3309. MASHED SWEET POTATOES with COCONUT MILK, BACON and CILANTRO

serves eight


3 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
About ¾ cup coconut milk, heated
1-1/2 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon chicken flavor bouillon (powder)
A pinch of freshly ground nutmeg
¾ cup fully cooked smoked bacon, cut into small pieces and sauteed
Salt and black ground pepper to taste
½ cup fresh cilantro, chopped

Boil sweet potatoes in a large pot of cold salted water until very tender (about 15 minutes). Drain. Let stand in colander 2-5 minutes. Purée sweet potatoes with a potato ricer or masher; then, stir in the coconut milk until mixture is homogeneous and creamy.

Add the garlic and chicken bouillon powder, nutmeg, sauteed bacon, salt and pepper; stir well.

Before serving, stir in the chopped cilantro.


bacon recipe source: Denise Browning, From Brazil To You, November 12, 2013

3308. BACON and CHEESE CURD BURGER

makes four servings 


4 thick bacon slices 
1/4 cup packed brown sugar 
2 lb. 85% lean ground chuck or 90% lean ground sirloin 
3/4 cup cheese curds or string cheese, chopped
salt and ground black pepper 
4 good quality hamburger buns 
4 1/4 - inch thick slices ripe tomato (optional) 
4 thin slices white onion (optional) 
4 Iceberg lettuce leaves (optional) 

Place bacon slices on the unheated rack of a broiler pan. Sprinkle each slice with brown sugar. Bake in a 450º F oven for 10 minutes or until crisp. When cool enough to handle, chop bacon; set aside.  

Divide beef into eight equal portions. Pat beef portions into patties approximately 4 inches in diameter and about 3/4-inch thick. 

Equally divide and place the bacon and 3 tablespoons of the cheese curds in the middle of four of the patties, leaving 1/2 inch around the edge of the patty. Top each with the remaining 4 patties. Pinch edges of top and bottom patties together to form one large burger patty. Chill, covered, in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour. 

Season burgers with salt and black pepper. For a charcoal grill, place the patties on the well-oiled rack of an uncovered grill directly over medium coals for 10 minutes. Turn with a wide spatula and grill 10 to 12 minutes more, until meat is cooked and an instant-read thermometer inserted into patties registers 160º F. Toast buns, cut side down, on grill during last 1 to 2 minutes of grilling.

To serve, place a cooked burger on bottom half of each bun. If you like, top each with tomato, onion, and lettuce.


bacon recipe source: Midwest Living.com

3307. WHOLE WHEAT and CHIA SEED WAFFLES with FRESH BERRIES and BACON

1.5 cups of whole wheat flour
1/3 cup chia seeds
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups milk

1/3 cup melted butter

2 eggs

To serve
bacon
fresh berries

Place the wheat, chia seeds, baking powder and salt into a bowl and set aside. In a separate bowl whisk together eggs, milk and melted butter. Gradually whisk in to dry ingredients. Set batter aside and allow to rest for 30 minutes to 2 hours.

Heat a waffle iron or skillet and brush with butter or non-stick spray. Ladle about 1/4 cup of the mixture into the pan and spread almost to the edges. Cook until bubbles form on the top, then flip and cook until golden on both sides.

In a separate pan, cook bacon until crisp.

To serve, pile bacon on top of waffles, sprinkle with berries and drizzle with honey or maple syrup.


bacon recipe source: Maxine Thompson, The Bookery Cook, November 2, 2012

3306. GOUGERES with ARUGULA, BACON and PICKLED ONIONS

for 20 to 24 gougères


For pickled onions
12 ounces firm yellow onions, preferably no more than 2 1/2 inches in diameter
1 1/4 cups Champagne vinegar or white wine vinegar
1 1/4 cups water
2 generous tablespoons sugar
2 bay leaves
1 small dried chili
A few whole black peppercorns
Salt

For the batter
1 cup water
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 teaspoon salt, a little more if using kosher salt
1 cup all-purpose flour
4 large raw eggs, cold
1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
2 ounces (about 1/2 cup) Gruyère cheese, cut into 1/4-inch cubes

To stuff the gougères
10 to 12 bacon slices
About 1 1/2 ounces arugula, carefully washed and dried
1 cup pickled onions, drained

For the pickled onions
Peel and slice the onions into rings about 1/8 inch thick, discarding the end cuts; a mandoline will make this job very easy. The slices will tend to fall into rings on their own, but you may need to separate the tight centers. Discard any green sprouts or pithy or discolored rings.

