3927. MINESTRONE SOUP with BUTTERNUT SQUASH, KALE and WHITE BEANS

Yield: Serves 6-8


4 ounces bacon, ½-inch-diced (4-5 slices)
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, plus extra for toasting the bread and serving
3 cups (½-inch) diced peeled butternut squash (about 1 pound)
2 cups (½-inch) diced carrots (4 carrots)
2 cups (½-inch) diced celery (3 stalks)
1 and 1/2 cups chopped yellow onion (about 1 medium)
1 and ½ tablespoons minced garlic (4 cloves)
1 pound kale, stems removed and leaves coarsely chopped
26 ounces canned chopped tomatoes
6 to 8 cups chicken stock
1 bay leaf
1 and 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, plus additional as needed (depending upon the saltiness of the stock)
1 and 1/2 teaspoons black pepper
1 teaspoon dried thyme
2 cups cooked whole wheat small pasta, such as elbow (about 1 cup dry)
1 (15-ounce) can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
Freshly grated Parmesan cheese, for serving
Baguette, cut into 1/2 inch thick diagonal slices

In a large, heavy pot or Dutch oven over medium low, cook bacon, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned, about 6 minutes. Remove from pan and place in between two paper towels set atop a dinner plate. Blot lightly and set aside. Drain most of the excess fat from the Dutch oven. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil, squash, onion, carrots, celery, and garlic. Sauté over medium heat, until the vegetables begin to soften, about 8-10 minutes. Add the kale in batches as it fits in the pot, stirring so that it cooks down. Once kale has lightly wilted, add the tomatoes, 6 cups chicken stock, bay leaf, salt, pepper, and thyme. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer uncovered for 20 minutes, until the vegetables are tender.

Meanwhile, cook the pasta according to directions. Drain and set aside.

Once soup has simmered and the vegetables are soft, discard the bay leaf. Add the beans, cooked pasta, and reserved bacon and heat through. The soup should be fairly thick, but add additional chicken stock as needed. Serve hot drizzled with olive oil and topped with Parmesan cheese.

To toast baguette: Place rack in upper third of oven and preheat to 425 degrees F. Brush both sides of each baguette slice with olive oil and place on a baking sheet. Cook until golden and toasted, about 6 minutes. Serve warm with soup.


bacon recipe source: Erin Clarke, Well Plated (@WellPlated), October 17, 2013

3896. KALE and BACON QUICHE

1 single crust pie dough, blind-baked

5 large eggs

1 egg yolk

1 cup of milk

½ tsp. kosher salt

¼ tsp. freshly ground black pepper

a dash of cayenne pepper (optional)

1 bunch of organic kale, chopped into bite-size pieces

5 strips of bacon, cooked and diced

½ medium-sized onion, chopped

1 garlic clove, grated

¾ cup of grated cheese (use your favorite!)

For the Blind-Baked Pie Dough
:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Prepare the pie crust and flute the edges. Line the pie dough with a double layer of aluminum foil. Fill the pie pan with pie weights, dried beans or uncooked rice to weigh down the dough and prevent it from shrinking. Bake for 15-20 minutes. Remove from the oven and prepare the quiche filling in the meantime.

For the Quiche:


Lower the oven to 350 degrees F. In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the eggs and milk. Add salt and pepper and cayenne pepper. Set aside. You want the egg mixture to get to room temperature so it doesn’t take as long to bake.

Place the strips of bacon in a large skillet. Turn the heat on to medium-high and cook until crispy or to your desired preference. Remove the bacon and transfer to a plate lined with paper towel to remove any excess grease. Chop the bacon into bite-sized pieces.

Using the same skillet you cooked the bacon, drain the excess bacon grease reserving about 1 teaspoon to cook the onions and garlic in. On a medium heat, saute the onions and garlic for 4-5- minutes or until translucent. Then add the chopped kale and cook for another 3-4 minutes until wilted. Set aside.

First, add the layer of bacon bits to the bottom. Second, add the layer of kale and onions. Grate ¾ cup of cheese, reserving ¼ cup for the top. Sprinkle the cheese over the kale layer. Gently ladle the egg mixture on top.

