220ºC. Put bacon in a baking dish, cover with foil, then cook for 45 minutes. Add peaches, baste well with juices and cook, covered, for 15-20 minutes or until bacon is golden.

Remove bacon and peaches from dish. Put dish over a high heat and cook for 10 minutes or until sauce thickens.

Thickly slice bacon and arrange on plates with peach halves. Spoon over the sauce. Serve with mashed potato.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Karen Martini, Better Homes & Gardens, Australia

1906. GLAZED LOIN of BACON with PEA and POTATO MASH

serves six


750 grams loin of bacon joint
675 grams floury potatoes cut into chunks
175 grams frozen peas
2 teaspoons good quality mustard
50 grams butter
1 tablespoons demerara sugar
100 ml milk
salt and freshly gound white pepper
pinch of ground cloves
baby leeks, to serve

Place the loin of bacon in a pan of water. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer gently for 20 minutes per 450g.

Set the oven to Gas Mark 4, 180C (350F). Drain the loin of bacon and then score the fat in a diamond pattern. Spread over the mustard. Mix together the sugar and cloves in a small bowl and sprinkle all over the mustard in an even layer. Roast for 20 minutes until the top is nicely glazed and the joint is completely cooked through. Leave to rest in a warm place for 10 minutes.

As soon as you have popped the bacon into the oven, steam the potatoes for 15-20 minutes until just tender. Cook the frozen peas in a separate small pan for 3-4 minutes.

Drain the peas and then return to the pan. Season and then add the butter and milk. Blitz with a hand blender until you have a smooth puree. Mash the potatoes until very smooth, then fold in the pea puree until well combined. Season to taste.

Carve the loin of bacon into slices and arrange on warmed plates with the pea and potato mash.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Bord Bia-Irish Food Board, Clanwilliam Court, Lower Mount St, Dublin, Ireland, Dublin 2

1902. CHICKEN PAILLARDS with POMEGRANATE SAUCE and BACON and BABY POTATO HASH

yields four servings


3 large pomegranates or 1 cup store-bought pomegranate juice
2 tablespoons aged balsamic vinegar
6 peppercorns
3 cloves
1 fresh bay leaf
4 small boneless, skinless chicken breasts, butterflied if large
salt and freshly ground black pepper
6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 pound thick cut bacon, diced
8 baby Yukon gold or baby white potatoes, very thinly sliced
1 large shallot, very thinly sliced in rings
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
6 cups arugula
1 lemon, juiced
1 pint fresh figs, halved or quartered

Roll the pomegranates on the counter while applying pressure for a couple of minutes. Hold the pomegranate over a pot and cut into it with a small sharp knife. The juice will come rushing out. Squeeze the pomegranates until 3/4 to 1 cup of juice is produced. Store-bought pomegranate juice can be used when fresh are not in season. Add the vinegar, peppercorns, cloves and the bay leaf. Bring to a boil over medium heat, then turn the heat down to a simmer and reduce the liquid by half, about 6 minutes.

Meanwhile, cover the chicken with plastic wrap on meat safe board and pound to 1/4-inch thickness. Season the chicken on both sides with salt and pepper, to taste.

Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat with 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil. Heat a second medium-sized skillet over medium-high heat with 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 2 turns of the pan. Add the pancetta to the smaller skillet and cook until crisp, about 2 to 3 minutes. Add the potatoes and shallots in thin layer and season with a little salt and black pepper, to taste, and the red pepper flakes. Cook, turning occasionally, for 8 to 10 minutes. In the larger skillet add the chicken and cook for 8 minutes, turning once. Remove the chicken to serving plates. Strain the reduced pomegranate sauce into the skillet with the chicken and scrape up any bits from the bottom of the pan, then turn off the heat.

Add the arugula to a large bowl and drizzle with the lemon and about 2 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

Spoon the pomegranate sauce over the chicken. Top the chicken with the salad and figs and serve the potato hash alongside.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Rachael Ray, "Playing Chicken," 30 Minute Meals

1843. DUCK and BACON PATE

serves 12-14 as an appetizer


2 duck breasts (about 1 lb.), trimmed of skin and fat
3 cloves garlic
2 tablespoons orange liqueur,such as Grand Marnier
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
9 fresh or dried bay leaves
1 lb. boneless pork shoulder, chilled
3⁄4 lb. fatback, chilled
1⁄4 lb. chicken livers
2 eggs, beaten
1 tablespoon chopped thyme leaves plus 8 sprigs
1⁄2 teaspoon ground cloves
1⁄2 teaspoon ground ginger
1⁄4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1⁄4 teaspoon piment d'Espelette or paprika
4 1⁄2 teaspoons kosher salt
1⁄3 cup shelled pistachios
3 tablespoons dried green peppercorns
12–15 slices bacon

Cut the duck breasts into 1⁄2" cubes. Transfer duck, 1 finely chopped clove garlic, orange liqueur, 1 tbsp. of the olive oil, and 3 torn bay leaves to a small bowl; stir to coat the duck pieces. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 day and up to 3 days, to allow the flavors to come together. (The longer the duck marinates, the better the pâté will taste.) Cut the pork shoulder and the fatback into thin sheets. Cut sheets lengthwise into 1⁄8"-wide strips. Cut strips crosswise into 1⁄8" cubes. Mound the pork and fatback into separate piles on the cutting board and finely chop them by running a chef's knife over the piles several times; transfer pork and fat to bowls and set aside in the refrigerator to let chill.

Meanwhile, in the bowl of a food processor, finely chop the remaining garlic. Scrape the sides of the bowl with rubber spatula. Add chicken livers and pulse until puréed. Add reserved pork and fat. In short bursts, pulse until the mixture resembles coarse hamburger meat, about 20 pulses. Transfer pork–liver mixture to a large bowl. Add eggs, chopped thyme, cloves, ginger, nutmeg, piment d'Espelette, and salt. Mix the ingredients together with your hands until well combined. Test the mixture for seasoning by heating remaining olive oil in an 8" skillet over medium-high heat. Transfer a pinch of the mixture to skillet and cook, flipping once, until golden brown, about 3 minutes. Taste; adjust seasoning accordingly. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 day and up to 3 days, to allow the meats to cure and the flavors to come together.

When you're ready to assemble the pâté, remove bay leaves from duck mixture; discard. Using a spoon, fold duck mixture and any juices from marinade into the forcemeat along with the pistachios and peppercorns; set aside in the refrigerator.

Meanwhile, line the bottom of a 1 1⁄2-qt. rectangular terrine mold with 4 evenly spaced thyme sprigs and 3 bay leaves. Place bacon crosswise along the bottom and up the sides of the mold, covering the herbs.

Spoon the meat–duck mixture into the terrine mold and gently smooth the top with the back of a spoon. Lay 4 strips bacon lengthwise across the top of the pâté. Cover bacon with remaining thyme sprigs and bay leaves. Cover the top of the pâté with 2 sheets of aluminum foil; crimp foil around edges of the mold to form a tight seal.

Heat oven to 325°. Transfer terrine mold to a 9" x 13" baking dish. Transfer dish to middle rack of the oven. Pour in enough boiling water that it reaches 1⁄2" up the sides of the terrine. Bake the pâté until an instant-read thermometer inserted into center reads 158°, about 2 hours. Transfer baking dish to a rack; remove foil. Cut out 2 rectangles of cardboard to fit inside rim of terrine mold. Wrap cardboard rectangles in foil and place them over pâté. Place three 15-oz. soup cans atop cardboard; let sit in water bath for 1 hour; remove. (Weighting makes the pâté easier to slice.) Refrigerate pâté (in its mold) for at least 1 day and up to 4 days. To serve, slide a knife along edges of pâté to loosen it. Invert the pâté onto a cutting board and slide a butter knife along one short edge to free the pâté from the mold. Cut into 3⁄4" slices and serve with baguette, dijon mustard, and cornichons.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Saveur, Issue #116

1819. CHICKEN BACON WALNUT TERRINE

2 boneless chicken breasts
1 large garlic clove, crushed
½ slice bread
1 egg
12 ounces bacon finely chopped
8 ounces chicken livers finely chopped
¼ cup chopped walnuts
½ teaspoon allspice
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
pinch of nutmeg & clove
8 long strips of lean bacon, rind removed
salt and pepper

