3056. HONEY MAPLE BRIOCHE with BACON JAM

12 oz bread flour

4 oz all purpose flour

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
pinch of ground clove
1.5 teaspoon table salt
1 oz dark brown sugar
1/2 oz honey
1/2 oz maple syrup (plus more for glaze)
1 large egg
2 1/4 oz package instant/rapid rise yeast
7 oz whole milk
1.5 oz unsalted butter, room temperature, cut in small pieces
bacon jam (recipe below)
powdered sugar
bourbon


Bacon jam
1.5 lbs uncooked bacon, cut into pieces (about 1-inch)
1 teaspoon (plus more to taste) smoked paprika
1 teaspoon (plus more to taste) chile powder
1 teaspoon (plus more to taste) dried thyme
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 vidalia onion, thinly sliced
2 shallots, thinly sliced
2–3 cloves of garlic, smashed
4 tablespoons (plus more) dark brown sugar
8 oz bourbon
1 tablespoon fresh tarragon, roughly chopped
1 tablespoon ground mustard
2 tablespoons (plus more) maple syrup
1 teaspoon black pepper
3 tablespoons (plus more) sriracha
4 tablespoons cider vinegar
1 teaspoon coffee extract (or 2 tablespoons brewed coffee)
olive oil (as needed)

Place uncooked bacon in a medium sized pot or small dutch oven over medium-high heat. Sprinkle with paprika, chile powder and dried thyme. Cook, stirring occasionally, until it begins to crisp. (Add a little olive oil if the bacon begins to stick to bottom of pot before it is crisp.) Remove with a slotted spoon onto paper towels, keeping all bacon fat in pot. Add the butter to the pot with the bacon fat and let it melt, swirling it around. Add the sliced onions, shallots, smashed garlic cloves and the dark brown sugar. Stir to combine. Over medium heat, let the mixture begin to caramelize. This should take about 10 minutes. Pour in the bourbon, stir and cook for about 5 minutes—until the alcohol smell goes away. Stir in the remaining ingredients to combine. Reduce heat to low and simmer for about an hour or until most of the liquid is evaporated and it is thick and syrupy. Throughout the simmering, be sure to stir occasionally and taste. Add in more bourbon, maple syrup, brown sugar, sriracha to taste while it simmers away. Once the mixture is thick, transfer to a blender or food processor and puree until it is finely chopped, if you have a lot in the pot, you can use an immersion blender. (If the mixture is hot, puree in small batches. Use a kitchen towel instead of the lid if you’re using a blender.) Let the mixture cool. You can spread the jam into a quarter-inch layer on a sheet pan and cover with parchment paper.

Brioche
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook, combine the flours, cinnamon, nutmeg and clove. Add the salt, sugar, honey, maple syrup and egg to one side of the bowl. On the other side, add the yeast.

Turn the mixer on low and add the milk in a steady stream. Once all the milk has been added, turn the mixer up to medium and knead until the dough comes clean from the sides of the bowl (about 10 minutes). If the dough looks dry, add a little more milk. If it looks wet, add a little more bread flour.

Add the butter to the dough (while the mixer is still going) in small increments, waiting for the butter to be incorporated before adding any more. Once all the butter has been incorporated, knead for about 5 minutes until the dough cleans the sides of the bowl and it makes a slapping sound in the mixer. Remove the dough and place in a greased bowl, cover tightly with plastic and place in the fridge to ferment overnight (at least 8 hours).

Remove dough from fridge and punch down. Preheat oven to 350ºF.

Cut the dough in half and cover the unused half so that it doesn’t dry out. With the remaining half, roll it out into a square using a rolling pin slightly larger than the longest side of your loaf pan. (Try rolling it out first WITHOUT adding flour to the surface first. If you find that it sticks, then use a small amount of flour.)

Spread the bacon jam in an even layer all over the dough; go right up to the edges. Then tightly roll up the dough working from one end to the other, slighly pinching so that the dough seals as you go. Once it is all rolled up, pinch the seam and apply a little pressure to make sure that it stays together. With a VERY sharp knife, cut the roll in half (lengthwise) so you end up with two long half circles.

Lie the two halves next to each other with the cut sides facing up. Starting in the middle, have one halve cross over the other. Alternate the twists twice above the middle and twice below the middle. You will have twisted the two haves together, alternating over each other. Place into a greased loaf pan, cutside up. Repeat with remaining dough half. Cover and proof for about an hour, or until doubled inside.

Bake in oven for about 45-50 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown. Be sure to rotate pans halfway through. Let cool in pans for 10 minutes before removing and letting cool completely on a rack.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Chris Falman, Baker By Design

3055. SEARED BOK CHOY with BACON VINAIGRETTE

makes four servings


1 1/2 to 2 pounds Shanghai or (baby) bok choy, parboiled and shocked
6 ounces bacon, finely chopped
3 tablespoons sherry vinegar or white wine vinegar
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
5 tablespoons neutral oil, like grapeseed or corn

Cut the bok choy in half lengthwise and put the cut side down on paper towels to drain. Meanwhile, put the bacon in a small pan over medium-high heat. When it starts to sizzle, reduce the heat to medium and cook until crisp and the fat is rendered, about 10 minutes. Turn off the heat, add the vinegar, sprinkle with salt and a good amount of pepper, and then whisk in 3 tablespoons of the oil (it won’t fully emulsify). Set aside.

Put a large, wide skillet over high heat. When it’s very hot, add the remaining neutral oil and put a few pieces of bok choy, cut side down, in the pan (it will spatter, so be careful). Do not overcrowd the pan; you want at least an inch on all sides between the pieces. Cook the bok choy without moving it until the cut side is dark brown and slightly charred. Continue cooking the bok choy in batches.

Pile the seared bok choy on a platter in a serving bowl; give the bacon vinaigrette a stir and drizzle it over the bok choy. Serve warm or at room temperature.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Mark Bittman's How to Cook Everything: 2,000 Simple Recipes for Great Food; Mark Bittman.com, March 25, 2011

3054. CLAMS with SMOKY BACON and TOMATOES

yields four main-course servings 


6 slices applewood-smoked bacon, cut crosswise into 1/3-inch-wide strips

1 medium onion, chopped  

3 garlic cloves, pressed  

1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes in juice 

1/2 cup chopped drained roasted red bell peppers from jar  

6 pounds littleneck clams, scrubbed  

1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley 

 

Heat large pot over medium-high heat. Add bacon and onion; sauté until bacon is crisp around edges and onion starts to brown, stirring, about 8 minutes. Add garlic; stir 1 minute. Add tomatoes with juice and peppers; bring to boil, scraping up browned bits. Add clams, cover, and boil until clams open, stirring occasionally, 8 to 10 minutes (discard any clams that do not open). Stir in 1/4 cup parsley. Divide among shallow bowls. Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons parsley.

 

 

bacon recipe courtesy of: Bon Appétit

3053. PUFFBALL, LOBSTER MUSHROOM and BACON FRITTATA

serves 6-8


1 1/2 cups puffballs, halved or quartered if large
1 heaping cup lobster mushrooms, sliced (discard any brown-fleshed pieces)
1 tablespoons bacon fat
1 tablespoons butter
salt
several pinches Herbes de Provence
7 medium eggs (5-6 jumbo)
1/2 cup whole milk
1 cup cheddar cheese, grated
6 strips maple bacon, cooked until firm and roughly chopped
1/2 onion, diced
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon Herbes de Provence

Preheat oven to 375 F. In a frying pan on low medium heat, sauté puffballs and lobster mushrooms with bacon fat, butter, salt, and several pinches Herbes de Provence. Cook until mushrooms are soft throughout, and begin to turn a caramel golden brown, at least ten minutes. Set aside. Heat an oiled cast iron skillet (9-10″) over low medium heat. Add additional butter, bacon fat, or olive oil to coat the pan if needed. In a large bowl, whisk eggs and milk, two minutes. And the reserved mushrooms. Add cheese, bacon, onion, salt, pepper and Herbes de Provence, and mix well. Pour mixture into cast iron skillet when it is heated, and cook for 5-7 minutes. Occasionally run a spatula across the bottom of the pan in a figure-8 motion, to prevent the egg mixture from sticking, and to more quickly distribute heat. When mixture starts to bubble through to the top (about the same time that a turn of the spatula reveals a large chunk of cooked egg), transfer pan to the oven. Bake for 12-16 minutes more, until frittata is cooked through. Remove from oven, and allow to cool slightly before serving.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Emma, of agates and madeleines, September 24, 2012