Top the egg custard with the remaining ¼ cup of cheese. Put the quiche in the oven and bake for 40-50 minutes or until the egg custard has set. Remove from the oven and set on a wire rack. Let cool for 15-20 minutes. Serve with a side salad and enjoy!


bacon recipe source: Sassy Pantry, June 5, 2013

3887. KALE, BACON and EGG WHOLE-WHEAT BREAKFAST SANDWICH

Makes one sandwich


1 whole-wheat bun

Mayonnaise or softened butter (optional)

1 strip bacon

1 1/2 cups kale, chopped into 1/2-inch ribbons

1 clove garlic, minced

1/4 teaspoon white wine vinegar

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

1 large egg

Toast the bun and set it on a plate. Spread with mayonnaise or butter, if desired.

In a medium skillet, cook the bacon until crisp, and set aside on a paper towel-lined plate. Pour off the bacon grease, leaving just a thin film on the pan. Add the garlic and kale to the skillet and cook over medium-high heat, tossing frequently and scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Taste and add salt if needed. Cook until kale is tender, adding 1 or 2 tablespoons of water if needed to keep kale moist as it cooks. Sprinkle with vinegar, then remove from pan and set aside.

Wipe skillet clean and add vegetable oil (or 1 tablespoon of reserved bacon grease, if you're feeling frisky). Over medium heat, fry the egg. While it cooks, assemble the rest of the sandwich: Place the kale on the bottom half of the bun. Cut the bacon in half crosswise and place on top of the kale.

Top the kale and bacon with the fried egg and the top bun. Serve immediately, cutting in half just before eating.


bacon recipe source: The Kitchn (@thekitchn), September 2012

3859. SMOKY BACON, BLACK BEANS and GREENS QUESADILLAS with PICO DE GALLO

Serves 4


6 slices smoky, meaty bacon, chopped, divided

1 large yellow or white onion, chopped, divided

4 cloves garlic, chopped

1 bunch chard or flat kale (such as lacinato), stemmed and chopped (about 5 to 6 cups)

Salt and pepper

Olive oil or canola oil, for drizzling and brushing

2 jalapeños, seeded and chopped, divided

1 1/2 teaspoons ground coriander (about half a palmful)

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin (about half a palmful)

A pinch of ground cinnamon

1 15-ounce can black beans, rinsed

1/2 cup finely chopped red onion

3 plum tomatoes, chopped

2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, finely chopped

4 large, 10- to 12-inch whole-wheat tortillas

1 8-ounce brick pepper Jack or Monterey Jack, shredded (about 2 cups)

Sour cream


In a large skillet, cook the bacon over medium-high, stirring often, until crispy, about 8 minutes. Add about three-quarters of the yellow onion and half the garlic; stir until the onion softens, 2-3 minutes. Add the greens and stir until wilted, 3-4 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and transfer to a bowl. Wipe the skillet clean and reserve.



In a small saucepan, heat a drizzle of oil over medium. Add the remaining yellow onion and garlic, and half the jalapeño; stir until softened, about 2 minutes. Stir in the coriander, cumin and cinnamon. Add the beans and season. Cover and keep warm over low heat.



For the pico de gallo, in a medium bowl, mix the remaining jalapeño, the red onion, tomatoes and cilantro; season with salt.



Brush the reserved skillet with a little oil; heat over medium-high. Add 1 tortilla to the skillet and cook until blistered, about 1 minute. Turn; cover half the tortilla with about 1/3 cup cheese, then top with a quarter of both the greens mixture and the bean mixture. Sprinkle with a few more tablespoons of cheese. Fold over and cook, pressing down and turning, until the cheese melts and the quesadilla is brown and crispy, 2-3 minutes per side. Repeat with the remaining tortillas and fillings. 


Cut the quesadillas into quarters and top with the pico and sour cream.



bacon recipe source: Rachael Ray, Every Day with Rachael Ray, September 2015

3818. BUCATINI with BACON, KALE and WINTER SQUASH

Servings: 4


For the fried sage (optional):
1/4 cup (2 fl. oz./60 ml) olive oil
8 to 10 fresh sage leaves


1 butternut, kabocha or calabaza squash, peeled, seeded and sliced into 1-inch (2.5-cm) pieces
2 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
12 oz. (375 g) bucatini
3 oz. (90 g) bacon, diced
1 large shallot, sliced into 1/8-inch (3-mm) rings
1 bunch Tuscan kale, stemmed and leaves cut crosswise into 1/4-inch (3-mm) ribbons
4 Tbs. (1/2 stick) (2 oz./60 g) unsalted butter
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 cup (2 fl. oz./60 ml) white wine
2 fresh sage leaves
1 Tbs. heavy cream
2 Tbs. pine nuts, toasted
Grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese for serving

To fry the sage leaves, in a small fry pan over medium heat, warm the olive oil until shimmering. Carefully drop the sage leaves, a few at a time, into the oil. They will sizzle and crisp very quickly, in 15 to 30 seconds. Using a fork or small skimmer, transfer the fried sage leaves to a paper towel–lined plate.



