3391. ARUGULA TARTINE with BACON, FETA and TARRAGON VINAIGRETTE

makes 1 serving


1 large egg
1 thick slice sourdough bread
2 oz feta
3 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled
1/2 cup arugula
1 tablespoon tarragon vinaigrette (recipe below)

Tartine assembly: Toast sourdough bread until slightly browned and crispy. In a small bowl, toss arugula with tarragon vinaigrette until coated. Top sourdough bread with arugula, and sprinkle with bacon and cheese.

Fried egg: Heat a small nonstick skillet over medium heat. Cook egg until whites are set and edges begin to curl. At this point the yolk will still be slightly runny. Place egg atop tartine and serve warm.

Tarragon Vinaigrette Dressing
1 tablespoon fresh shallot, minced
4 teaspoons champagne vinegar
1 teaspoon dijon mustard
2 teaspoons fresh tarragon, minced
1/4 cup good quality olive oil
salt and pepper to taste

In a small non reactive bowl, whisk to combine vinegar, mustard, shallot, tarragon, and a generous seasoning of salt and pepper. