3999. FISH TACOS with SMOKED BACON

Makes 6 tacos


2 cod fillets cut into cubes

2 slices of thick smoked bacon, chopped into small pieces

1/2 white onion finely chopped

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 small tomato, chopped

1/4 cup fresh, chopped cilantro

A pinch of lemon zest and the juice of half a lemon

1 tbsp. butter

1/2 tsp. dried oregano

1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes (adjust according to taste)

salt to taste

6 corn tortillas

avocado, limes, and salsa for serving

In a large pan, cook bacon for 3-4 minutes. Add onion and continue to cook until onions soften. Add garlic and cook for 2 minutes, stirring. Add tomato and continue to stir. Add butter into pan. Add cod and cook until the fish begins to flake. Using a spoon, break the cod apart into smaller pieces. Add oregano, red pepper flakes, and salt.

Stir until fish cooks and juices from the stew begin to evaporate. Turn heat off. Add the lemon zest and juice. Stir. Taste and adjust seasonings according to taste. Fold in cilantro right before serving. Warm tortillas on the stovetop. Serve with avocado, limes, and your favorite salsa.

bacon recipe source: Ariana, Mexicrave, May 25, 2014

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

3981. BAKED EGGS with BACON-BRAISED BLACK-EYED PEAS

Serves 4


2 cup black-eyed peas

3 slices applewood-smoked bacon cut into 1/2-inch pieces

1 small diced yellow onion

1 cup salsa

1/2 cup chicken broth (low-sodium)

4 large eggs

2 tbsp parsley freshly chopped for garnish

hot sauce for garnish

Bring a medium sized pot of water to a boil and season with salt. Add the fresh black-eyed peas and boil for 10 minutes, or until just tender. Drain and discard the water.

In a medium-sized sauté pan, cook the bacon over medium heat until the fat has rendered and the bacon is just crisp.

Remove the bacon pieces from the pan and add the onion to the bacon fat. Sauté the onion until tender and caramelized, about 10 minutes, stirring often.

Add the cooked black-eyed peas and sauté for 3 minutes more. Add the salsa to the pan along with the chicken broth and stir in the cooked bacon. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes, uncovered, to meld the flavors.

Preheat the oven to 375°.

Coat 4 gratin dishes with cooking spray. Divide the black-eyed pea mixture evenly among dishes and make a small indentation in the center for the egg to rest in.

Crack 1 egg into a small bowl and gently pour it into a gratin dish. Repeat with the remaining eggs.

Place the gratin dishes on a baking sheet and tent the baking sheet with foil. Bake until the egg whites are cooked through, about 10 to 15 minutes. Serve garnished with parsley and hot sauce, for those that like it hot.

bacon recipe source: La Victoria (@LAVICTORIAbrand), MegaMex Foods, LLC, Consumer Response, 1 Hormel Place, Austin, MN 55912

3942. BACON, EGG and CHEESE BRUNCH RING

8 servings


4 slices bacon, cut in half crosswise
1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon milk
4 eggs, slightly beaten
Salt and pepper, if desired
1/4 cup chopped red bell pepper
1 can (8 oz) refrigerated crescent dinner rolls
1 cup shredded Mexican cheese blend (4 oz)
Chopped fresh cilantro, if desired
1 cup salsa, if desired

Heat oven to 375°F. Line large cookie sheet with cooking parchment paper. In 10-inch skillet, cook bacon over medium heat about 4 minutes or until cooked but not crisp, turning once. (It will continue to cook in oven.) Set bacon aside; drain all except 2 teaspoons bacon drippings from skillet.

In medium bowl, beat 1/3 cup of the milk, the eggs, salt and pepper with fork or whisk until well mixed. Stir in bell pepper. Pour egg mixture into skillet. As mixture heats, portions of eggs will begin to set. Gently push cooked portions with metal spatula to outside edge of skillet. Avoid stirring constantly. As more egg sets, push it to the edge and place it on top of the already set egg mixture. Cook 5 to 6 minutes or until eggs are thickened throughout but still moist.

Unroll dough; separate into 8 triangles. On parchment-lined cookie sheet, arrange triangles with shortest sides toward center, overlapping in star shape and leaving 4-inch round circle open in center (see diagram). Crescent dough points may hang over edge of cookie sheet. Press overlapping dough to flatten.