Combine the vinegar, water, sugar, bay leaves, chili pod, peppercorns and a few pinches of salt in a small saucepan. If you like things spicy, break the chili pod in half before you add it. Bring to a simmer over medium-low heat, then turn the heat up to medium and add the onion rings. Gently stir the crowded onions as they return to a simmer. Simmer for a little less than 1 minute.

Pour the hot onions and brine into a wide bowl or directly into jars. The skinny rings will turn glassy as they cool. Cover and store refrigerated.

For the gourgères
Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).

In a 2- to 4-quart saucepan, bring the water, butter, and salt to a simmer over medium heat. Add the flour all at once and stir vigorously until the mixture masses and detaches itself from the sides of the pan. Reduce the heat to low and cook, beating constantly, until the batter is very stiff and almost shiny, usually a few minutes.

Off the heat, add the eggs one by one, beating thoroughly with a wooden spoon to completely incorporate each egg before adding the next. The mixture will initially resist each addition; you’ll find yourself cutting through and slapping together slabs of slippery, warm paste until it gradually absorbs the egg and becomes sticky again. The final mixture should be no hotter than tepid. Add the pepper to taste and stir in the Gruyère.

If you are proficient with one, transfer the batter to a pastry bag, and pipe 2-to 3-inch-long bands onto a parchment paper-lined (or nonstick) baking sheet about 2 inches apart. Otherwise, use a spoon to scoop out a heaping tablespoon of batter per gougère and a second spoon to scrape it into a peaky mound on the prepared baking sheet.

Bake until firm and a rich golden brown, about 25 minutes. Inevitably, some bits of cheese will ooze and form a delicious, crispy bib on the edges of the gougères. To check doneness, remove 1 gougère and pry open. The interior strands of dough should be tender and moist, but not mushy; if they are, close the gougère and return it to the oven to bake with the rest for another few minutes. If you are concerned they may over brown, simply turn off the oven and leave to finish cooking in the ambient heat.

Meanwhile, cut the bacon into 1 1/2- to 2-inch segments and panfry or roast to your taste. Drain on towels.

Serve the gougère warm from the oven (or reheated), split through the middle and overstuffed with a few pieces of bacon, several leaves of peppery arugula, and a few ringlets of the pickled onions.


bacon recipe courtesy of: The Zuni Cafe Cookbook: A Compendium of Recipes & Cooking Lessons from San Francisco's Beloved Restaurant, by Judy Rodgers; NY: W.W. Norton & Company, 2002

3305. BREAKFAST TACOS with BACON and KALE

yields 3-4 servings


6-8 small warm tortillas

For the scrambled eggs:
6 eggs
2 tablespoons milk
salt and pepper to taste
1 teaspoon butter

For the bacon & kale:
3 slices bacon
1 cup kale, chopped
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
salt and pepper to taste

For serving:
grated cheese, like Colby jack
hot sauce
avocado slices (optional)

In a bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, and salt and pepper. Place a skillet over medium heat and melt the butter. Pour the eggs into the pan and scramble until set. Transfer the scrambled eggs to a covered dish to keep warm.

Wipe out the pan and return it to the heat. Cook the bacon until browned and crisp. Remove the bacon to some paper towels to drain.

Pour off all but 2 teaspoons of the bacon fat leftover in the pan. Return the pan to the heat and toss in the kale. Season the kale with the garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Saute the kale in the bacon grease until it is tender and vibrant green, about 3 minutes. Crumble the bacon and add it to the kale. Then, take the scrambled eggs and stir them into the bacon and kale mixture. Remove from the heat. Lay out the warm tortillas on serving plates and spoon the scrambled egg mixture into each of the tortillas. Top with grated cheese, hot sauce, and avocado slices (if using). Serve.


bacon recipe source: Maya, Alaska from Scratch, February 20, 2014

3304. COCONUT CURRY CARROT and APPLE SOUP with BACON, APPLE and CASHEW TOPPING

serves 6-8 as a main course


2 tablespoons butter
1 ½ teaspoons ginger
1 ½ teaspoons garlic
1 teaspoon lemongrass paste
1 teaspoon coriander
2 teaspoons mild curry
1 teaspoon cumin powder
1 tablespoon red curry paste
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 ½ teaspoons sea salt
1 pound carrots, peeled and coarsely chopped (or use a 1 pound bag of baby carrots)
1 medium onion, coarsely chopped
1 medium yellow bell pepper, seeds removed, and coarsely chopped
2 medium apples, cored and coarsely chopped
6 cups low sodium chicken broth
1 can coconut milk

Topping/garnish:
4 strips bacon, sliced into 1/4 inch pieces
½ medium Granny Smith apple, cored and julienne-cut into tiny 1 inch strips
1 teaspoon brown sugar
¼ cup coarsely chopped cashews
fresh thyme leaves, for garnish

Soup: In a large pot over medium-low heat, melt the butter and sauté the garlic, ginger and lemongrass just until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the coriander, curry powder, cumin, curry paste and brown sugar and cook another 30 seconds. Add carrots, onion, bell pepper and apple and continue cooking until veggies start to soften, about 5 more minutes.

Add salt and chicken broth to the pot and increase the heat. Bring the soup to a boil and then reduce to a low, constant simmer. Cook for about 25-30 minutes or until veggies are very soft and tender. Add coconut milk and simmer for another 5 minutes.

Purée the soup until smooth using either a regular blender or an immersion (stick) blender. If using a regular blender, let the soup cool down a bit before blending. Then purée in batches to prevent the soup from splattering. You can also remove the center piece of the blender lid and place a clean dishtowel or paper towel over the opening while blending. This will allow the steam to escape and prevent spattering.

Topping: While soup is simmering, cook bacon in a small pot until deep, golden brown and crisp. Remove with a slotted spoon and place on several thicknesses of paper towels to drain. Pour off all but 1 teaspoon of the bacon fat and discard. Add apple to pan and cook over medium low heat for a minute or two until just slightly softened. Add brown sugar, bacon and cashews and cook for another 30 seconds. Place a tablespoon of topping in a shallow bowl. Gently ladle soup around topping. Add a bit more of the apple topping to create a small mound on top of soup. Serve immediately.


bacon recipe source: Chris Scheuer, The Café Sucré Farine, September 7, 2013

3303. BACON and HAVARTI QUICHE

serves eight


1 pie crust
½ cup crumbled cooked bacon (approx. 4-6 strips)

½ cup havarti cheese, shredded

¼ cup pecorino romano cheese, grated

4 eggs

1½ cups heavy cream

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roll out the dough so it thins out and fits in the tart pan; then line the tart pan with the pie crust and par bake for 5-7 minutes. In a bowl, whisk the eggs and heavy cream;  then stir in the cheeses and bacon. Add the egg mixture to the pie crust, place the tart pan on a baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes or until the top starts to puff up and turn lightly brown.

bacon recipe source: Carrie's Experimental Kitchen, November 26, 2012

3302. FINGERLING POTATOES with CARAMELIZED ONION and BACON

2 pieces of bacon, cooked and crumbled
2 teaspoons olive oil (divided)
1/2 sweet yellow onion
1 clove of garlic, minced
7-8 fingerling potatoes
sea salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste
fresh parsley, chopped