On a baking sheet, toss the squash with the olive oil, 2 tsp. salt and a few grinds of black pepper. Spread the squash in a single layer and roast until tender, about 25 minutes.



While the squash is roasting, bring a large pot three-fourths full of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente, according to the package instructions. Drain the pasta.



While the pasta is cooking, in a sauté pan large enough to accommodate the pasta and squash later, cook the bacon over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the fat is rendered and the bacon is crispy, about 5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the bacon to a paper towel–lined plate, leaving the bacon fat in the pan. Reduce the heat to medium-low, add the shallot to the pan and cook until translucent and tender, about 5 minutes. Increase the heat to medium, add the kale, 1/2 tsp. salt and 2 Tbs. water. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the kale is wilted, about 2 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper and transfer to a bowl.



In the same pan, warm the butter until melted. Add the garlic, 1/2 tsp. salt and a few grinds of pepper, and cook until the garlic is fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the wine and fresh sage leaves to the pan. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook until the liquid is slightly thickened, 2 to 4 minutes. Remove the sage leaves from the pan and discard. Stir in the cream and season to taste with salt and pepper. Add the squash, bacon, kale mixture and cooked pasta to the pan and toss until well combined, warming the mixture over medium heat if the vegetables are no longer warm.



Transfer the pasta to a serving dish and garnish with the fried sage and pine nuts. Serve immediately, passing the cheese at the table.


bacon recipe source: Williams-Sonoma Test Kitchen, Williams-Sonoma (@WilliamsSonoma)

3808. GRILLED KING TRUMPET MUSHROOM, KALE and BACON SALAD with LEMON-HERB VINAIGRETTE

Makes 4 to 6 servings

1/2 lb large meaty wild mushrooms such as king trumpet, porcini/bolete, or chanterelle

2 or 3 strips applewood-smoked bacon, chopped

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for brushing

1 clove garlic, minced

1 tbsp mixed fresh herbs such as parsley, thyme, oregano, and/or mint

1 bunch lacinato kale, ribs removed and leaves cut into strips crosswise

Kosher salt

Juice of 1/2 lemon

Clean the mushrooms with a damp cloth, trim the stems, and cut into 1/2 thick slices. If the mushrooms are too small to place directly on the cooking grate of your grill, thread them onto skewers or have ready a perforated grilling tray. Prepare a charcoal grill for direct heat grilling over medium heat.

In a frying pan, cook the bacon, stirring, until crisp, about 4 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the bacon to paper towels to drain.

In a bowl, stir together 1 tbsp of the bacon drippings with the olive oil, garlic, and herbs. Place the kale in a serving bowl, sprinkle with a little salt and the lemon juice, and massage gently with your hands. Set aside.

Brush the cooking grate of the grill clean, then oil the grate. Brush the mushroom slices lightly with the herb-oil mixture. Grill the mushrooms, turning frequently, until tender and browned, 6–8 minutes. Transfer the mushrooms to a plate and brush with a little more of the herb-oil mixture. Chop the mushrooms into bite-sized pieces. Taste and season with a little salt.

Add the bacon and mushrooms to the salad. Drizzle with enough of the herb-oil mixture to lightly coat the salad, a tablespoon or so. Toss to combine and serve right away.

bacon recipe source: Kim Laidlaw and Wendy Goodfriend, Bay Area Bites (@bayareabites), KQED, August 23, 2014

3805. KALE TEMPURA with CANDIED BACON

1 bunch of kale

8 cups canola oil

tempura batter (recipe below or use a box mix)

1/2 cup fish sauce dressing (recipe below)

3 strips candied bacon, chopped (recipe below)

2 tablespoons chopped cilantro

2 tablespoons chopped mint

Tempura Batter

2 cups rice flour

1 egg

1 cup cold seltzer water

Dash of salt

Tempura Batter: Whisk all ingredients until they just come together.

Candied Bacon

3 strips thick cut bacon

2 tablespoons brown sugar

Candied Bacon: In a rimmed baking dish cover the strips of bacon with the brown sugar on both sides. Place in cold oven, then turn oven to 375°. Check bacon after 25 minutes, it should be done in about 25-35 minutes. The time will vary depending on the thickness of the bacon. Remove from oven and place on a parchment lined surface to cool.

Fish Sauce Dressing

1/2 cup fish sauce

1/4 cup water

2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar

6 tablespoons sugar

1 lime, juiced

1 garlic clove minced

1 Serrano chile minced (keep the seeds if you like things spicy)

Fish Sauce Dressing: Whisk all ingredients together. Stored in the fridge, this will keep for a couple of weeks.

Main recipe: Bring a pot of salted water to boil. Tear kale leaves off of the stems, and cut larger leaves in half. Boil kale in salted water for 1 minute. Strain into colander and spread out onto a sheet tray. When cool enough to handle squeeze out all of the water from the kale.

In a large bowl put fish sauce dressing, cilantro, mint, and bacon. 

Heat 8 cups of canola oil in a wide high-sided pot to 350º. Prepare your work area by having a shallow dish of dry tempura mix (about a cup) and your tempura batter in a bowl near the stove. Also have a dish with paper towel ready for your tempura pieces as they come out of the oil.

Dip the kale into the dry tempura, then dip into the tempura batter, place into the oil. It is important to try and separate the leaves as it goes in the oil to avoid clumping. Fry for a minute or two. Using a spider (or chop sticks) take kale out of oil and place into the large bowl. 

In a large serving bowl toss the kale with the fish sauce dressing, fresh herbs and bacon so all the ingredients coat it.

bacon recipe source: Mary McDonald, Pixels + Crumbs (@pixelsandcrumbs), August 5, 2014

3732. FRENCH LENTIL SOUP with KALE and BACON

makes four generous servings


4 oz bacon, chopped
2 large (or 3 small) carrots, chopped
1 cup leeks, white and light green parts, washed and thinly sliced (or about 1 small yellow onion, diced)
pinch red pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon dried Turkish oregano
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar, plus (optionally) more for serving
1 cup French green lentils, picked over for odd little bits
6 cups beef stock
5 oz (about 4-5 handfuls) kale, chopped into bite-sized pieces
sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper
olive oil and parmesan cheese for serving (optional)

Add bacon to a cold Dutch oven or soup pot and turn flame to med-high. Cook until bacon renders about half its fat and pan begins to take on color, about 5 minutes.

Add carrots, leeks, pepper flakes, thyme and oregano and cook until veggies begin to give off liquid. Add vinegar. Deglaze pan, scraping up all brown bits from bacon.

Add lentils and beef stock and bring to a boil; then reduce to low, cover and simmer for 30 minutes or until lentils are tender.

Add kale, pushing down to submerge in broth, and cook for another 5 minutes or so, until leaves have wilted substantially but kale remains green. Taste and adjust for salt and pepper, if necessary.

Serve soup piping hot in big bowls with a scant drizzle of vinegar, olive oil and a scattering of parmesan, if desired.


bacon recipe source: Emily Stoffel, the pig & quill (@thepigandquill), January 14, 2015

3633. CASSOULET with SQUASH, BACON, KALE and SAUSAGE

serves 6-8


16 oz dried white beans
1 lbs pork sausage, in links, casing split
1/4 lb slab bacon, roughly chopped
2 lbs butternut squash, peeled and roughly chopped
3 stalks celery, chopped
2 small onion, chopped
1 bunch laciato kale, deveined and chopped
4 cloves garlic
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 quart chicken stock
2 cups panko breadcrumbs
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
3 tablespoons fresh sage
2 tablespoons rosemary
1 tablespoon herbs de Provence
salt and pepper

To prepare dried beans, rinse and sort, making sure to remove any dried or shriveled beans. In a large pot, fill with beans and cover with 3 inches of water. Bring to a boil and cook 2 minutes, uncovered. Remove from heat, cover, and set aside 1 hour. Drain and reserve for recipe.

Preheat oven to 350°. In a 4 quart dutch oven over medium high heat, warm 1 tablespoons olive oil. When oil is shimmering, cook bacon and sausage until sausage is browned and bacon has crisped, about 5 minutes. Remove from dutch oven and set aside. Add onion, celery, and garlic, cooking until onion is translucent, about 5 minutes.

Deglaze dutch oven with white wine, scraping to remove brown bits. add squash, kale, beans, bacon, and sausage. Pour in chicken stock, add rosemary, herbs de Provence and a generous serving of salt and pepper. Stir to combine, cover and bake for 1 hour. After 1 hour has elapsed, remove from oven and check cassoulet. If mixture has a soup-like consistency, remove lid and continue baking for 30 minutes. If cassoulet has reduced, and thickened into a stew consistency, continue baking covered for 30 additional minutes.

Meanwhile, mix breadcrumbs with sage and set aside. After additional 30 minutes, remove from oven and top with 1/2 of breadcrumb mixture. Bake an additional 15 minutes. Remove dutch oven again and top with remaining bread crumbs. Drizzle remaining 1 tablespoons olive oil on top and broil for 5-7 minutes, or until breadcrumbs are golden brown.


bacon recipe source: Jillian & Robert, A Better Happier St. Sebastian, October 9, 2014

3585. BACON, EGG and CHEESE MIGAS

serves 3-4


6 slices bacon, chopped
1 leeks, thinly sliced
1½ cups stale bread, roughly torn into bite-sized pieces
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 large bunch kale, cleaned and roughly torn into bite-sized pieces
¼ cup grated cheese (cheddar, Parmesan, whatever you like)
4 eggs (see options below)
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, for garnish

 
Heat a heavy bottomed pan, like a cast iron skillet, to medium high. Add in your bacon and cook for 5 minutes or so, then add in your sliced leeks. Cook until the bacon is crisp and the leeks are slightly caramelized. Remove the bacon and leeks with a slotted spatula and set the aside. Add in your bread and two tablespoons of unsalted butter. Toss to combine, reduce the heat to medium, and toast for about 5 minutes. Remove the bread and place on the same plate with the bacon and leeks. Add in your kale, and cook until slightly charred and wilted, about 8 minutes.

Add back in the bacon, leeks, and bread. Toss to combine, then add in the cheese and toss to combine. Now, here are your options:

Option A: You can scramble your eggs, pour them over everything, and toss to make a scramble
 
Option B: You can crack the eggs right into the pan and fry the eggs right in the pan with everything
 
Option C: You can fry your eggs separately in a pan and plate them on top of your final product.

Once your eggs are done, plate and garnish with a sprinkle of sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.


bacon recipe source: Sydney Kramer, The Crepes of Wrath (@CrepesofWrath), September 29, 2014

Bacon, Egg & Cheese Migas

Author: Sydney

Prep time:  20 mins

Cook time:  20 mins

Total time:  40 mins

Serves: 3-4

 

A traditional Spanish breakfast dish made with day-old bread, eggs, bacon, cheese, leeks and kale - all in one pot!

Ingredients

• 6 slices bacon, chopped
• 1 leeks, thinly sliced
• 1½ cups stale bread, roughly torn into bite-sized pieces
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 large bunch kale, cleaned and roughly torn into bite-sized pieces
• ¼ cup grated cheese (cheddar, Parmesan, whatever you like)
• 4 eggs (you have an option here - you can scramble them, pour them over your eggs, and cook this like a migas scramble, you can crack them into the pan and let them fry among the other ingredients, or you can fry them separately and plate them on top of the finished dish - it depends on how fancy you want to get or how much energy you have)
• sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, for garnish

Instructions

1. Heat a heavy bottomed pan, like a cast iron skillet, to medium high. Add in your bacon and cook for 5 minutes or so, then add in your sliced leeks. Cook until the bacon is crisp and the leeks are slightly caramelized. Remove the bacon and leeks with a slotted spatula and set the aside. Add in your bread and two tablespoons of unsalted butter. Toss to combine, reduce the heat to medium, and toast for about 5 minutes. Remove the bread and place on the same plate with the bacon and leeks. Add in your kale, and cook until slightly charred and wilted, about 8 minutes.
2. Add back in the bacon, leeks, and bread. Toss to combine, then add in the cheese and toss to combine. Now, here are your options:
3. Option A: You can scramble your eggs, pour them over everything, and toss to make a scramble
4. Option B: You can crack the eggs right into the pan and fry the eggs right in the pan with everything
5. Option C: You can fry your eggs separately in a pan and plate them on top of your final product. I did this for presentation's sake, but if I were making this on a weeknight or as a quick breakfast, I'd probably do option A.
6. Once your eggs are done, plate and garnish with a sprinkle of sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.