Place bacon on each of the triangles. Sprinkle 1/3 cup of the cheese onto widest part of dough. Spoon eggs over cheese. Sprinkle with 1/3 cup of the cheese. Pull points of triangles over eggs and cheese, and tuck under dough to form ring (filling will be visible). Carefully brush dough with remaining 1 tablespoon milk; sprinkle with remaining 1/3 cup cheese.

Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until deep golden brown. Cool 2 minutes. With broad spatula, carefully loosen ring from cookie sheet; slide onto serving platter. Garnish with cilantro and salsa.


bacon recipe source: Pillsbury.com, Pillsbury, General Mills, Inc., P.O. Box 9452, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55440

3892. BACON STUFFED CORN CAKES

Makes 6-8 pancakes


Corn Cake Mixture:
1 1/2 cups fine or medium ground cornmeal
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups boiling water
1/2 cup milk
2 tablespoons olive oil plus some for cooking
1 tablespoon sugar
1 large egg

Filling:
4 large strips bacon, diced
3-4 scallions, minced
1 cup shredded cheese
Maple Syrup, for serving
Salsa, for serving

Stir together cornmeal and salt. Add boiling water and stir. Let sit for 5-10 minutes so water can absorb.

Stir in milk, olive oil, and egg into batter. Let rest while you make filling.

Bake bacon until crispy at 350 degrees. Dice or crumble the bacon and stir in with diced scallions and grated cheese.

To make cakes, add a drizzle of oil to a griddle or large skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add 1/4 cup of the cornmeal batter.

Immediately top batter with a small handful of the bacon filling. Spoon another 1/4 cup of batter over the top of the filling so it mostly covers the filling. It's okay if it doesn't cover everything.

Let cook for 3-4 minutes or until the edges are firm around the cake.

Flip cake and cook for another few minutes until they are cooked through.

Serve cakes immediately with maple syrup or salsa!


bacon recipe source: Nick Evans, Macheesmo (@Macheesmo), May 19, 2012

3872. CHEDDAR, BACON and LEEK QUESADILLAS with TOMATILLO SALSA

Makes 32 slices and 2 cups of salsa


Tomatillo Salsa:

1/4 pound fresh green tomatillos, husked

1 small red bell pepper

1 clove garlic, peeled

2 Tablespoons chopped red onions

1/2 serrano chile, seeded and coarsely chopped

Juice of 1/2 lime

1/2 bunch of cilantro, thick stems removed, plus more for garnish

1/2 teaspoon sugar

1 teaspoon kosher salt

Quesadillas:

8 strips bacon

2 small leeks (white and light green parts only), cleaned, thinly sliced

1 Tablespoon butter, unsalted

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

3 cups shredded Monterey Jack/Cheddar cheese

1/4 cup minced pickled jalapenos (optional)

Canola oil

8 (8-inch) flour tortillas

Tomatillo Salsa: Husk the tomatillos and blanch them in boiling water for 15 seconds (only). Immerse them in a bowl with ice water to cool them. Remove the core from each tomatillo. Puree tomatillos in a food processor. Roast the pepper over a flame or broil in the oven until charred. Put into a paper bag for 5 minutes then peel off the charred skin and remove seeds and stem. In the food processor, add bell pepper, garlic, chopped red onions, seeded serrano chile, lime juice, stemmed cilantro, sugar and salt. Puree until smooth. Transfer to a bowl with a small spoon for serving, and garnish with some cilantro.

Bake Bacon for Quesadillas: Place cooling rack over a sheet pan lined with foil. Lay bacon strips on cooling rack and bake for 10 minutes, until crisp. Cool slightly and cut bacon into 1/2 inch strips.

Clean Leeks: Keeping root on, split lengthwise and cut in half, then fan out in a bowl of water to remove sand. Stack the layers and cut into long strips.

Sauté Leeks: Melt butter in large skillet over medium-low heat. Add leeks and salt; sauté until tender, about 10 minutes. Set aside to cool.

Quesadilla Filling: Mix together the bacon, grated cheese, pickled jalapeno, and cooled leeks.

Make Quesadillas: Add 1 Tablespoon of canola oil to a non-stick pan over medium heat. Lay a tortilla flat in the pan. Place 1/4 cup of bacon/cheese filling on one side of the tortilla and then fold in half. Cook for a few minutes until golden, then turn and cook until toasty on the other side. Remove from heat. Repeat until all ingredients have been used.