3052. SUMMER CORN and OYSTER CHOWDER with BACON and FENNEL

yields two appetizer servings


4 oz. smoked slab bacon, diced
1/2 small onion, small dice
1/4 cup small dice fennel bulb (reserve tops for garnish)
1/4 cup small dice celery

2 cobs yellow corn, grated

up to 1 cup whole milk

10 oysters shucked, liquor retained

salt to taste

Put the diced bacon in a saute pan over medium heat and cook until the fat has been rendered and the bacon is crispy. Pour off the fat, leaving about 2 teaspoons in the pan with the crispy bacon. Add the onion, celery, and fennel and cook until softened. Remove the pan from the heat for about 30 seconds to allow it to cool slightly, then add the grated corn (it should be very juicy). Return to the heat and stir constantly as it thickens. Once it is bubbling, add half the milk and bring to a boil. Remove from the heat and add the oysters with their liquor. Stir well and judge consistency; if you prefer it to be a little thinner add a bit more milk to desired consistency. Season to taste with salt and heat quickly to desired temperature. Serve at once; if the soup is allowed to stand too long the oysters will overcook and become tough. Serve in warm bowls and garnish with fennel fronds.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Chef Eric Joppie, Bar Avignon, 2138 SE Division Street, Portland, OR 97202; Eric Joppie will be participating in Feast Portland (Sunday, September 22, 10 a.m.). Watch Eric Joppie on KATU.com.

3051. YUCATAN BURGERS with ASADERO CHEESE, BACON, and AVOCADO SOUR CREAM

1 Haas avocado, pitted and diced

1 cup Mexican sour cream
2 tablespoons lime juice
1 teaspoon garlic, finely minced
2 teaspoons fresh oregano leaves, finely chopped
12 slices bacon, diced
2 ounces achiote paste
3 tablespoons fresh orange juice
2 pounds ground chuck
1 teaspoon Mexican chili powder
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Vegetable oil, for brushing on the grill rack
1/2 pound asadero cheese (or other Mexican cheese)
6 hamburger buns, split

Prepare a medium-hot fire in a charcoal grill with a cover, or preheat a gas grill to medium-high.
To make Avocado Sour Cream, place the avocado in a small mixing bowl and mash with the back of a fork until relatively smooth. Add sour cream, lime juice, garlic, and oregano; mix until well combined. Refrigerate until serving. Place a large fireproof non-stick skillet on the grill. Add bacon and cook until crispy, about 5 minutes. Drain on paper towels. To make the patties, in a large bowl add achiote paste and orange juice; stir until well combined. Add beef, chili powder, allspice, salt, and pepper. Handling the meat as little as possible to avoid compacting it, mix well. Divide the mixture into 6 equal portions and form the portions into patties to fit the buns. Brush the grill rack with vegetable oil. Place the patties on the rack, cover, and cook, turning once, just until done, about 4 minutes on each side for medium-rare. During the last few minutes of cooking, top the burgers with equal amounts of Asadero cheese and place the buns, cut side down, on the outer edges of the rack to toast lightly.To assemble the burgers, place a generous amount of avocado sour cream on the cut sides of buns. On each bun bottom, place a patty topped with cheese and equal amounts of bacon. Add the bun tops and serve.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Sutter Home Winery, Inc., St. Helena, CA 94574

3050. GRAVLAX CLUB SANDWICH

yields 8 sandwiches


16 thin slices grain bread

16 slices bacon, halved crosswise
2 red onions, cut into small dice
2 medium tomatoes, cut into 1/4-inch dice
8 sprigs cilantro, roughly chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
16 mint leaves
2 jalapeno peppers, cut into small dice
4 avocados, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
4 limes, juiced
8 thin slices gravlax, plus 2 more slices cut into 16 strips crosswise and rolled into rosettes

 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Toast the bread slices and let cool.

Roast the bacon in oven until crisp.

Chop red onion, tomato, cilantro, garlic, mint leaves, and jalapeno finely. Put in a bowl. Add the avocado and pour in lime juice. Toss the avocado mixture and season well with salt and pepper.

Place 1 tablespoon avocado mixture on each slice of gravlax. Fold the gravlax into a square, so that the avocado is wrapped in the center. Place the bacon and gravlax between 2 slices of bread. Cut the sandwich diagonally. Place a rosette on top each half and place 2 pieces of bacon on top of the rosette.

bacon recipe courtesy of: Marcus Samuelsson, "Midsummer Swedish Buffet," Sara's Secrets, Food Network

3049. BACON-WRAPPED PORK TENDERLOIN with APRICOT COMPOTE and JICAMA SALAD

serves four


For the salad:
2 cups julienne of jicama
2 oranges, segmented, including juice, all pith and membrane removed
1 apricot, pitted and sliced thin
½ red bell pepper, julienne
1-inch piece of fresh ginger, peeled and finely chopped
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 jalapeño or other chile pepper, deseeded and chopped fine, optional
salt and pepper to taste

For the pork:
1 pork tenderloin, silver skin removed

Marinade:
1-inch piece of ginger, cut into strips, smashed with side of knife to release juices
1 clove garlic, peeled
⅛ orange, juice and rind (smash with side of knife to release oils then cut into strips)
1 tablespoon olive oil
¼ teaspoon dry mustard
¼ teaspoon ground coriander
⅛ teaspoon fresh ground pepper
2 strips thick-cut bacon (we used pecan-wood smoked bacon)
salt and fresh ground pepper
1 teaspoon oil for cooking, as needed

For the apricot compote:
3 medium apricots (or other seasonal stone fruit), pitted and sliced thin
1 shallot, peeled and sliced thin
1-inch piece of ginger, peeled and finely diced
2 tablespoons julienne of orange peel (as much pith removed as possible)
1 teaspoon coconut oil (or other cooking oil)
½ teaspoon ground coriander
¼ teaspoon ground allspice
¼ teaspoon dry mustard
¼ teaspoon ground cardamom
½ cup Pinot Noir (or other light bodied red wine)
salt and pepper, to taste

For the salad: Combine all ingredients in a medium-size mixing bowl. To segment the oranges, cut off each end; rest on one cut end. Remove the skin with a sharp knife by cutting along the line where the flesh meets the pith, following the natural curve of the fruit, working in small strips around the orange from top to bottom. Remove each segment individually from the membrane using a paring knife – hold over a bowl to collect any juice. Squeeze the membrane to extract any remaining juice. Season to taste. Chill for approximately 15-30 minutes (up to 6 hours) for flavors to meld.

 

For the pork: Blend all marinade ingredients, coat the pork tenderloin and rest at room temperature for 30-40 minutes, or in refrigerator for up to 2 hours; remove from refrigerator 15 minutes before cooking. Remove the pork from the marinade. Season with salt and pepper then wrap with bacon (as much or as little as you like), secure bacon ends with toothpicks, if desired. Preheat oven to 375. Heat a heavy sauté pan until very hot. Add a bit of cooking oil (not necessary if using non-stick or well-seasoned pan). Sear the pork on all sides until caramelized. Transfer the pork to a baking sheet. Save the fat, juices, and bits in the pan for use in making the compote. If the fat is pooling, drain some off (ideally, there is very little excess fat but brown – not burned – bits in the pan). Finish in oven for approximately 12-18 minutes or until the meat reaches 145 degrees. Allow to rest for at least 10 minutes before slicing. In the meantime, make the compote.

 

For the compote: If possible, use the same pan as you used to cook the pork, with the drippings – heat pan over medium heat. Add the coconut oil. Sauté the shallot and ginger until the shallot starts to become tender; add the orange peel and the dry spices. Sauté until lightly caramelized. Add the apricots. Cook over medium-high heat until the fruit starts to soften and lightly caramelize. Add the wine and use it to scrape any bits from the bottom of the pan. Simmer on low-medium heat until it reaches a desirable consistency. Season to taste. You can stir in any additional pan drippings from the pork for added flavor. This compote can be made vegetarian/vegan by using a fresh pan and not adding any renderings. It can be stored in the refrigerator for several days.

 

To serve: To plate the dish, place a 1/2 cup portion of jicama salad on the plate. Arrange 2-3 slices of pork tenderloin against it and top with the warm apricot compote. Garnish with chopped cilantro, parsley or chives. 