 

Share This Recipe:

• 
  
• 
  
• 
  

- See more at: http://www.thecrepesofwrath.com/2014/09/29/bacon-egg-cheese-migas/#sthash.8KXuU3or.dpuf

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

3535. CURLY KALE sauteed with GARBANZOS and BACON

1 bunch of curly kale, thoroughly washed and stems removed 1 can of garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
2-3 slices of bacon, cut into small pieces
1/2 yellow onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, chopped
salt
pepper
fresh lemon juice
olive oil

In a sautoir (a pan with sides that are 2-3 inches high) fry bacon over medium heat until crispy. Pour out most of the bacon fat. Add onion and saute for a few minutes until opaque. Add garlic. Cook for another 2-3 minutes. Add the garbanzos and cook for another 3 minutes or so. Add kale. It might not fit all at once so add some, cover, mix with tongs, and when it’s reduced a bit add the rest of the kale. Cook until the kale is wilted. Season with salt and pepper and some fresh lemon juice if you like that sorta stuff. Drizzle with a bit of olive oil and serve. 


bacon recipe source: The Foodie Teacher (@TheFoodieTeach), February 21, 2013

3544. STRAWBERRY AVOCADO KALE SALAD with BACON POPPY SEED DRESSING

yields two servings

6 cups baby kale, prewashed
2 cups sliced strawberries
1 ripe avocado, sliced

The dressing
4 slices bacon
1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons white vinegar
1/2 teaspoon poppy seeds
salt & pepper, to taste

Place kale, strawberries and avocado into a large bowl and set aside.

For the dressing, cook bacon until crisp. Remove from pan and drain bacon on paper towels. Crumble into small pieces and whisk together with remaining ingredients. Drizzle over salad and serve.


bacon recipe source: Lauren Brennan, Lauren's Latest (@laurens_latest), April 4, 2013

3538. ORECCHIETTE with BACON MEATBALLS

makes four servings

12 ounces ground pork

4 slices bacon or uncured smoked bacon, cut into 1/2-inch pieces

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper, divided

2 tablespoons olive oil

8 ounces dried orecchiette pasta

2 small shallots, thinly sliced

3 large tomatoes, coarsely chopped (2 cups)

4 cups kale or spinach, coarsely chopped

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup shaved Parmesan (optional)

 

In a medium bowl combine pork, bacon, garlic and 1/4 teaspoon of the pepper until well mixed. Using a teaspoon, scoop the mixture into the palm of your hand and shape into 1-inch meatballs. Pieces of the bacon should be visible. 

 

In a large skillet heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add half the meatballs. Cook and stir until meatballs are browned on all sides and the bacon is crisp, about 8 to 10 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer meatballs to paper towel; drain. Repeat with remaining meatballs. Reserving 1 Tbsp. bacon drippings in the skillet; set aside. 

 

Cook pasta according to package directions in lightly salted water; drain. Reserving about 1/4 cup of cooking liquid. 

 

Cook shallot in reserved bacon dripping, over medium-high heat, 3 to 4 minutes, scraping the bottom of the pan with wooden spoon to release the brown bits. Return meatballs to the skillet. Add tomatoes; cook 2 to 3 minutes. Add pasta and kale; toss to combine, adding pasta liquid as needed to moisten the pasta. Season with salt and remaining 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Top with Parmesan before serving.

 

 

bacon recipe source: the Test Kitchen at Better Homes and Gardens

3536. PULLED PORK, GREENS and BACON SANDWICH

yields 10 sandwiches


10 ciabatta rolls or other crusty, full-bodied bread rolls

For the pulled pork

1 (5 to 15 pound) pork roast

salt and pepper to taste

liquid smoke (optional) 

For the greens

2 pounds kale leaves, stems removed and cut into 2-inch pieces

1/2 pound bacon + 4 tablespoons reserved bacon grease

1 large onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/4 cup chicken stock

salt and pepper to taste

For the vinegar sauce

3/4 cup apple cider vinegar

3 tablespoons hot sauce

For the pulled pork:

If using a slow cooker: Season pork well with salt and pepper. Place in slow cooker. Drizzle with liquid smoke if desired. Set cooker on low for 8 - 10 hours or on high for 4-5 hours. Remove pork from bones (if any) and shred with forks. Keep warm.

If using an oven: Season pork well with salt and pepper. Rub with liquid smoke if desired. Wrap tightly in foil and bake at 220 degrees for 7 to 8 hours. Remove pork from bone (if any) and shred with forks. Keep warm. 