Serve: Cut each quesadilla into 4 pieces, and serve with tomatillo salsa.




bacon recipe source: Parties That Cook® (@PartiesThatCook), San Francisco/Chicago

3761. BACON WRAPPED TERIYAKI HOT DOGS with PINEAPPLE SALSA

Yield 4 servings

6 hot dogs

6 slices applewood smoked bacon 

1 package hot dog buns

1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons teriyaki sauce, homemade or store-bought

For the pineapple salsa

2 cups diced pineapple

1/4 cup diced red onion 

1 jalapeño, diced

2 tablespoons chopped cilantro

2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice

Preheat grill to medium high heat. In a medium bowl, combine pineapple, onion, jalapeño, cilantro and lime juice; set aside. Wrap each hot dog in a strip of bacon. Add hot dogs to the grill and cook until the bacon is brown and crispy, about 4-5 minutes. To assemble the hot dogs, add the hot dogs into each hot dog bun. Top with pineapple salsa and drizzle teriyaki sauce on each hot dog. Serve immediately.

bacon recipe source: Chungah, Damn Delicious (@damn_delicious), January 21, 2013

3731. SHRIMP and BACON CHIMICHANGAS

serves 4-6


10 slices bacon
1 1/2 lb. fresh or frozen large shrimp (if frozen, thaw first)
1 1/2 cups Monterey jack cheese, shredded
1 avocado, peeled, pitted and sliced
1 cup red salsa
2 fresh tomatoes, chopped
2 cans green chiles, diced
6 (12-inch) flour tortillas

In a frying pan add the bacon slices and fry until crispy. Remove (keeping about two tablespoons of fat in the frying pan) and chop into roughly 1-inch long pieces.

Peel and de-vein the shrimp, then cut into 1-inch long pieces. Add to the frying pan and fry to 1-2 minutes, turning often, until they change color.

Place a tortilla on a plate. Spoon 1/6th of the cooked shrimp and bacon along the center. Top with 1/6th of the cheese, salsa, 1-2 slices of avocado, and chile to taste. Fold the tortilla up like an envelope and place seam side down on another dish.

Repeat the procedure with the rest of the ingredients.

Fry chimichangas in hot vegetable oil for 1-2 minutes per side, until dark brown in color (be careful not to burn the tortilla). Remove and place on paper towels to drain excess oil.

Serve with more salsa, sour cream and guacamole.


bacon recipe source: cookaz.com (Italian and Mexican recipes at home)

3730. BACON POTATO PANCAKE with TOASTED CORN SALSA

yields twelve

1½ pounds yellow potatoes, diced, peeling optional

5 slices bacon

¼ cup diced green onions

1/2 cup grated Gruyère cheese, grated

1 egg

¼ cup all-purpose flour (or white rice flour for gluten free)

¼ teaspoon pepper

1 to 2 teaspoons salt

avocado cream (recipe below)

grilled corn salsa (recipe below)

Avocado cream (makes 2 cups)

2 ripe avocados 

1/2 lime, juiced

1/2 cup sour cream ½ teaspoon salt to

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon onion powder

Combine avocado, sour cream, lime juice, salt, garlic powder, and onion powder into a small bowl. Mash with fork, and then whip until smooth with a wire whisk. If you have one, you can use a food processor.

Toasted corn salsa

1(14.5) can yellow corn, drained well (you can also substitute fresh grilled corn)

1/4 cup chopped cilantro

2 tablespoons small-dice orange bell pepper

1/4 cup small-dice red onion

1 teaspoon light olive oil

1 lime, juiced

½ teaspoon salt

Heat a cast-iron pan until very hot. Add the corn and toast on all sides, stirring frequently so it does not burn. Remove once it has a nice brown color. In a medium bowl, add corn and the remaining ingredients. Serve hot or cold.