 

 

bacon recipe courtesy of: Annette Tomei, Eat Something Sexy, June 14, 2013

3048. BAKED SWEET POTATOES with OLIVES, CHILLI, BACON and SMOKED MACKEREL

serves four


4 large orange-fleshed sweet potatoes
1 tablespoon olive oil
150 grams unsmoked back bacon, thinly sliced
6 spring onions, sliced
2 red chillies, seeded and sliced
200 grams smoked mackerel fish fillets, skinned
75 grams black olives, pitted and chopped
25 grams butter

Preheat the oven to 200°C/400°F/gas mark 6. Roast the sweet potatoes for 45 minutes to one hour, or until a knife slides easily into them. When almost ready, heat the oil in a pan and fry the bacon for four minutes over a high heat, until golden. Add the spring onions, chilli, mackerel and olives, and cook for two to three minutes more. When the potatoes are ready, cut a slit down the middle and place a knob of butter in each one. Fill with the mackerel and bacon mixture, and serve hot.

bacon recipe courtesy of: Tonia George, Red Magazine online; Hearst Magazines UK/National Magazine Company Ltd, 72 Broadwick Street, London, W1F 9EP

3047. SKATE and SPINACH SALAD with BACON and CHIVES

yields six servings


2 pounds skate wing fillets
1 cup dry white wine
1 pound fresh spinach, well rinsed and dried
1/4 pound bacon
2 tablespoons finely chopped chives
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
4 tablespoons red wine vinegar
freshly ground black pepper

Place the skate fillets in a skillet that will hold them in a single layer, add the wine, bring to a simmer and poach gently for eight minutes. Remove from the heat and allow to cool in the poaching liquid. Remove the stems from the spinach and place the spinach in a bowl. Fry the bacon until golden. Remove it from the pan and drain it on paper towels. Crumble it into one-half inch pieces and mix with the chives. Add the olive oil to the bacon fat in the pan. Beat the mustard and vinegar together and whisk them into the bacon-fat mixture. Toss the spinach with all but three tablespoons of this dressing. Arrange the spinach salad on each of six plates. Drain the fish and divide it into six equal portions. Place a warm fish fillet on each bed of spinach. Spoon the remaining dressing over each fillet, then sprinkle with the crumbled bacon and chives. Season with pepper and serve.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Florence Fabricant, "Beyond the Usual Catch: Shark or Skate," The New York Times, June 30, 1991

3046. JAGERSCHNITZEL with BACON MUSHROOM GRAVY

yields 4 to 6 Servings


1 1/2 pounds pork loin, cut into 6-ounce portions

1 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon granulated garlic
1 teaspoon paprika
1 egg
1/2 cup milk
2 teaspoons mustard
1 cup crushed unsalted crackers
1 cup panko bread crumbs
1/2 pound bacon, diced
1/2 diced yellow onion, approximately 1/2 cup
2 cups sliced button mushrooms
1/4 cup red wine
Olive oil, for frying
2 cups beef stock
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
2 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Pound pork slices between sheets of plastic wrap to 1/4-inch thickness. In a shallow medium bowl, mix together 3/4 cup flour with salt, pepper, garlic and paprika. In another shallow medium bowl, combine egg, milk and mustard. In another medium shallow bowl, combine cracker and panko crumbs. Dredge pork slices first in flour, then in egg wash, and finally in crumbs. Let set on a baking sheet fitted with a cooling rack for 5 minutes.

In a medium saute pan over medium heat cook the bacon until crispy. Remove from pan to drain on paper towels. In same pan with bacon fat, add onions and saute for 3 minutes. Add mushrooms and continue sauteing for 2 minutes. Stir in 1/4 cup flour. Cook flour to make roux until light brown, about 2 minutes. Add wine and cook for 3 minutes, reducing by 1/3, then add stock. Continue cooking to reduce by 1/3 again. Season with salt and pepper. Keep warm.

Heat 1/4-inch oil in thick saute pan or cast iron skillet to 350 degrees F. Cook pork evenly on both sides, about 5 minutes for the first side, 3 to 4 minutes for the second. Remove to platter when done. Add butter to sauce, stirring until it has melted. To serve, cover pork with sauce. Sprinkle with chopped bacon and fresh parsley to garnish.

bacon recipe courtesy of: Guy Fieri, "Schwein and Dandy," Guy's Big Bite, Food Network, May 2008

3045. CAMPFIRE GRILLED ROMAINE SALAD with CRISPY BACON and CHIMICHURRI SAUCE

4 heads of romaine lettuce

12-14 slices of thick-cut bacon
4 avocados
2-3 limes
2-3 tomatoes
2 poblano peppers
2 zucchini
1 clove garlic, grated


For the chimichurri sauce:
1 bunch cilantro, chopped roughly
1 bunch Italian parsley, chopped roughly
1-2 bunches oregano, chopped roughly
1 small red onion, minced finely
10 drops Tabasco
1 tablespoon capers, chopped roughly
2 cups olive oil
2 cloves garlic, grated
Zest of 1 lime, grated
Juice of 2 limes

Cook the bacon in a pan on top of fire to preferred texture and reserve the fat. Coat the poblano peppers lightly in oil, place on grill, and char all around. Take the peppers off the grill place in a bowl. Cover to steam (this will help peel them later). Cut zucchini in half lengthwise, score lightly, toss with oil and rub with garlic. Grill with cross hatching technique both sides. Cut romaine in half lengthwise, wash, dry, coat lightly with olive oil, and season with salt. Place on grill to get light smoke flavor and light grill marks. Cut avocados in half, remove pit, cut into slices (in the skin) and remove with large spoon. Set slices on plate, sprinkle with salt and squeeze lime juice over them. Cut ripe tomatoes into wedges and season with salt.

For the chimichurri sauce: Combine all ingredients, season with salt. When the ingredients have time to meld, they taste even better.

To assemble: Place half a zucchini on each plate. Cut the grilled half head of romaine and place as an 'X' on top of zucchini with core at bottom. Arrange tomatoes, sliced avocado, and roasted peppers around the romaine. Drizzle generously with the chimichurri sauce and top with crisp hot bacon.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Jennifer Biesty, Scala's Bistro, 432 Powell Street, San Francisco, CA

3044. NEW ZEALAND BACON and EGG PIE

for Sally Powers

serves twelve


½ cup ketchup
¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
2 9″ x 11″ sheets frozen puff pastry, thawed and chilled
20 eggs
1 tablespoon heavy cream
1 lb. sliced bacon, roughly chopped
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Heat oven to 400°. Whisk together ketchup and Worcestershire in a small bowl; set aside. Using a rolling pin, roll one sheet of puff pastry on a floured work surface to form an 11″ x 14″ rectangle; transfer to a 9″ x 12 ½″ baking pan and let excess hang over sides. Separate 1 of the eggs and place the egg yolk in a small bowl; stir in cream, and set egg wash aside. Place remaining egg white on top of pastry, crack the eggs and drop them on top of pastry, spacing them evenly apart, and sprinkle evenly with bacon; drizzle ketchup mixture evenly over eggs and bacon, and season with salt and pepper.

Fold dough hanging over the edge of the pan back over the ingredients and brush with some of the egg wash; roll second pastry sheet into a 10″ x 13″ rectangle and place on top of eggs and bacon, tucking edges into sides of pan. Cut 4 slits in the top of the pastry with a paring knife, and then brush completely with egg wash. Bake until golden brown and eggs and bacon are cooked through, about 1 hour; cut into squares to serve.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Victoria Ross, Saveur.com, October 31, 2012

3043. BACON, TOMATO and FARRO SALAD

makes six servings


1 cup farro, or quick-cooking barley
2 slices center-cut bacon
1 medium shallot, chopped
2 tablespoons white-wine vinegar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1 pint cherry tomatoes, quartered
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil

Place farro (or barley) in a medium saucepan; add enough water to cover by 2 inches. Bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat and simmer until tender, 15 to 20 minutes for farro (about 10 minutes for barley). Drain and transfer to a large bowl.

Meanwhile, cook bacon in a nonstick skillet over medium heat until crisp. Drain on a paper towel-lined plate; leave the fat in the pan. Add shallot to the pan and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Stir in vinegar, salt and pepper. Remove from heat.

