3022. BBQ PULLED PORK SANDWICHES with STRAWBERRY BACON SALSA

makes eight servings


2 lb. pork shoulder or Boston butt
12 oz. ginger ale
1 cup barbecue sauce
1/4 cup strawberry jelly
2 tablespoons apple cider or balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons chipotle hot sauce
1 1/4 cup diced strawberries
3 strips cooked and crumbled bacon
1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
1/4 cup finely chopped cucumber
1 tablespoon seeded and minced fresh jalapeño
2 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 pinch salt
1 pinch ground black pepper
8 sourdough of French sandwich rolls
8 tablespoons chive and onion cream cheese, or herbed boursin cheese

Place the pork in a slow cooker. Pour ginger ale over pork, cover & cook on high for 4 hours or until meat is tender. Drain & shred using 2 forks. Meanwhile, in the last few minutes of cooking add the barbecue sauce, jelly, vinegar & hot sauce to a sauce pan. Bring mixture to a simmer, stirring constantly. Keep warm. Stir into shredded pork. In a bowl, place the strawberries, bacon, onion, cucumber, jalapeño, cilantro, lemon juice, salt & pepper. Toss until combined. Split rolls. Spread roll tops with cheese. Spoon pork over bottom rolls. Top with salsa. Replace top rolls.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Thecatladycooks (member), BetterRecipes.com

1923. SAGE BRUNCH BISCUITS with STRAWBERRIES, BACON and HONEY CREME FRAICHE

makes twenty


1 lb. bacon, cooked and crumbled
10 ripe strawberries, halved
3 tablespoons strawberry preserves
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh sage
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons sugar
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 stick cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces
3/4 cup well-shaken buttermilk plus additional for brushing
8 oz. crème fraiche (or sour cream)
honey

Preheat oven to 450°F.

Whisk together flour, sage, baking powder, sugar, baking soda, and salt. Blend in butter with your fingers or a food processor until mixture resembles coarse meal. Stir in buttermilk, stirring until a dough forms. Gather dough into a ball and gently knead on a lightly floured surface 8 times. Pat or roll dough until 1/2 inch thick and cut into 2 inch rounds.

Arrange biscuits about 1 inch apart on a greased baking sheet and brush tops with additional buttermilk. With the back of a spoon or your thumb, press indents into each biscuit, leaving a rim around the outside. Place about 1/2 tsp. of jam in each, and some bacon crumbles. Place strawberry half on top, and press down firmly.

Bake in middle of oven until golden brown and biscuits are cooked through, about 7-10 minutes. Mix crème fraiche with honey until slightly sweet, to taste. Serve warm, topped with crème fraiche mixture and garnished with edible flowers.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Liz Vidyarthi, Zested, May 9, 2010 | Gourmet, February 2000

1334. PEANUT BUTTER, JELLY and BACON WAFFLE-WICH

makes 5 servings


10 strips bacon
8 oz. whipped cream cheese
2 tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon orange zest
1/2 cup peanut butter
10 waffles
1/3 cup strawberry preserves
3 bananas, sliced

In a medium mixing bowl, combine cream cheese, honey, orange zest, and peanut butter. Mix until well incorporated. Heat bacon according to package instructions. To build a waffle sandwich, toast 2 waffles until golden brown. Spread peanut butter cream cheese mixture onto 5 waffles. Top with strawberry preserves, 2 bacon strips and banana slices. Top with remaining waffles and serve.


courtesy of: Alan's Kitchen, Alan's Kitchen Foundation, Inc., PO Box 498, Litchfield Park, Arizona 85340-0498

405. PEANUT BUTTER, BANANA, and BACON STUFFED FRENCH TOAST

yields 4 servings


Strawberry jelly
4 large eggs
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch salt
1 cup half-and-half
1 1/2 cups puffed rice cereal, or lightly crushed cornflakes
8 slices stale white sandwich bread (2 to 3 days old)
8 teaspoons smooth peanut butter
4 ripe bananas, peeled and sliced into thin circles, plus extra for garnish
1/2 pound apple smoked bacon, cooked until crisp
1 stick unsalted butter
Confectioners' sugar for serving
Chopped peanuts, for garnish

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Place the jelly in a plastic squirt bottle. Heat a small pan of water on the stove. Water should be hot, but not boiling. Place the squirt bottle in the water.

In a large bowl, combine the eggs, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, and salt and whisk to dissolve the sugar. Add the half-and-half and whisk to combine. Place the cereal on a large plate or in a shallow baking dish.

Place 4 slices of bread on a work surface and spread each with 2 teaspoons of the peanut butter, and a layer of banana slices. Top with the bacon and the remaining bread to form a sandwich and press to tightly close. Place 1 sandwich in the bowl with the batter and let sit until well moistened, about 2 minutes, turning to coat both sides. Place in the dish with the cereal, turning to coat on both sides and pressing to adhere.

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat until hot, 4 minutes. Add 1 tablespoon of the butter. Dredge each stuffed and soaked sandwich in rice cereal and add to the pan. Cook undisturbed until golden brown and crusted on the bottom, about 2 to 3 minutes. Flip and cook until the second side is golden brown, about 2 to 3 minutes. Place on a baking sheet and bake until cooked through, about 6 to 8 minutes.

To serve, place 1 stuffed French toast on each of 4 plates. Sprinkle lightly with confectioners' sugar and top each serving with chopped peanuts and banana slices. Squirt the strawberry jelly over the French toast. Serve immediately.


courtesy of: Emeril Lagasse, Emeril Live, "Let's Play with Food," 2004