In a large pot, add diced potatoes and fill with water until just above potatoes. Bring to a boil. When potatoes are done (they can be split with a fork) DRAIN the water. Let the potatoes dry out in the pot for a minute or two. Fry up your bacon and cut into small pieces. Save the grease and use this for frying up the potato pancakes. In a medium bowl, combine the bacon, green onion, cheese, egg, flour, salt, and pepper. Using a potato ricer, rice the potatoes into the bowl with the other ingredients. Stir to combine. The consistency will be very thick. Use an ice cream scoop to portion the pancakes, then shape them into 2-inch disks. Using bacon grease in a pan, fry the potato pancakes until they are golden brown. Remove them to a wire rack over paper towels. Top with avocado cream and grilled corn salsa.

bacon recipe source: Simply Gourmet; United States Potato Board, 4949 S Syracuse Street, #400, Denver, CO 80237

3729. BACON-CHILE RELLENOS

yields 16 servings

4 jalapeño chiles (about 3 inches long)

1/3 cup Boursin cheese with garlic and herbs

8 slices bacon, halved and cooked

1 can (8 oz) refrigerated crescent dinner rolls 

½ cup salsa, if desired

Heat oven to 375°F. Carefully remove stems from chiles; cut each in half lengthwise and again horizontally to make 4 pieces. Remove and discard seeds. Spoon about 1 teaspoon cheese into each chile quarter. Wrap half slice of bacon around each.

On cutting board, unroll dough; separate dough into 8 triangles. From center of longest side to opposite point, cut each triangle in half, making 16 triangles. Place chile, cheese side down, on dough triangle. Bring all points of triangle to center of top; press lightly to seal. Place on ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown. Immediately remove from cookie sheet. Serve with salsa.

bacon recipe courtesy of: Pillsbury.com, Pillsbury, General Mills, Inc., P.O. Box 9452, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55440

3721. KIMCHI-BACON QUESADILLAS

serves four


8 flour tortillas
1-1½ cups kimchi, drained and roughly chopped
8 slices thick-cut bacon, chopped into roughly 1" pieces
2 cups grated monterey jack cheese
2 cups grated white cheddar cheese
Nonstick cooking spray

Optional (but recommended) toppings:
1 avocado, thinly sliced
scallions, chopped
queso fresco, crumbled
pico de gallo
gojuchang aioli

Cook bacon over medium heat in a medium pan until golden brown and fat is rendered. Remove bacon to a paper-towel lined plate to drain. Add kimchi to the bacon drippings and cook, stirring ocassionally, until it starts to caramelize, about 6-8 minutes.

Build your quesadillas. Mix cheeses together. Sprinkle approximately ½ cup of cheese onto a tortilla, followed by a bit of kimchi and bacon. Top with another ½ cup of cheese and another tortilla. Repeat three more times with remaining tortillas.

Spray a medium sized skillet (one big enough to fit your tortillas) with nonstick cooking spray and heat over medium heat. Cook quesadillas, one at a time and spraying pan with nonstick spray in between each one, for about 1-2 minutes, until tortilla is golden brown, and then carefully flip and cook 1-2 minutes more.

Cut into wedges and serve immediately with avocado, scallions, queso fresco, pico de gallo, and/or gochujang aioli.


bacon recipe source: Chris, Shared Appetite (@sharedappetite) 

3708. CHICKEN and MUSHROOM FAJITAS with BACON

makes six servings


For the chicken and marinade:
1½ to 2 lbs chicken breast, sliced in half lengthwise
⅓ cup cilantro, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
Juice of 1 lime (about 2 tablespoons)
4 tablespoons olive oil
½ teaspoon cumin
½ teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon chili powder
½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon black pepper, or to taste

Other fajita ingredients:
2 large bell peppers, cored and sliced into strips
1 medium/large yellow onion, thickly sliced
½ lb mushrooms, thickly sliced
4 oz Monterey Jack Cheese, shredded
4 strips bacon, cooked & crumbled (or buy pre-cooked crumbled bacon)

Serve with: small flour tortillas; pico or salsa, guacamole or diced avocado, sour cream, lettuce, hot sauce

How to make the chicken: Combine marinade ingredients in a medium bowl. Slice chicken in half lengthwise so you end up with about ½" thick chicken cutlets. Add chicken to marinade and stir until evenly coated. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate 45 min to 1 hour, stirring midway.

To grill chicken: Preheat Grill then reduce heat to med/low (350˚F) and grill chicken 6-8 min per side, rotating midway to create grill marks.