Crumble or chop the bacon. Add to the bowl along with tomatoes, basil and the warm vinaigrette; gently stir to combine. Serve warm or at room temperature.


bacon recipe courtesy of: EatingWell, May/June 2013 

3042. NEW YORK STRIP STEAK with BACON, JALAPENO and CORN PUREE

yields 4 servings


Bacon & Jalapeno Condiment:
5 lbs bacon, chopped
3 onions, chopped
1 head garlic, peeled and chopped
6 jalapenos, seeds removed, chopped
1 cup balsamic vinegar

Corn Purée:
6 ears fresh corn, off the cob
1 lb frozen corn
4 oz butter
1 oz sugar
1 teaspoon turmeric 
Milk, to cover 
Salt, to taste

Red Wine Jus:
1 bottle red wine
2 cups demi glace
1 bunch fresh thyme

Vidalia Onions:
1 cup flour
1 cup cornstarch
1 egg yolk
1 cup soda water
1 Vidalia onion, sliced into rings

NY Strip Steak:
4 (or 16 oz) New York strip steaks
Salt and pepper, to taste

For the Bacon & Jalapeno Condiment: Render bacon in a pan and add onions, garlic, and jalapenos. Cover with balsamic vinegar and cook slowly until vinegar is reduced and jam consistency.

For the Corn Purée: Place corn, butter, sugar, turmeric, and salt in a pot. Cover with milk and cook slowly until milk has been reduced by half. Purée until smooth.

For the Red Wine Jus: Put red wine in a pan and reduce to au sec. Then add demi glace and thyme. Reduce to sauce consistency.

For the Vidalia Onions: Mix flour, cornstarch, egg yolk, and soda water to make a tempura batter. Dip onions in batter and deep fry at 350-degrees F until golden and crispy.

For the NY Strip Steak: Season steaks and grill to medium rare. Let rest before slicing.

To Serve: Place corn purée on plate. Slice steak and layer on top. Spoon bacon & jalapeno condiment over steak. Top with fried tempura onions. Drizzle red wine jus around the plate.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Kevin Sbraga, Top Chef, Season 7, Episode 12, Elimination Challenge; Bravo TV

3041. LAMB SHOULDER with POLENTA and BEANS with BACON

makes 6 servings


Lamb roast: 
2 cups fresh basil leaves 
2 tablespoons olive oil 
1 3-pound boneless lamb shoulder roast, tied (a butcher can do this) 
Kosher salt, freshly ground pepper 

Polenta: 
4 sprigs thyme 
1 small shallot, finely chopped 
1 garlic clove, finely grated 
1 cup coarse polenta 
1 cup heavy cream 
3 cups (or more) low-sodium chicken broth 
Kosher salt, freshly ground pepper 

Beans and assembly: 
1/3 cup sugar 
1/3 cup unseasoned rice vinegar 
1/2 teaspoon hot chili paste (such as sambal oelek) 
1 teaspoon kosher salt plus more 
2 leeks, white and pale-green parts only, halved lengthwise, sliced crosswise 1/4" thick, divided 
3 ounces thick-cut bacon, sliced crosswise 1/4" thick 
1 14-ounce can cannellini beans, rinsed 
freshly ground black pepper 
3/4 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves 
1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves with tender stems 

For lamb roast: Preheat oven to 325°F. Blend basil and oil in a food processor until smooth. Place lamb in a roasting pan. Season generously with salt and pepper and rub basil purée all over. Cover with foil, and cook until fork-tender, 3-3 1/2 hours. Increase oven temperature to 500°F. Remove foil and roast lamb until golden brown, 10-15 minutes. Let rest 30 minutes. Pour pan juices into a measuring cup and skim; set jus aside. 

For polenta: Reduce oven temperature to 325°F. Mix thyme, shallot, garlic, polenta, cream, and 3 cups broth in a 13x9x2" baking dish; season with salt and pepper. Cover with foil and bake, without stirring, until polenta is softened and liquid is almost completely absorbed, 60-75 minutes. Thin polenta with more broth, if needed. 

For beans and assembly: Bring sugar, vinegar, chili paste, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/3 cup water to a boil in a small saucepan. Add half of leeks, reduce heat, and simmer until soft, 8-10 minutes. Drain; set leeks aside. Wipe out saucepan. Cook bacon over medium heat until fat renders and bacon is crisp, about 5 minutes; transfer to a paper towel-lined plate. Add remaining uncooked leeks to saucepan and cook, stirring often, until soft, 8-10 minutes. Add beans, bacon, and reserved boiled leeks and cook until heated through, about 3 minutes; season with salt and pepper. Untie lamb and thinly slice. Divide polenta among bowls. Top with lamb, beans, and herbs; drizzle with jus.

bacon recipe courtesy of: Justus Drugstore, 106 W Main Street, Smithville, Missouri; Bon Appétit, September 2013

3040. OVEN-STEAMED MUSSELS with HARD CIDER and BACON

serves 2-4


1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
4 slices thick-cut bacon, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 cup hard cider
3 sprigs fresh thyme
2 bay leaves
4 lb. mussels, scrubbed and debearded
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley

Adjust oven rack to lowest position and heat oven to 500 degrees.

Heat oil and bacon in roasting pan until bacon has rendered and is starting to crisp, about 5 minutes. Add hard cider, thyme sprigs, and bay leaves and bring to boil. Cook until cider is slightly reduced, about 1 minute. Add mussels and salt.

Cover pan tightly with aluminum foil and transfer to oven. Cook until most mussels have opened (a few may remain closed), 15-18 minutes.

Remove pan from oven. Push mussels to sides of pan. Add heavy cream to center and whisk until melted. Discard thyme sprigs and bay leaves, sprinkle parsley over mussels, and toss to combine. Serve immediately.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Andrew Janjigian, "The Best Way to Cook Mussels," Cook's Illustrated, September & October 2013, page 19

3039. LATKES with BACON and APPLE SAUCE

serves 4-6 


For the apple sauce 
2 Bramley apples 
25 grams butter 
1 tablespoon sugar 

For the latke 
1 onion (optional) 
1 kilogram floury potatoes
2 large eggs 
4 tablespoons flour 
oil, for frying 
24 rashers streaky bacon 
maple syrup (optional) 

For the apple sauce: peel, quarter and chop the apples – work quickly as the air will turn them brown. Put in a pan with 100ml water. Cover and bring to the boil. Cook until the apples collapse. Remove form the heat and stir in the butter and sugar.

For the latke: peel and grate the onion on the large hole side of a cheese grater. Peel and grate the potatoes and mix with the onion. Squeeze the mixture dry by pressing the mixture between your hands. Lightly beat the eggs with a generous pinch of salt. Sift over the flour gradually, stirring until the batter is smooth. Add the potatoes and onion and stir well. Heat 1 cm oil in a frying pan. Drop spoonfuls of the latke mixture into the hot oil and flatten a little with the back of the spoon. Lower the heat so that the pancakes cook through evenly. After 2–4 minutes, when the bottom is golden brown and has formed a crust, turn and cook the other side. While the latkes are cooking, preheat the grill. Grill the bacon until crisp.

Serve the latkes with the bacon and apple sauce. Drizzle with maple syrup.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Lindsey Bareham, Market Kitchen, Good Food Channel

3038. BACON and EGG SANDWICHES with PICKLED SPRING ONIONS

makes four servings 


Pickled spring onions:  
4 spring onions or 6 scallions, whites only, thinly sliced 
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar 
2 teaspoons sugar 
1 teaspoon kosher salt

 

Maple bacon and spicy mayo: 

12 slices thick-cut bacon 

2 tablespoons pure maple syrup 

1/4 cup mayonnaise 

1 tablespoon Sriracha  

 

Fried eggs and assembly: 

8 slices white sandwich bread, such as Pullman 

1/4 cup mayonnaise 

2 tablespoons unsalted butter 

4 large eggs 

Kosher salt, ground pepper 

1 cup arugula leaves 

 

For pickled spring onions: Combine onions, vinegar, sugar, salt, and 1 tablespoon water in a small bowl and toss to combine; let stand for 30 minutes. 

 

For maple bacon and spicy mayo: Preheat oven to 350°F. Place bacon on a foil-lined large rimmed baking sheet; brush both sides with syrup. Bake until bacon begins to crisp but is still pliable, 20-25 minutes. Mix mayonnaise and Sriracha in a small bowl to combine; set aside.