Cook the bacon in a large skillet until crisp. Remove from the pan and drain on a paper towel until cool, then crumble. Remove all but 1 tsp of bacon grease from the pan. Add 1/2 teaspoon of olive oil, once the pan is hot, add the onion slices. Sauté until caramelized, about 20 minutes, making sure to stir frequently. While the onions are caramelizing, par cook the fingerling potatoes in a pot of boiling water over high heat, for about 10 minutes or until fork tender. Remove from water and let cool.
Once the onions are caramelized add the minced garlic to the pan and cook for an additional 60 seconds, stirring constantly, remove from skillet and set aside. Slice the fingerling potatoes in half lengthwise. Add the last 1 1/2 teaspoons of olive oil to the same skillet over medium heat, once hot, add the fingerling potatoes. Cook for about 5 minutes then flip, cooking for an additional 4-5 minutes or until golden brown. Add the bacon crumbles, onions and garlic to the pan to reheat. Top with fresh chopped parsley and serve.


bacon recipe source: Pam, For the Love of Cooking, March 17, 2009

3301. MAPLE BACON LIMA BEANS

serves six


1/2 cup uncooked bacon, diced 1/2"
1/4 cup onions, diced 1/4"
1/2 cup maple syrup, pure or imitation
1/4 tsp. black pepper, ground
2 (14.5 oz) cans lima beans
2 uncooked bacon slices, cut in half

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place the diced bacon and onions in a nonstick pan. Cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until onions soften and start to brown, and the bacon is mostly cooked. Add black pepper, maple syrup and lima beans to the pan. Mix until well combined. Pour the bean mixture into an 8"x 8"x 2" casserole dish. Top the bean mixture with the raw bacon slices. Bake for 1-1/2 hours or until the beans are thickened.


bacon recipe source: Glory Foods, 901 Oak St, Columbus, OH 43205

3300. BACON, PEAR, and RASPBERRY GRILLED CHEESE

serves two


4 slices sturdy, grainy wheat bread
3 tablespoons raspberry preserves
¼ cup thinly sliced red pear
8 slices cooked bacon
4 slices Muenster cheese
1-2 tablespoons butter

Preheat griddle or panini press to medium-high heat. Assemble 2 sandwiches in this order: bread, 1½ tbs. preserves, pear, 4 slices bacon, 2 slices cheese, bread. Spread butter on top and bottom of sandwich and grill for 4-8 minutes, or until cheese is melted and top is golden brown.


bacon recipe source: Lindsay Ostrom, Pinch of Yum, December 7, 2011

3299. FARFALLE in a CREAMY MORNAY SAUCE with GOUDA, BACON and ONION

serves two 


5 slices bacon
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon flour
1 cup half-and-half
1 cup shredded gouda cheese
2 cups farfalle pasta, uncooked
1/3 cup minced onion
salt and pepper (to taste)

In a skillet, cook your bacon until crispy. Let drain on a towel. Once cooled, mince, and reserve. Meanwhile in a small sauce pan, melt your butter over a medium heat. Once melted, add in your flour all at once. Cook stirring constantly for 3 minutes. Slowly add in your half and half, whisking constantly. Cook over a medium heat for at least 5 minutes or until it starts to thicken. Once it thickens add in your gouda cheese. Keep over a low heat. In a separate pot, bring water to a boil. Add in your pasta and cook about 10 minutes til al dente. With a perforated spoon, transfer your pasta to your cheese sauce (it's ok if it's not completely drained, the pasta cooking water will loosen up the sauce). Add in your bacon and minced onion. Taste and season further. Serve hot.


bacon recipe source: Sara Bojarski, Urban Cookery, January 6, 2014

3298. SPICY FISH and POTATO SOUP with BACON and CHIVES

serves four 


4 slices bacon, chopped 
1 medium onion, chopped 
4 stalks celery, chopped, plus leaves for serving 
6 cups low-sodium chicken broth 
2 large russet potatoes (about 1 pound), peeled and chopped 
1 bay leaf 
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper 
kosher salt and black pepper 
1 pound skinless firm white fish fillets (such as striped bass or tilapia), cut into 2-inch pieces 
1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives

Cook the bacon in a large saucepan over medium heat until crisp, 5 to 7 minutes; transfer to a plate. Increase heat to medium-high.