To saute chicken: Heat a large non-stick (cast iron is best - it should be oven safe) skillet over medium heat. Saute chicken with 1-2 tablespoons oil in a single layer, until browned on each side and cooked through (3 min per side).

Preparing veggies: Heat the same non-stick, oven safe pan over medium heat. Saute mushrooms with 1-2 tablespoons oil until mushrooms are browned. Remove from pan and set aside. In the same hot pan, sauté onions and bell peppers in 1-2 Tbsp more oil. Stir the veggies every 2 minutes to sear and brown the edges and cook a total of 8 minutes. Season to taste.

Assembling the fajitas: Slice chicken into ¼" thick strips and place over the cooked vegetables. Top with sauteed mushrooms, then cheese and finally crumbled bacon. Place under the broiler in the upper third of the oven for 2-3 minutes or just until cheese is nicely melted. Wrap a stack of tortillas in a damp paper towel and microwave on high 45 seconds to 1 min or until tortillas are very warm. Keep them covered until ready to use. To assemble individual fajitas, start with a warm tortilla, add sour cream and guacamole (if using), then top with lettuce and finally the meat/veggie/mushroom/cheese mixture followed by salsa or hot sauce.


bacon recipe source: Natasha's Kitchen, April 6, 2015

3700. HUEVOS RANCHEROS with BACON TORTILLAS

For the salsa:
5 vine-ripened tomatoes (about 2 pounds)

2 to 3 serrano chile peppers
1/2 white onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, chopped
Kosher salt
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
 

For the tortillas:
6 slices bacon
1 cup masa harina (instant corn flour)
Kosher salt
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
 

For the eggs:
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
4 large eggs
Kosher salt
1/4 cup crumbled Cotija cheese or queso fresco
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

 

Make the salsa: Preheat the broiler. Spread the tomatoes and serrano peppers on a foil-lined baking sheet and broil, turning occasionally, until charred, 10 to 15 minutes. Wrap in the foil and set aside, about 10 minutes. Rub off the charred skins; remove the pepper stems. Pulse the tomatoes, peppers, onion, garlic and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a food processor until chunky.

Heat the vegetable oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Carefully add the tomato mixture and cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 10 minutes. Stir in the cilantro and season with salt. Transfer the salsa to a bowl and cover to keep warm; wipe out the skillet.

Prepare the tortillas: Cook the bacon in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat, turning occasionally, until crisp, 9 to 11 minutes; drain on paper towels, reserving the drippings in the skillet. Finely chop the bacon. Combine all but about 1 tablespoon bacon, the masa harina and a pinch of salt in a medium bowl. Stir in 3/4 cup warm water and knead in the bowl until the dough is soft and pliable, about 2 minutes. Divide the dough into 4 pieces; roll each into a ball, then flatten into 4-inch disks.

Cook the tortillas: Heat the vegetable oil in the cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add the tortillas and cook until golden brown on the bottoms, 3 to 4 minutes; flip and cook until golden on the other side, 3 more minutes. Flip again and cook until the tortillas are browned and cooked through, about 1 more minute. Wrap in foil to keep warm.

Make the eggs: Add the vegetable oil to the bacon drippings in the nonstick skillet and set over medium-high heat. Add the eggs, season with salt and fry until the whites are set, 3 to 5 minutes.

Spoon some of the prepared salsa onto 4 plates. Place a tortilla on each plate and top with a fried egg. Top with a little more salsa, then sprinkle with the cheese, cilantro and the reserved bacon.

bacon recipe source: Food Network Kitchen/Food Network Magazine

3696. CANDIED BACON CORN SALSA

yields six servings


For the Candied Bacon:
10-12 strips, thick cut bacon
1 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon crushed red pepper

For the Bacon Corn Salsa:
6 strips candied bacon, chopped or crumbled
1 tablespoon butter
4 ears fresh corn, cut off the cobs
1 red bell pepper, seeded and diced
1/2 cup chopped green onion
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
Salt and Pepper

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Pour the brown sugar and crushed red pepper in a pie pan. mix by hand.

Thoroughly coat each strip of bacon with the sugar mixture and lay out on a roasting pan with a rack and shallow tray below. (The kind that comes with an oven.)

Bake the bacon for 15-20 minutes, until almost crisp. Using tongs, flip the bacon strips and cook another 5 minutes, until cooked through and red in color.