 

For fried eggs and assembly: Spread 1 side of bread slices with plain mayonnaise. Heat a large skillet over medium-low heat. Working in batches, cook bread, mayonnaise side down, until brown and crisp, about 3 minutes. Wipe out skillet. Melt butter in same skillet over medium heat; crack eggs into skillet. Cook, occasionally basting with butter in skillet, until whites are set, about 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Spread untoasted side of each bread slice with spicy mayo. Build sandwiches with bread, bacon, eggs, pickled spring onions, and arugula. 

bacon recipe courtesy of: Noble Sandwich Company, 11815 620 N. Suite 4, Austin, Texas; Bon Appétit, April 2013

3037. CLAM and BACON PIZZA

makes four servings


2 heads of garlic, separated into cloves, peeled
24 littleneck clams, scrubbed
2 tablespoons olive oil plus more
8 ounces thick-cut bacon, sliced crosswise 1/4" thick
1 pound prepared pizza dough, room temperature
1 ounce Pecorino, finely grated (about 1/2 cup)
fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves and crushed red pepper flakes (for serving)

Bring garlic and 4 cups water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Drain. Repeat process twice more. On final turn, do not drain; reduce heat and simmer until garlic is tender, 20-30 minutes. Drain; reserve garlic. Cook clams and 1/4 cup water in a large pot over medium-high heat, covered, stirring occasionally, until clams open, about 5 minutes (discard any clams that do not open); transfer to a large bowl. Strain clam cooking liquid through a fine-mesh sieve into a small bowl. Remove clams from shells and coarsely chop. Place in a medium bowl, cover, and chill. Purée reserved garlic, 1/2 cup clam cooking liquid, and 2 tablespoons oil in a blender, adding more cooking liquid by the tablespoonful, until smooth and creamy. Preheat oven to 500°F. Cook bacon in a medium skillet over medium heat until fat renders and bacon is slightly crisp, about 5 minutes; transfer to a paper towel-lined plate. Cut pizza dough in half. Working with 1 piece at a time and keeping other piece covered with a damp towel or plastic wrap, gently stretch dough into 12"-14" rounds and transfer to lightly oiled baking sheets. Spread dough with garlic purée and top with Pecorino, clams, and bacon. Bake pizzas until cheese is melted and crust is brown and crisp, 10-15 minutes. Drizzle with oil and top with parsley and red pepper flakes.

bacon recipe courtesy of: Area Four, Cambridge, Massachusetts; Bon Appétit, September 2013

3036. RADIATORI with BACON, BUTTERNUT SQUASH and CHANTERELLE MUSHROOMS

1 lb. radiatori
4 tablespoons shallot, finely chopped
8 oz. bacon
1-1.5 lbs. butternut squash (4 cups when peeled and chopped)
3 cups chanterelle mushrooms
2 cups white wine
a few sprigs of fresh thyme
Kosher salt to taste
Freshly grated parmesan and flat leaf parsley for garnish

Peel and chop a butternut squash into ½” pieces. You will need 4 cups worth, (this may only take a ½ a squash.) Set aside squash pieces. Fill a large pot with salted water, and bring it to a boil. While you are waiting for the water to boil, chop the bacon into ½” pieces. Add the bacon to a large (preferably non-stick pan). Cook it over medium heat until all of the fat has rendered and the bacon is crispy. Remove the bacon from the pan and let it drain on a napkin. Add the shallots to the bacon fat and sweat the shallots over medium heat until they are soft and tender, about 5 minutes. Add the butternut squash and the thyme, and toss to coat with the shallots and fat. Add the white wine to the pan and let the squash simmer in the wine until tender, about 15-20 minutes. When the squash has 10 minutes left, add the mushrooms to the pan. This is also the time to put the pasta into the boiling water. Drain the pasta in a colander, reserving about a ½ cup of the pasta water. Add the pasta to the large sauté pan and toss the pasta with all the mushrooms and squash. If it seems dry, add the reserved pasta water. Add the bacon and some minced parsley. Add freshly grated parmesan and stir to combine. Season to taste with kosher salt and black pepper.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Heather Christo, October 6, 2010

3035. CHEESE-STUFFED BACON MEATBALLS

yields four servings


Meatballs:

8 to 10 slices applewood smoked bacon
1 pound ground chuck
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 package onion soup mix
1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
1 tablespoon coarse black pepper
1 tablespoon beef stock
8 to 10 bocconcini mozzarella balls

Marinara:

1/4 cup olive oil
1 yellow onion, finely diced
2 tablespoons minced garlic
2 tablespoons freshly chopped basil leaves
2 tablespoons freshly chopped oregano leaves
1 tablespoon coarse ground black pepper
2 (14-ounce) cans crushed tomatoes
2 (14-ounce) cans diced tomatoes in puree
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 tablespoon chicken bouillon

 

Meatballs:

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Arrange the bacon slices on a sheet pan. Put in the oven and bake until crisp, about 8 to 10 minutes. Remove the bacon from the pan to a cutting board and chop. Set aside.

In a large bowl, mix together the beef, Worcestershire, onion soup mix, bread crumbs, black pepper, stock and the chopped bacon.

Form portions of the meat around bocconcini to make smooth balls. Arrange the meatballs on a sheet pan with a rack and bake until thoroughly browned, about 10 to 15 minutes.

Marinara:

Add the oil to a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot add the onion, garlic, basil, oregano and pepper and saute for a few minutes. Stir in the crushed and diced tomatoes, red pepper flakes and the bouillon. Lower the heat and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes.

Remove the meatballs from the pan to a serving platter and serve with the marinara sauce.

bacon recipe courtesy of: Aaron McCargo Jr., "Dishes with Dad," Big Daddy's House, Food Network

3034. CHARRED OKRA with BACON JAM

makes four servings


For the bacon jam: 
8 ounces thick-cut bacon, cut crosswise into 2-inch pieces 
1/4 medium yellow onion, thinly sliced 
3 tablespoons packed dark brown sugar 
3 cups low-sodium chicken broth or stock 
1 tablespoon honey 
1/2 teaspoon ground piment d’Espelette 
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more as needed 
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 
1 tablespoon unsalted butter

For the okra: 
12 ounces fresh okra 
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

For the bacon jam:

Place the bacon in a large heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven over medium heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until the fat has rendered and the bacon is starting to brown, about 10 to 15 minutes.

Add the onion, season with salt, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion has browned, about 5 minutes. Add the sugar and stir to combine.

Add 1 cup of the broth and bring to a simmer, scraping up the browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Continue to simmer, stirring occasionally, until the mixture thickens and almost all of the liquid has evaporated, about 8 to 10 minutes.

Add 1 more cup of the broth and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the mixture thickens and almost all of the liquid has evaporated, about 8 to 10 minutes.

Add the remaining cup of broth, honey, Espelette, measured salt, and black pepper and stir to combine.

Transfer the mixture to a blender and reserve the pot. Blend until smooth, removing the small cap from the blender lid (the pour lid) and covering the space with a kitchen towel (this allows steam to escape and prevents the lid from popping off).

Return the mixture to the reserved pot, place over medium-high heat, and cook, stirring occasionally, until reduced to about 1 1/2 cups, about 6 to 8 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the butter; set aside. (At this point, the bacon jam can be cooled to room temperature and then refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks. Rewarm before using.)

For the okra:

Trim the stems from the okra and cut each pod in half lengthwise. Place in a large bowl, add the salt, and toss to combine; set aside.

Heat a large, well-seasoned or enameled cast-iron skillet over high heat until very hot, about 3 minutes. Working in 2 to 3 batches so as not to crowd the pan, add the okra, cut-side down in a single layer, and sear undisturbed until charred on the bottom, about 2 to 3 minutes. Flip the okra and cook until crisp-tender, about 30 seconds more. Remove to a medium bowl.

Remove the pan from the heat, add the okra in the bowl and 1/2 cup of the bacon jam to the pan (reserve the remaining bacon jam for another use), and stir to combine. Immediately transfer to a serving dish.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Fire in My Belly: Real Cooking by Kevin Gillespie, with David Joachim; Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2012

3033. OMELETS with POTATOES, BACON and FRESH CHIVES

makes two servings 

 

 

1/2 pound small boiling potatoes

6 large eggs 

1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives 

1 teaspoon salt 

3/4 teaspoon ground black pepper 

4 bacon slices, coarsely chopped 

butter (optional) 

 

Cook potatoes in pot of boiling salted water until tender, about 30 minutes. Drain. Cool slightly. Peel, halve, and thinly slice potatoes.