Add the onion and celery to the drippings in the saucepan and cook, stirring often, until beginning to soften, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the broth, potatoes, bay leaf, crushed red pepper, ¾ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon black pepper. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender, 15 to 18 minutes.

Add the fish to the broth mixture in the saucepan and cook until opaque throughout, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove the bay leaf. Sprinkle with the chives, bacon, and celery leaves.


bacon recipe source: Dawn Perry, Real Simple, April 2013

3297. FRENCH WHITE BURGUNDY CHICKEN and EGG NOODLES with BACON

yields six servings


1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

4 slices good quality bacon, chopped
1/2 cup all-purpose flour plus 2 tablespoons
2 pounds chicken tenders, cut into 1 1/2 to 2-inch pieces
Salt and pepper
1/2 pound button mushrooms, quartered
3 ribs celery from the heart of the stalk and leafy tops, chopped
1 carrots, peeled and chopped
2 parsnips, peeled and chopped
2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme, 4 to 5 sprigs
4 tablespoons butter, divided
2 cups white French burgundy wine, 1/3 bottle
1 cup chicken stock
2 cups frozen pearl onions
1 pound extra-wide egg noodles
Freshly grated nutmeg, to taste
A handful flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped

Heat a Dutch oven over medium-high heat with extra-virgin olive oil. Add bacon and cook until crisp, about 5 minutes, remove with slotted spoon.

Heat a pot of water to boil for egg noodles.

While bacon crisps, scatter 1/2 cup flour on a shallow dish. Season the chopped chicken with salt and pepper and add to flour. Toss the chicken to coat and shake off the excess as you add it to the hot bacon drippings. Lightly brown the chicken about 3 minutes on each side then remove. Add mushrooms to the pan and add the celery, carrots and parsnips as you chop them Season with salt, pepper and thyme. Cook vegetables 5 to 6 minutes to tenderize them. Scoot vegetables off to the sides of the pan forming a well. Add 2 tablespoons butter to the well and melt them whisk in 2 tablespoons flour. Whisk wine into roux, shake pan to combine then stir in stock. Add chicken back to the pan and stir in the onions. Simmer the chicken 10 minutes. Adjust seasoning.

Salt water for egg noodles. Add noodles and cook to al dente. Drain noodles and return to hot pot. Add 2 tablespoons butter to noodles and toss to melt. Season noodles with nutmeg, salt and pepper, to taste, and garnish with parsley. 


bacon recipe source: Rachael Ray, "It's The Least I Can Do," 30 Minute Meals, Food Network

3296. SEARED POLLOCK with BACON and ONIONS

makes four servings


6 slices applewood bacon
1 large sweet onion, cut into 1/4-inch rounds
1 large apple, peeled, cored and thinly sliced
2 garlic cloves, minced
pinch of crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
4 5-oz. pollock fillets
4 tablespoons cornstarch

In a large skillet cook bacon over medium-high heat 5 minutes or until crisp. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels to drain. Crumble and set aside.

Drain all but 1 tablespoon of the drippings from skillet. Place skillet over medium heat. Add onion; cook and stir 5 minutes. Add apple; cook 5 minutes. Add garlic and (if desired) red pepper flakes; cook 2 minutes. Transfer to a bowl; set aside.

Place cornstarch in a shallow dish; set aside. Place same skillet over medium-high heat; add butter and oil. Season fillets with salt and pepper to taste. Dip fillets in cornstarch, coating both sides. Place fillets in skillet; cook 3 to 4 minutes per side or until fish flakes easily with a fork.