Remove from the oven and place on a piece of foil to dry. Once cooled, the bacon should be firm and crisp, not flimsy.

For the Corn Salsa: Crumble or chop 6 strips of the candied bacon. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the butter to the skillet. Sear the fresh corn for approximately 1 minute, just long enough to add color and sweetness, but not cook through.

Remove the corn, then repeat with the red bell peppers. Add the corn, peppers, green onion and cilantro to a bowl. Toss with the crumbled bacon, then salt and pepper to taste. Serve as a corn salad, with chips, or as a steak topper. 


bacon recipe source: Sommer Collier, A Spicy Perspective (@SpicyPerspectiv)

3677. BACON PUPUSAS with CURTIDO SLAW

serves four 


1/2 can large flaky corn biscuits or large flaky buttermilk biscuits 
1/2 cup crispy cooked bacon, chopped in pieces 
1 tablespoons fresh green salsa 
6 strips crispy bacon 
1 1/2 cups finely shredded cabbage
1/2 cup diced green onions 
1 tablespoons rice vinegar, seasoned 
1/2 pinch salt

Separate and then flatten biscuits to 5" circles.

Mix bacon pieces and salsa in medium bowl.

Place 1-2 tablespoons of the bacon salsa filling in center of each dough circle. Enclose filling within the dough, then roll into a ball and flatten again to a circle. Place the filled pupusas on a large cookie sheet, about 2" apart. Bake in 350º oven for 10-14 minutes until golden, flipping once during the baking. (Alternate cooking method for pupusas: Spray a large skillet with cooking spray. Heat to Medium-high heat. Cook pupusas 3-4 minutes each side, flipping until well-browned on both sides.)

Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, mix the cabbage, onions and vinegar. Add a pinch of salt.

To serve, place three slices cooked bacon on top of one pupusa. Top with slaw and fold over if desired.


bacon recipe source: lorimclain (member), cookmore.com

3662. HONEY-GLAZED CORNISH HENS with SMOKY GUAJILLO and BACON SALSA

Honey glazed hens

1 cup honey


1/2 teaspoon ground cumin (comino)


dash liquid smoke flavoring (optional)


1 stick cinnamon


6 Cornish hens, rinsed and dried


1 tablespoon cornbread crumbs or finely ground corn tortillas (optional)

smoky guajillo and bacon salsa (recipe below)

Note: The glaze must be prepared a day ahead. The hens should be cooked and served the same day.

To make glaze, warm honey over low to medium-low heat and stir in cumin, liquid smoke, and cinnamon stick. Remove from heat and let sit at room temperature, covered, for 24 hours. Reserve 1 to 2 tablespoons for guajillo salsa.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Remove neck and giblets, if any, from hens. Place hens on a rack and roast for about 35 minutes, basting with comino-honey glaze about every 10 minutes. Sprinkle with cornbread crumbs (this creates a nice crust) and continue baking until juices run clear when bird is pierced, about 10 more minutes. Remove from oven, reserving juices for guajillo salsa.

Let rest for about 5 minutes before serving.

Salsa

4 garlic cloves, unpeeled


12 guajillo chiles


1 teaspoon dried oregano


3 cups chicken broth, homemade or canned (may include cooking juices from Cornish hens)


4 ounces smoked slab bacon (or 6 thick slices), diced


dash liquid smoke (optional)


salt to taste


1 to 2 tablespoons comino honey

Note: The salsa may be prepared a day or more ahead.

Roast garlic cloves on a comal or in a heavy-bottomed pan over medium-high heat until soft, about 10 minutes. Let cool and peel.

Toast chiles for a minute or two on a comal over medium-high heat. Transfer to a bowl and cover with hot water to rehydrate for 20 minutes. Pour off water, destem chiles, and transfer to a blender with roasted garlic, oregano, and 1 cup broth. Blend until smooth and put through a medium strainer.