 

Whisk eggs, 1/3 cup chives, salt, and pepper in bowl. Cook bacon in 10-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat until crisp. Using slotted spoon, transfer to paper towels. Reserve 1 tablespoon drippings in skillet; pour remainder into cup. Return skillet to medium heat. Add half of egg mixture; stir with back of fork until edges begin to set. Cook without stirring until omelet is set, lifting edges with spatula to let uncooked egg flow underneath, about 2 minutes. Spoon half of potatoes and bacon down center of omelet. Fold both sides of omelet over filling; slide out onto plate. Repeat with remaining egg mixture, potatoes, and bacon, adding more bacon drippings or butter to skillet if necessary. Garnish omelets with 1 tablespoon chives.

 

 

bacon recipe courtesy of: Janet Fletcher, Bon Appétit

3032. CANTALOUPE BACON PIZZA with GOAT CHEESE and ARUGULA

pizza crust (ready-made or homemade baked and ready to go)

1/4 cantaloupe, sliced

4 pieces of cooked bacon, crumbled

4 oz. crumbled goat cheese

1 cup arugula

3 tablespoons olive oil

sea salt or kosher salt

freshly ground black pepper

 

Preheat oven at 350 degrees. Place pizza crust on pan. Prep pizza crust by bushing with olive oil. Once oven is heated, place pizza crust in oven. Allow to bake for five minutes. Using a grill pan, brush cantaloupe slices on both sides with olive oil and grill until marks appear and cantaloupe is slighted wilted. On heated pizza crust, coat with goat cheese, crumbled bacon and cantaloupe slices. Return to oven for five minutes. Remove from oven, sprinkled with salt to taste and top with 1 cup of arugula. Crack freshly ground black pepper on top, serve and enjoy.

 

 

bacon recipe courtesy of: Linda Arceo, Giggles, Gobbles and Gulps, August 13, 2013

 

 

3031. BACON-PORK POPS on LEMONGRASS STICKS

yields 12 pops


1/2 pound thin-cut bacon, minced

1 pound ground pork butt
2 cloves garlic, grated
1 tablespoon minced fresh cilantro
1 teaspoon grated peeled ginger
1 teaspoon sugar
2 tablespoons soy sauce
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
4 stalks lemongrass, cut into twelve 4-inch sticks
Sweet chili sauce, for dipping

 

Preheat the broiler. Lightly mix the bacon, ground pork, garlic, cilantro, ginger, sugar and soy sauce in a large bowl and season with salt and pepper.

Dampen your hands. Form the meat into 12 balls. Thread a piece of lemongrass halfway through each ball; press the meat mixture down the stalk to form a sausage-like shape, leaving some of the stalk uncovered for the handle.

Put the pops on a foil-lined broiler pan and broil until golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Serve with sweet chili sauce.

 

bacon recipe courtesy of: Billy Rodger, Food Network Magazine

3030. ROTELLE with BACON and SAUTEED WALNUTS

makes four servings 


1 lb. rotelle 
1/2 lb. sliced lean bacon, cut into 2-inch pieces 
1/2 cup walnuts, halved 
4 tablespoons olive oil 
4 tablespoons unsalted butter 
2 Japanese eggplants, unpeeled and sliced 
2 red bell peppers, seeded and cut into strips 
2 small zucchini, sliced 
coarse kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste 
freshly grated parmesan cheese

Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until just tender, about 12 minutes. Drain and rinse quickly under cold water. Drain again.

Cook the bacon in a large skillet until brown and crisp. Remove and drain on paper towels, leaving the bacon fat in the pan.

In the same skillet, sauté the walnuts over high heat until nicely browned. Push to one side of the skillet.

In a separate skillet, heat the oil and butter over medium-high heat and quickly sauté, separately, the eggplants, red peppers, and zucchini until brown and tender, about 5 minutes each. Add more oil if necessary.

Add the pasta and vegetables to the skillet with the walnuts. Heat over medium-high heat and toss well. Adjust the seasoning and serve immediately with grated Parmesan cheese.

 

 

bacon recipe courtesy of: Martin's; Giant Food Stores, LLC

3029. BRUSSELS SPROUTS with BACON and RAISINS

makes four servings 


1 teaspoon olive oil 
2 thick slices bacon 
4 cups brussels sprouts (about 1 pound), trimmed, halved
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 
1/4 cup golden raisins 
1 medium shallot, finely chopped 
1 tablespoon unsalted butter 
1/2 cup low-salt chicken broth 
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

Heat oil in a large heavy skillet over medium heat. Add bacon and cook, turning occasionally, until crisp, about 5 minutes. Using tongs, transfer bacon to paper towels to drain. Let cool. Coarsely crumble. (Make sure crumbled bacon is unreachable by children, or it will disappear before you need it again.)

While bacon cools, add brussels sprouts to drippings in skillet; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring often, until well browned in spots and beginning to soften, 5–7 minutes. Reduce heat to low and add raisins, shallot, and butter; cook, stirring often, until shallot is soft, about 3 minutes. Add broth to skillet; increase heat and bring to a boil, scraping up browned bits from bottom of pan. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until broth has evaporated, 1–2 minutes. Stir in vinegar and crumbled bacon. Season to taste with salt and pepper.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Jenny Rosenstrach & Andy Ward, Bon Appétit

3028. THREE-CHEESE and BACON SPREAD

makes 8 servings (about 2 tablespoons spread) 


1/3 cup shredded reduced-fat Cheddar cheese 
4 oz (half of 8-oz package) fat-free cream cheese, softened 
1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese 
2 tablespoons fat-free (skim) milk 
1/8 teaspoon paprika
dash pepper 
2 tablespoons real bacon bits
1/4 cup raisins 
2 medium green onions, thinly sliced (2 tablespoons)

In small bowl, beat Cheddar cheese, cream cheese, Parmesan cheese, milk, paprika and pepper with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Stir in bacon bits, raisins and onions until well blended.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Cheerios, General Mills, Inc., P.O. Box 9452, Minneapolis, MN 55440

3027. RHUBARB BACON JAM

400 grams good-quality bacon, chopped into lardons
200 grams fresh rhubarb, finely chopped
200 grams of onion, finely chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup strong espresso
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/2 cup cider vinegar
1-2 tablespoon(s) grainy mustard

Fry bacon over medium-high heat until crisp, but not overdone(fat will be rendered); transfer to paper towel-lined plate. Drain fat, if you have too much; add rhubarb and onions to bacon fat and sauté until onions are translucent and rhubarb begins to soften (no more than 5 minutes). Add garlic and sauté 30 seconds; stir in brown sugar, espresso, syrup, vinegar, and add bacon back into the pan; bring to a simmering boil and cook, uncovered 30 to 45 minutes until reduced to a thick jam-like texture. Add grainy mustard to taste (complement the flavour balance with the mustard, as needed: start small). Store in jar(s) in the fridge or freezer and use as desired: great hot, or cold.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Valerie Lugonja, A Canadian Foodie, June 21, 2013

3026. BACON-HAWAIIAN CLUB SANDWICH

serves one


2 slices of cooked bacon
2 slices ham
2 slices turkey breast
1 slice Swiss or Jack cheese
tomato slice(s)
lettuce
1 slice of canned pineapple
1-2 tablespoons of mayonnaise
2 slices of sourdough or other toasted bread

Place the first 4 ingredients (in order) on a slice of toasted bread. Microwave on high for 1 minute. While waiting, spread mayonnaise and place remaining 3 ingredients onto other slice of
toasted bread. Remove sandwich from microwave and carefully place both halves together.


bacon recipe courtesy of: B. Desmond (member), for Smithfield.

3025. CLAM and BACON FOCACCIA

serves six


1/2 recipe baked focaccia bread (recipe below)
1/2 cup alfredo sauce

1/4 cup torn fresh basil leaves

4 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, drained and sliced

1 can (6 1/2 oz.) minced clams, drained

3 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled

Preheat oven to 425F.

Prepare and bake focaccia as directed below. Spoon alfredo sauce over focaccia. Top with basil leaves, mozzarella slices, minced clams and crumbled bacon. Bake 8 to 10 minutes in preheated oven.

Focaccia
5 cups unbleached all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons salt

2 cup warm water

1 package dry yeast

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus additional for drizzling

In a large bowl, combine flour and salt; set aside. In another bowl, combine warm water with yeast; stir until yeast dissolves. Whisk in olive oil. Add yeast mixture to flour. Mix on low speed using an electric mixer about 2 minutes or until well combined. Remove dough from bowl; knead until a smooth ball of dough forms. Place dough in bowl; cover and let rise 60 to 90 minutes or until doubled.