Cut chicken breasts into thin strips and season lightly. Mash garlic, bread & egg together then add in the chopped bacon, liver, walnut, sherry, spices. Preheat oven to 400 F. Lined the bacon strips inside a 1.5 pound loaf pan, then pack in half of the meat mixture. Lay chicken strips on top and spread the rest of the meat mixture over. Cover the pan with lightly greased foil, seal well and press down very firmly. Place terrine in a roasting pan filled (halfufll) with water and bake for 1 – 1 1/2 hour or until firm to the touch. Place weight on top of the cooked terrine and let it cool completely. Drain off excess fat/liquid while terrine is warm. When it’s really cold, turn out the terrine and cut thick slices.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Wood Family Vineyards, 770 Cedar Mountain Drive, Livermore, California 94550

1700. CROWN ROAST of PORK with PRUNE and BACON STUFFING

yields twelve servings


2 tablespoons vegetable oil
3 cloves garlic
1 teaspoon dried savory
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 12-rib crown roast of pork

Stuffing
3/4 cup pitted prunes, halved
1/2 cup apple cider
4 cups cubed day-old crustless bread
5 slices bacon, cut into 1-inch strips
2 onions, diced
1 rib celery, diced
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

Stuffing: Soak prunes in apple cider for 30 minutes; strain and reserve cider. Set aside.

Meanwhile, on baking sheet, bake bread in 400°F oven, stirring halfway through, until golden, about 8 minutes. Transfer to large bowl; set aside.

In skillet, cook bacon over medium-low heat until fat is rendered, 3 to 5 minutes. Drain all but 2 tbsp fat from pan. Stir in onions, celery, salt and cloves; cook over medium heat until softened, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in reserved cider, scraping up brown bits; cook until slightly thickened, 5 to 8 minutes. Add to bowl.

Add prunes and parsley to bowl; set aside.

With mortar and pestle or mini-chopper, purée together oil, garlic, savory, salt and pepper until paste; rub over pork, excluding bones.

Place pork on foil in roasting pan. Spoon stuffing into centre of roast. Wrap each exposed bone tip in foil; place foil on stuffing.

Roast in 325°F oven until meat thermometer registers 160°F , 2-1/2 to 3 hours. Transfer to serving platter and remove foil; tent with foil and let stand for 20 minutes before carving between ribs to serve.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Matthew Kimura, The Canadian Living Test Kitchen | Canadian Living Magazine, December 2009

1660. BACON-WRAPPED BRAISED CAPON with CAPER SAUCE

1 poularde, rubbed with salt

To do the braising:
1/3 pound bacon or porkfat in 6 slices
some extra, thin slices bacon
1/2 cup chopped suet
15 black peppercorns
8 cloves
5 slices of gingerroot
1 onion, sliced
some sprigs of estragon
some roots of parsley
some chicken broth (optional)

To make the sauce:
2 1/2 tablespoons butter or chicken-dripping
1/3 cup flour
2 cups/1 pint chicken broth
lemon peel, white pepper, 3 cloves, 1 bayleaf
2 finely chopped shallots
1/2 cup capers with the vinegar
1/2 cup white wine
pinch of ground mace
2 egg yolks
small lump of cold butter
6 thin slices of bacon

Preparation in advance: Cover the bottom of a heavy casserole with a layer of thick slices of bacon. Cover this with the suet, herbs and spices. Place the chicken on top of this, and cover the bird with thin slices of bacon (optional). Close the lid, place the casserole on a slow fire to melt the fat, then put it in the oven (175C/350F). Let the chicken simmer for an hour, basting it now and then with the molten fat. If the contents of the casserole are too dry, add some chicken broth.
To make the sauce: Simmer the broth for the sauce with lemon peel, pepper, cloves and bay leafs for twenty minutes. Strain the liquid.

Make a roux: Melt the butter, or use three tablespoons of the dripping fat of the chicken (only when no broth was added). Sauté the shallots, add the flour in one go. Stir with a flat wooden spatula, let simmer on a very slow fire for five minutes. Keep stirring. Now add the strained broth, starting with a small amount. Keep stirring until all the liquid has been absorbed by the roux. Add the next amount of liquid when the roux starts boiling again (keep stirring ...). When all the broth is used, add wine, mace, capers and caper liquid.

To serve: Remove the chicken from the casserole, remove the bacon from the bird. Have a decorous serving dish ready to put the chicken on. Surround it with slices of lemon and/or lime. Show it to your guests at the dinner-table, then take it back to the kitchen to cut the chicken in portions. Arrange the chicken pieces on the serving-dish and pour some sauce over them. Use a saucier for the rest of the sauce.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Keukenboek by Henriëtte Davidis, 1868