For the greens: Cook bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until crisp, turning once. Set bacon aside and pour off bacon grease, reserving 4 tablespoons grease. Return reserved grease to pan. Add onions and cook, stirring frequently, until translucent. (About 3 minutes.) Add garlic and cook an additional 2 minutes. Add kale to the skillet by handfulls, turning constantly until all the kale is wilted. Crumble bacon into the greens and stir until well combined. Add chicken stock and season with salt and pepper. Keep warm.

Putting it all together: Split ciabatta rolls in half. Plop a healthy amount of the pork on the roll and drizzle with vinegar mixture. top with greens and drizzle with vinegar mixture again. Cover with top of roll. Share and enjoy! 


bacon recipe source: Jerry, Cooking by the seat of our pants (@cbsop), April 26, 2013

3485. SWEET POTATO, KALE and BACON SCRAMBLE

serves two


6 eggs
4 strips thick cut smoked bacon
2 teaspoons olive oil
1/8 cup liquid (such as water, chicken broth, vegetable broth)
½ medium sized sweet potato, peel on, chopped into ¼- inch squares
¼ red onion, diced
2-3 stalks kale, stems removed and chopped, leaves chopped
toppings of your choice: cheese, guacamole, salsa, plain Greek yogurt

In a medium-sized skillet, heat about two teaspoons of olive oil on medium heat. Add the chopped sweet potato and onion and saute 3 or 4 minutes before adding a little liquid and covering. In about 2 minutes, check to see if the liquid has burned off. If it has, add a little more and cover again. Repeat this several times until the sweet potato is soften, but still al dente. Add the chopped kale stems. Saute another 3 to 5 minutes and add additional liquid if necessary. Add the chopped bacon. Allow the bacon to cook to desired crisp. Add the kale leaves. Allow to steam for about 30 seconds before pouring the scrambled egg mixture evenly over the meat and veggies. This is where the technique comes in. Avoid the temptation to stir. Simply allow the skillet to sit 2 to three minutes. Then, using a wooden spoon or spatula, begin flipping sections of egg and veggies. Once all sections have been flipped over, everything to sit and cook another 2 or 3 minutes. Repeat the flipping. Continue doing this until the egg is no longer cooking to the skillet. Add salt to taste. Serve with your favorite toppings.


bacon recipe source: Julia Mueller, The Roasted Root (@RoastedRootFood), October 30, 2012

3465. KALE, KOHLRABI and MINT STIR FRY with BACON and FRIED EGG

2 bacon slices, diced
2 bunches Lacinato (Italian) kale, thinly sliced into ribbons
1 bulb kohlrabi, peeled and thinly sliced into ribbons
Juice of 1 lemon
⅓ cup coarsely chopped fresh mint
1 tablespoon (or more) fish sauce
olive oil
2 eggs

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Add deiced bacon; cook and stir until bacon is crisp. Remove bacon from skillet. Remove all but 1 tablespoon bacon grease from pan. Add kale and kohlrabi ribbons to hot grease; cook and stir just until wilted, about 3 minutes. Meanwhile, heat a skillet over medium heat until hot. Add olive oil. Crack eggs into hot oil and fry to desired doneness. Remove kale mixture from heat and stir in bacon, lemon juice, mint, and fish sauce. Season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Divide kale mixture between two serving plates. Top each plate with fried egg and serve.


bacon recipe source: Marissa, Pinch and Swirl (@pinchandswirl), February 16, 2014

3427. GRILLED KING TRUMPET MUSHROOM, KALE, and BACON SALAD with LEMON-HERB VINAIGRETTE

makes 4 to 6 servings


1/2 lb large meaty wild mushrooms such as king trumpet, porcini/bolete, or chanterelle
2 or 3 strips applewood-smoked bacon, chopped
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for brushing
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tablespoon mixed fresh herbs such as parsley, thyme, oregano, and/or mint
1 bunch lacinato kale, ribs removed and leaves cut into strips crosswise
Kosher salt
Juice of 1/2 lemon

Clean the mushrooms with a damp cloth, trim the stems, and cut into 1/2 thick slices. If the mushrooms are too small to place directly on the cooking grate of your grill, thread them onto skewers or have ready a perforated grilling tray. Prepare a charcoal grill for direct heat grilling over medium heat.

In a frying pan, cook the bacon, stirring, until crisp, about 4 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the bacon to paper towels to drain.