In a heavy-bottomed pan, cook bacon over medium-high heat until all fat has been rendered. Remove bacon pieces, then pour strained chile mixture into bacon fat and cook over medium heat, stirring, for about 5 minutes. Add 1 more cup broth and the liquid smoke and continue cooking until salsa is reduced by half, about 40 minutes; if mixture becomes too thick, thin with up to 1 more cup broth. Finish by stirring in salt and comino honey. Serve as an accompaniment to Cornish hens.

bacon recipe source: "Season's Eatings," Texas Monthly (@TexasMonthly), December 2000

3580. BACON-WRAPPED MONKFISH with PEAS, RADISHES and SALSA VERDE

makes four servings


2 lbs cleaned monkfish tail
2 sheets thinly sliced bacon
2 cups English peas, blanched
1 cups spring radishes, quartered and blanched
2 each romaine lettuce, chiffonade
¼ cup chopped tarragon
¼ cup chopped chives
½ cup chopped parsley
2 sprigs thyme
1 clove garlic
Zest of one lemon
1 lemon, juiced
Olive oil
Salt and pepper
4 tablespoons butter

Lay out the bacon on a piece of plastic wrap, next put the monkfish on the bacon, season with salt and pepper, and roll up tying the ends of the plastic wrap. Poach the monkfish in a pot of simmering water for 8 minutes. Take the monkfish out of the plastic wrap, heat up a sauté pan, coat with oil, then add the fish, 2 tablespoons butter, 2 springs of thyme and one clove of garlic, cook at 375ºF for 7 minutes.

In a separate pan, add 2 tablespoons of butter, the peas, radishes, the romaine and some chopped red onion and sauté. For the salsa verde, mix the tarragon, chives, parsley, lemon and olive oil. Reserve for plating.


bacon recipe source: Gavin Kaysen, Today, April 24, 2015

3601. ROASTED CHICKEN FLAUTAS with BACON GUACAMOLE

makes four servings


2 cups roasted chicken, skinless, shredded
1 cup cheese, grated
1/2 cup prepared salsa
12 flour tortillas, small
2 Haas avocados
1/2 tomato, seeded, diced
1 tablespoon cilantro, chopped
1/2 lime, juiced
1/2 fresh jalapeno, seeded, chopped
3 strips cooked bacon, crumbled
pepper, salt
toothpicks
1 cup cooking oil
sour cream

Shred chicken, place in bowl, toss with salsa and set aside. Place half of the tortilla shells in the microwave and heat for about 10 seconds to soften. Add about 1 tablespoon of chicken and cheese in the middle of each tortilla shell, roll up and secure with a toothpick, repeat. Heat remaining tortillas and repeat the process. Dice bacon and place in a skillet over medium heat, cook until crisp about 7 minutes, remove drain and set aside. In a bowl add avocados, a pinch of pepper and salt, lime juice and mix well. Add cilantro, jalapeno, tomatoes, mix well and fold in bacon and set aside. Heat cooking oil in skillet over medium heat to about 325 degrees, add flautas in batches and cook for about 2-3 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Drain on paper napkins and repeat. Top with guacamole and sour cream and enjoy.


bacon recipe source: Creole Contessa (@CreoleContessa), December 6, 2013

3497. CORN, BACON and CAPSICUM FRITTERS with AVOCADO SALSA

makes four servings


2 cups frozen corn kernels
2 bacon rashers, rind and excess fat trimmed, finely chopped
1 red capsicum, halved, deseeded, finely chopped
2 eggs, lightly whisked
3/4 cup self-raising flour
1/3 cup milk
Salt & freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 ripe avocado, halved, stone removed, peeled, chopped
1 ripe tomato, finely chopped
2 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh coriander
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
mixed salad leaves, to serve

Cook corn in a medium saucepan of boiling water for 2 minutes or until tender. Refresh under cold running water. Drain well.

Heat a frying pan over high heat. Add bacon and capsicum and cook, stirring, for 5 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from heat.

Combine the egg and flour in a bowl. Gradually stir in the milk. Add corn, bacon and capsicum, and stir to combine. Season with salt and pepper.

Heat half the oil in a large non-stick frying pan over medium heat. Spoon four 80ml (1/3-cup) portions of corn mixture evenly around the edge of the pan. Cook for 2-3 minutes each side or until golden brown and cooked through. Transfer to a plate and cover to keep warm. Repeat with remaining oil and corn mixture, reheating pan between batches.

To make the salsa, combine the avocado, tomato, coriander and lime juice in a bowl. Taste and season with salt and pepper.

Place fritters on serving plates. Top with salsa and serve with mixed salad leaves, if desired.



bacon recipe source: Sarah Hobbs, Australian Good Taste, November 2004, p. 32

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