Generously oil a 17×13 inch baking sheet with additional olive oil. Place dough in pan; press and stretch dough evenly with oiled fingers to fill pan. Pierce the dough with a fork at 1-inch intervals. Drizzle lightly with olive oil. Cover the focaccia dough and let rise about 45 minutes or until doubled. Preheat oven to 450F. Bake focaccia about 20 minutes or until golden brown. Place on a rack to cool. 


bacon recipe courtesy of: Deborah Harroun, Taste and Tell, November 16, 2009

3024. GOAT CHEESE, DATE and BACON STRUDELS

makes about 36 hors d'oeuvres 


six 18-by 14-inch sheets of phyllo, stacked between 2 sheets of wax paper and covered with a dampened kitchen towel 
3/4 stick (6 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted 
4 tablespoons sesame seeds, toasted lightly 
10 ounces mild goat cheese, softened (about 1 cup) 
26 pitted dates, cut crosswise into thirds 
8 slices of crisp-cooked bacon, crumbled 
2 tablespoons minced scallion

Preheat the oven to 400°F. On a work surface arrange a 20-inch-long sheet of wax paper with a long side facing you. Put 1 sheet of the phyllo on the wax paper, brush it with some of the butter, and sprinkle it with about 2 teaspoons of the sesame seeds. On this, layer, brush, and sprinkle 1 more sheet of the phyllo in the same manner and lay a third sheet of phyllo on top. Spread 1/2 cup of the goat cheese along the pastry in a 1-inch strip about 2 inches above the near long side, leaving a 2-inch border at each end. Arrange half the date pieces on the cheese and sprinkle them with half the bacon, half the scallion, and 2 teaspoons of the remaining sesame seeds. Using the wax paper as a guide, lift the bottom 2 inches of the pastry over the filling, fold in the ends, and roll up the strudel tightly. Transfer the strudel carefully, seam side down, to a lightly buttered baking sheet and brush it with some of the remaining butter. Make another strudel with the remaining ingredients in the same manner.

Bake the 2 strudels in the lower third of the oven for 15 to 20 minutes, or until they are golden, and let them cool to warm on the baking sheet on a rack. The strudels may be made 1 day in advance and kept covered loosely and chilled. Reheat the strudels in a preheated 357°F. oven for 10 minutes. Serve the strudels warm, cut into 1-inch pieces with a serrated knife.

bacon recipe courtesy of: Gourmet, December 1993

3023. KENTUCKY BOURBON BACON CHEX MIX®

makes twenty servings


1 bag (15 oz) Chex Mix® traditional snack mix 
1 cup pecan halves 
1/2 lb. bacon (6 to 8 slices), crisply cooked and crumbled 
1/2 cup packed brown sugar  
1/2 cup butter 
1/4 cup light corn syrup 
2 tablespoons bourbon 
3/4 teaspoon chipotle chili powder 

Heat oven to 300°F. Line two 15x10x1-inch pans with foil. Spray foil with cooking spray. In large bowl, mix snack mix, pecans and bacon. Set aside.

In 2-quart saucepan, heat brown sugar, butter and corn syrup over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until bubbly around edges. Cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally; remove from heat. Cool 2 minutes. Carefully stir in bourbon and chipotle chili powder. Pour over snack mixture; toss until evenly coated.

Spread snack mixture on pans. Bake 15 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes, to caramelize mixture. Cool completely, about 1 hour. Break into pieces. Store covered in refrigerator.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Betty Crocker, General Mills, Inc., P.O. Box 9452, Minneapolis, MN 55440 

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

3021. JASMINE TEA GLAZED ALASKAN SALMON with HOISIN-BRAISED BACON, GREEN RICE and ORANGE-CASHEW SALAD

yields eight servings


Jasmine tea glaze:
1 cup mirin
1/2 cup sake
2 tablespoons sugar
3 bags black jasmine tea
2 tablespoons soy sauce

Hoisin-braised bacon:
1 lb. slab bacon
4 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 cup chicken stock, hot
1/3 cup hoisin sauce

Green rice:
3 cups chicken stock, hot
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
1/4 cup chopped fresh chives
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1/4 cup chopped fresh mint
1 small onion, diced
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 1/2 cups basmati rice
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
salt and freshly ground black pepper

Orange-cashew salad:
1/4 cup rice vinegar
1 tablespoon whole-grain mustard
1 teaspoon sweet soy sauce
1/2 cup olive oil
1 cup julienned napa cabbage
1 cup julienned radicchio
3/4 cup toasted cashews
2 oranges, peeled and segmented
8 pieces wild Alaskan salmon, about 8 oz. each
salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup olive oil

For the jasmine tea glaze: Combine the mirin, sake and sugar in a pot and simmer over medium heat until reduced by two-thirds to a syrupy consistency. Remove from the heat and steep the tea bags for 5 minutes. Stir in the soy and set aside.

For the hoisin-braised bacon: Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F. Score the fat side of the bacon in a crisscross pattern. Heat the oil over high heat in a skillet, add the bacon fat-side down, reduce the heat to medium-low and cook until a rich brown color is obtained, 10 minutes. Flip and cook for 10 minutes more. Drain off the fat and add the chicken stock to come two-thirds of the way up the bacon slab. Braise in the oven for 45 minutes, and then brush with the hoisin and cook for 30 minutes more. Try to keep the level of chicken broth the same throughout braising.

Remove and let cool in the pan, and then remove the bacon and cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Strain the liquid and return to the pan. Cook until reduced to a thick glaze, about 30 minutes, and then stir in bacon. Cook until the bacon crisps and is well coated. Remove and let cool.

For the green rice: Puree 1 cup stock, the basil, chives, cilantro and mint in a food processor until smooth. Saute the onions in the oil in a saucepan until softened, and then add the rice and lightly toast. Add the butter, herb puree, remaining stock and some salt and black pepper, stir, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a low simmer and cook until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is fluffy. Remove from the heat and keep covered.

For the salad: Combine the vinegar, mustard, sweet soy and some salt and black pepper in a bowl. Whisk in the oil in a slow stream. Toss in the cabbage, radicchio, cashews and oranges.

For the salmon: Sprinkle the salmon with salt and pepper. Heat the oil in large skillet over high heat and saute the salmon over medium-high heat for 2 minutes per side. Add the tea glaze and cook for 45 seconds. Arrange the salmon over bacon slices, pour over more tea glaze, and serve with orange-cashew salad and timbales of the green rice.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Peggy Magister, "Crazy Water," America's Best Bite, Cooking Channel

3020. BACON BANH MI

makes four sandwiches


1 large carrot, cut into 2-inch matchsticks 1/8 inch thick (about 2 cups)
1 small daikon radish, cut into 2-inch matchsticks 1/8 inch thick (about 2 cups)
3/4 cup plus 2 teaspoons sugar
Kosher salt
1/2 cup white vinegar
16 slices thick-cut bacon
4 Vietnamese baguettes or high-quality hero rolls
1 teaspoon Vietnamese or Thai fish sauce
1 teaspoon Maggi seasoning sauce
1 teaspoon soy sauce
4 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 cucumber, peeled, seeded, and cut lengthwise into 8 strips
1 jalapeño pepper, stemmed, seeded, and cut lengthwise into matchsticks
1 bunch fresh cilantro (about 16 sprigs) 
freshly ground black pepper

Place the carrot, daikon, 1/4 cup of sugar, and 1 tablespoon of salt in a medium mixing bowl. Using your hands, massage the salt and sugar into the vegetables until they begin to soften and exude liquid. Set the bowl aside at room temperature for 30 minutes, then drain the vegetables. Meanwhile, combine the vinegar, 1/2 cup of sugar, and 1/2 cup of water in a small bowl or Tupperware container and mix until the sugar is dissolved. Pour the vinegar mixture over the drained vegetables, and refrigerate until ready to use, at least 1 hour. (The vegetables should last at least 10 days, and will get better with time.)

Remove the foil from the baking sheet and discard it, then place the four baguettes on the now-empty baking sheet. Toast for 3 minutes until the exterior is crispy. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the fish sauce, Maggi seasoning sauce, soy sauce, and the remaining 2 teaspoons of sugar.