Place 1 fillet on each of 4 plates. Top with onion mixture, sprinkle with crumbled bacon, and serve.


bacon recipe source: Glen's Fresh Market

3295. BAKED APPLES with OATS, BACON, CHOCOLATE and RAISINS

yields four servings

2 bacon strips, finely chopped

4 crisp apples

2 tablespoons old-fashioned rolled oats

1 tablespoon finely chopped dark chocolate (or small chocolate chips)

2 tablespoons finely chopped raisins

½ cup plus 2 tablespoons Calvados, divided

½ cup apple juice or apple cider

2 tablespoons maple syrup

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
2 cinnamon sticks

Preheat the oven to 350°. In a small skillet set over medium heat, add the bacon and cook, stirring often, until it is browned and crisp, about 6 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer it to a paper towel-lined plate, saving the bacon fat.

Trim off a thin slice from the bottom of each apple so it stands upright. Use an apple corer or melon baller to make a wide well in the center of each apple, discarding the seeds. Set the apples in a square baking dish.

In a medium bowl mix, together the oats, chocolate, raisins, crispy bacon and 1 tablespoon of the warm bacon fat. Divide 2 tablespoons of Calvados among the apple cavities, then stuff each apple with some of the bacon-oat mixture.

To the baking dish, add the remaining ½ cup of Calvados and the apple juice. Drizzle the maple syrup over the top of each apple and top each with a ½ tablespoon of butter. Add the cinnamon sticks to the baking dish and bake the apples for 25 minutes.

Baste the apples with the liquid, then loosely tent the apples with a piece of aluminum foil and continue to bake until a paring knife easily slips into an apple, 20 to 25 minutes longer. Remove from the oven and cool 15 minutes before serving with the roasting juices.


bacon recipe source: Tasting Table Test Kitchen

3294. BEER-BATTERED BACON-WRAPPED FRIED DILL PICKLES

serves 2-4


2 cups canola oil
Four dill pickle spears, cut into thirds
6 slices bacon, cut in half crossways
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon plus 1 ½ teaspoons seasoned salt
1 (12 oz.) can beer

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium high heat.

Wrap each pickle slice in one of the half pieces of bacon. Place bacon wrapped pickles on a plate, seam side down. Microwave for approximately 1 minute, until the bacon begins to shrink slightly around the pickle slice and will not come unwrapped. Set aside.

In a medium mixing bowl, combine the flour and seasoned salt. Gradually pour in the beer, whisking out any lumps with a fork, until ingredients are combined. The batter will be slightly thicker than pancake batter. Toss pickle slices into batter until thoroughly coated. Working in batches, carefully add pickles to hot oil and fry until golden brown on all sides, about five minutes.

Remove from oil and drain on paper towels. Sprinkle with salt if desired.


bacon recipe source: Lisa Bynum, The Cooking Bride, October 10, 2011

3293. PULLED PORK CUBAN SANDWICHES with BACON

serves four


2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
one loaf Cuban bread or 4 hoagie rolls
yellow or Dijon mustard
mayonnaise, optional

8 ounces thinly sliced cooked ham

8 pieces cooked bacon

8 ounces pulled pork or roasted pork
8 ounces Swiss cheese

12 thin dill pickle slices

Heat a panini press or sandwich maker. In a small bowl, combine the melted butter with the olive oil.

Cut the loaf of bread into quarters and slice each quarter in half lengthwise, leaving one edge in tact. Lay the bread open like a book. Flip the bread over and using a pastry brush, coat each side of the bread with some of the butter/olive oil mixture.

Flip the bread over again and generously spread the insides with mustard and some mayonnaise, if using. Divide the ingredients evenly among the slices of bread and build your sandwiches in this order: ham, bacon, pork, cheese and pickles.

Bring the tops and bottoms together and press slightly to compact.