In a bowl, stir together 1 tbsp of the bacon drippings with the olive oil, garlic, and herbs. Place the kale in a serving bowl, sprinkle with a little salt and the lemon juice, and massage gently with your hands. Set aside.

Brush the cooking grate of the grill clean, then oil the grate. Brush the mushroom slices lightly with the herb-oil mixture. Grill the mushrooms, turning frequently, until tender and browned, 6–8 minutes. Transfer the mushrooms to a plate and brush with a little more of the herb-oil mixture. Chop the mushrooms into bite-sized pieces. Taste and season with a little salt.

Add the bacon and mushrooms to the salad. Drizzle with enough of the herb-oil mixture to lightly coat the salad, a tablespoon or so. Toss to combine and serve right away.


bacon recipe source: Kim Laidlaw, KQED, 2601 Mariposa Street, San Francisco, CA 94110, August 23, 2014

3423. BACON BEER BEEF and IRISH POTATOES

serves four


Bacon Beer Beef: 
4 strips thick cut bacon 
2 tablespoons olive oil 
1.5 lbs beef chuck, cut into cubes 
salt and pepper, to taste 
1 medium yellow onion, thinly sliced 
2 tablespoons all purpose flour 
½ teaspoon smoked paprika 
12 ounces stout beer 
2 cups beef broth (or stock)

Irish Potatoes: 
2 lbs russet potatoes, peeled and chopped 
6 tablespoons unsalted butter 
2 cups cabbage (or kale), chopped 
½ cup green onions, chopped 
1 cup whole milk 
salt and pepper, to taste

In a Dutch oven over medium heat, cook the bacon. Remove the bacon from the pot. Chop and set aside. Pour off bacon grease until about 2 tablespoons of bacon grease remain in the pot. Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil to the pot. Sprinkle the beef cubes with salt and pepper. Add to the pot, sear on all sides until browned, and remove from pot (beef will not be cooked through). Add the onions. Cook until lightly caramelized, about ten minutes. Sprinkle with flour, stir until flour has turned brown, about 1 minute. Add the stout and stir, scraping to deglaze the pan. Pour in the broth. Add the beef cubes and bacon back into the pot. Add the lid at a slight vent and reduce heat to maintain a low simmer. Allow to simmer until beef is fork tender, 1 ½ to 2 hours. While the beef is cooking, make the potatoes: Add the potatoes to a pot of salted water, bring to a boil and allow to cook until potatoes are fork tender. Drain, remove potatoes from the pot and return the empty pot to heat. Melt the butter in the pot. Add the cabbage (or kale) and cook until wilted, about 2 minutes. Stir in the green onions. Remove from heat, and add in the milk and the potatoes. Mash and stir until well combined. Add salt and pepper to taste.


bacon recipe source: Jackie Todd (@TheBeeroness), Parade, March 11, 2014

3404. ADZUKI BEANS with BACON, MISO and KALE

makes 2 entrees or 4 side dishes


1 1/4 cups dried adzuki beans (or 2 cups cooked)
3 slices smoked bacon, cut into lardons
1 onion diced
2–3 large garlic cloves
1/2 Serrano pepper, finely minced
1 teaspoon miso paste
1 1/2 tablespoons rice vinegar
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 cups raw shredded kale
feta or ricotta salada cheese
pinch of dried red pepper flakes

Soak beans overnight for a super quick simmer. Rinse the dried beans and place them in a large pot. Add enough water come up two inches above the beans, cover the pot, and go to bed. The following morning, drain off the beans, reserving the water. The water makes a great base for a vegetable broth, and in a pinch I’ve used it instead of broth. Cover the beans with water again, by about 1 inch, and simmer for 30 – 45 minutes, or until al dente. Drain, rinse, and set aside.

Fry the bacon lardons until crispy.

Drain off all by 2 tablespoons of bacon grease, and add the onion, garlic, and Serrano pepper. Sauté unless softened. Add the cooked beans, and miso paste, being sure to distribute the paste through the mixture. Stir for about one minute, and remove from the heat.

Add the rice vinegar, salt, and ground pepper.

Remove the center tough vein of the kale leaves and thinly slice the leaves horizontally. Stir the kale into the beans so that the heat of the beans wilts the leaves.

Optional: Sprinkle a little feta cheese and dried red pepper flakes on top.

bacon recipe source: Susan Pridmore, The Wimpy Vegetarian, March 2013