With a bread knife, slit the baguettes lengthwise, leaving a hinge to keep the two halves connected. Spread 1 tablespoon of mayonnaise evenly inside each baguette. Stuff the baguettes with four slices of bacon, a quarter cup of the pickled vegetables, two cucumber strips, a few slices of jalapeño, and four sprigs of cilantro. Drizzle with the fish sauce mixture and season with salt and pepper. Close the sandwiches and serve.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Serious Eats: A Comprehensive Guide to Making and Eating Delicious Food Wherever You Are, by Ed Levine & Serious Eats, Clarkson Potter, 2011

3019. CRISPY OYSTER and PAD THAI with BACON

serves four


1 pound Pad Thai noodles
1 cup Pad Thai sauce, (recipe follows)
vegetable oil for deep frying plus a little extra for stir frying
dozen shucked oysters
rice flour for dusting
1 Thai chile, thinly sliced
1 bunch scallions, green part only, cut into 2 inch lengths
1 thinly sliced red onion
1/2 cup bacon lardons, cooked until crispy
1/2 cup julienned carrots
1/2 cup bean sprouts
¼ cup preserved radish
2 tablespoons roughly chopped peanuts
2 large eggs, beaten lightly
cilantro leaves, basil leaves (preferably Thai basil), and lime wedges for garnish

Pad Thai Sauce
1 tablespoon minced garlic
2 tablespoons minced shallots
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 tablespoon finely minced lemongrass
1/2 cup water
½ cup sherry vinegar
2 cups fish sauce
1 cup sugar
1 tablespoon sriracha
1 cup tamarind concentrate
1 tablespoon paprika
2 kaffir lime leaves

In a large saucepan cook the garlic and shallot in the oil over low heat, stirring occasionally until translucent. Add the lemongrass and cook until aromatic. Add remaining ingredients, bring to a boil and simmer for 20 minutes. Strain and reserve. Note: This is a huge batch. You will only need 1 cup for the recipe, so keep the rest in the fridge for future recipes.

Put the noodles in a large bowl, cover them with cold water. Cover and chill them overnight. Make the Pad Thai sauce.

Heat 2 inches oil in a deep saucepan over moderately high heat until 365 F. When the oil is hot, coat the oysters in the rice flour, shaking off the excess. Add them to the oil carefully and fry until very crispy. Transfer with a slotted spoon to a paper towel to drain and sprinkle lightly with salt.

Combine the chile, scallions, onion, bacon, carrots, bean sprouts, preserved radish and peanuts in one bowl.

In a wok or large skillet heat a little vegetable oil over high heat. Add the eggs and stir constantly until they are almost scrambled about 30 seconds. Add the bowl of ingredients and stir fry 1 minute. Add Pad Thai noodles and stir fry until soft and wilted. Add Pad Thai sauce and toss. Add cilantro and basil and stir to combine well. Remove from wok and spoon into bowls. Garnish with lime.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Sara Moulton, Sara's Weeknight Meals, Episode 305, Season 3; January 30, 2013

3018. BACON, CHEESE and JALAPENO TACOS

makes eight tacos 


4 jalapeños 
1/2 pound thick-cut smoked bacon, cut crosswise into 1/2-inch pieces 
2 ounces shredded smoked Gouda cheese (1 cup) 
2 ounces shredded asadero or Monterey Jack cheese (1 cup) 
2 ounces finely grated Cotija cheese or ricotta salata (1/2 cup) 
8 corn tortillas 
salsa verde and sour cream, for serving 

Roast the jalapeños directly over a gas flame or under a preheated broiler, turning, until charred all over. Let cool. Using a paper towel, rub off the skins and discard the stems. Thinly slice the chiles crosswise, keeping most of the seeds. 

Heat a large rimmed cast-iron griddle or a cast-iron skillet. Add the bacon to the griddle and cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until the fat is rendered and the bacon is nearly crisp, 6 to 8 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the bacon to paper towels to drain. Pour off all of the fat and wipe the griddle clean. 

Meanwhile, in a bowl, toss the Gouda with the asadero and Cotija cheeses. 

Warm the tortillas on the griddle over moderate heat, turning once, until pliable, about 1 minute. Transfer the tortillas to a work surface. Fill the tortillas with the bacon, jalapeños and mixed cheeses and fold in half. Griddle the tacos, turning once and pressing gently with a spatula, until browned in spots and the cheese is melted, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer the tacos to a platter and serve with salsa verde and sour cream.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Rayme Rossello, Food & Wine, May 2013

3017. PEAR and BACON GALETTE

For the crust:
1 1/8 cup all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sugar
8 tablespoons cold, unsalted butter, cut into pieces
4 tablespoons ice water

For the filling:
5 slices bacon, chopped into 1/2-inch pieces
2 pears, peeled
1 lemon
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon sugar

Place flour, salt, and sugar in a food processor and pulse once or twice to get everything combined. Add the cold butter, and process until the mixture becomes the consistency of cornmeal.

Transfer mixture to a bowl, and sprinkle the ice water over it. Using a rubber spatula or your hands, mix in water and create a ball shape out of the dough. Wrap in plastic wrap and flatten to a small disk, then place in the freezer for 10 minutes while you make the filling.

Preheat the oven to 350. Cook bacon over medium heat in a skillet until almost crispy; transfer bacon to a plate layered with paper towels. Save bacon fat to grease your baking sheet.

Chop peeled pears in half and scoop out the core, then slice into thin (1/8 inch thick) slices lengthwise. Place pears in a bowl, and add sugar and cinnamon. Zest your lemon over top, then cut in half and squeeze the juice into the bowl. Using your hands or a spatula, toss the pears in the juice and spices. When bacon has cooled a bit, add bacon and toss again.

Remove crust from freezer. Unwrap the plastic wrap to expose the dough, and layer another piece of plastic over top, to make a plastic-dough-plastic sandwich. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough out to about 1/4 inch thick, making a large circle. Carefully remove the top layer of plastic wrap, then flip crust onto a bacon-greased baking sheet. Peel off the other plastic wrap.

Scoop filling onto the middle of the crust and spread out, leaving 2 inches of crust all around. Fold excess crust over to contain the filling.

Bake for 40-45 minutes at 350, until crust is lightly browned. Let cool for 10 minutes and enjoy! 


bacon recipe courtesy of: Mallory, Total Noms, March 6, 2011

3016. CONCHIGLIE with DELICATA SQUASH, BACON, LEEKS and ESCAROLE

3 small or 2 large delicata squash, cut into 1/2 inch thick rings, seeds removed
extra virgin olive oil
1/2 pound bacon, cut into 1/2 inch wide strips
2 large leeks, thinly sliced and washed (see note above)
1/2 head of escarole, washed and thinly sliced
1/2 pound fresh ricotta
1 pound conchiglie

Preheat over to 400°. Put a large pot of water on to boil for the pasta.

Toss delicata rings with olive oil and salt and pepper. Arrange on a single layer on a baking sheet and roast for about 25 minutes, or until golden brown on both sides (you will need to turn the rings halfway through cooking) and tender. When squash is cool enough to handle cut rings into bitesize pieces. (You can return the squash to the oven to keep it warm if you finish this step before the rest of the dish is ready.)

In the meanwhile saute the bacon in a large skillet until crisp. Trasfer to a plate, reserving the fat. Cook leeks in bacon fat until very wilted and begining to carmelize. Add escarole and continue cooking until very soft. Taste for seasoning and add salt and pepper if needed.

Cook the pasta until al dente while sauteeing the greens. Drain it in a colander and return to the pot. Stir in ricotta until pasta is well coated. Add greens, squash, and bacon and stir. Serve immediately.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Eclectic Mom, October 23, 2012

3015. WATERMELON SALAD with BACON VINAIGRETTE

3 cups watermelon, cubed
3 large ripe tomatoes, chopped
1/3 cup fresh mozzarella, cubed
4 ounces bacon
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium shallot, chopped
splash, sherry vinegar
black pepper
basil (garnish)

In a large bowl combine 3 cups cubed watermelon, 3 large ripe tomatoes, chopped, and 1/3 cup cubed mozzarella. For the vinaigrette, render 4 ounces chopped bacon in olive oil until crisp. Add some chopped shallot, a splash of sherry vinegar, and lots of black pepper. Toss with the watermelon and tomatoes. Garnish with fresh basil.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Mark Bittman, for Today Food, NBC News