Place a sandwich on the press and lower the lid, pressing down. Cook each sandwich until the bread is toasted and the cheese is melted, about 5 minutes. Allow the sandwich to cool for 2 minutes before slicing in half to serve.


bacon recipe source: Cheryl Beverage Barnes, Picture Perfect Meals, September 27, 2012

3292. POBLANO, BACON and CHEDDAR SKILLET CORNBREAD

serves 10 

 

 

3 poblano chiles, charred, sweated, peeled, seeded and diced

6 to 8 center cut bacon slices

1/2 cup yellow cornmeal

1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/3 cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon kosher or coarse sea salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 cup whole milk

1/2 cup heavy cream

4 eggs, well beaten

2 cups grated cheddar cheese

2 cups corn kernels, preferably fresh, or thawed from frozen

Preheat the oven to 375°F. In a large cast-iron pan, over medium-high heat, add the bacon. Cook until crispy, about 3 minutes per side. Remove the bacon from the pan and turn off the heat. In a large bowl, combine the cornmeal, flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt and pepper. In a small bowl, combine the milk, cream and eggs. Whisk the wet ingredients into the dry. Add the cheddar cheese, corn and poblano chiles. Crumble the bacon and toss it in. Pour in most of the bacon fat from the cast-iron pan into the batter, leaving about 1 tablespoon in the pan. Mix well. Place the cast-iron pan with the remaining bacon drippings again over medium heat, pour the batter into the pan. Transfer to the oven and bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown. Cut into wedges and serve.

bacon recipe source: Pati Jinich, Pati's Mexican Table, December 2013

3291. KOHLRABI BACON CHEESE SOUP

makes four servings


2 large kohlrabi bulbs
4 green onions
2 to 4 strips thick-cut bacon
2 tablespoons butter, divided
2 tablespoons flour
1/2 to 1 teaspoon ground mustard
1 cup whole milk at room temperature
3 cups chicken broth or vegetable broth
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
fine sea salt and freshly ground white or black pepper to taste

Peel and chop the kohlrabi; trim and thinly slice the green onions; set both aside.

Finely chop the bacon. Heat a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. When it's hot, add the bacon. Cook, stirring frequently, until the bacon is crispy brown and has released its fat. Use a slotted spoon or tongs to lift the bacon pieces out of the pot and drain on a few layers of paper towels. Set cooked bacon aside.

Pour fat out of the pot into a small bowl. Measure 1 tablespoon back into the pot, putting the pot back over medium-high heat. Add the green onions and cook, stirring, until they wilt. Transfer to a plate or small bowl.

Melt the butter in the pot. When it's melted and has stopped foaming, sprinkle in the flour. Cook, whisking constantly, until the flour is cooked (you will notice a baked pie crust smell), 2 to 3 minutes. Lower heat to low. Whisk in the mustard.

Whisk in the milk, making sure you create a smooth mixture. Stir in the broth and the kohlrabi and bring to a simmer. Cook, partially covered, until the kohlrabi is tender, about 15 minutes.

Use a hand-held blender to purée the mixture in the pot until it's super smooth; or, transfer the soup to a blender or food processor and whirl until smooth (be sure to hold a kitchen towel over the top to mitigate any splatters of hot soup if you're too impatient - as I often am - to allow the mixture to cool first) and then transfer it back to the pot.

Put the soup back on the stove over low to medium-low heat. Stir in the cream and heat until everything is hot again. Whisk in the cheese, one handful at a time, whisking until the soup is smooth and creamy. Stir in the reserved green onions (they add flavor as well as a bit of color and texture by keeping them out of the pureeing process).

Season the soup to taste with salt and/or pepper as you like (store-bought broth is often quite salty, and cheese has a fair amount of salt in it, so be sure to taste before adding salt to this soup).

Ladle the soup into bowls and sprinkle with the crispy bacon as a hearty garnish. Serve hot with additional pepper for diners to add to taste.


bacon recipe source: Molly Watson, Local Foods, About.com

3290. SMOKY CHIPOTLE and BACON GUACAMOLE

makes two cups 


3 ripe Hass avocados 
8 ounces bacon, cooked and crumbled 
2 canned chipotle peppers, dried and diced 
1/4 cup finely diced white onion 
1 lime, juiced 
Kosher salt 
1/4 cup chopped cilantro 

Scoop the avocado into a bowl. Coarsely mash it with a fork. Stir in the bacon, chipotle, onion, jalapeño, lime juice, salt and cilantro. Serve with tortilla chips.


bacon recipe source: Emily Farris, for Food & Wine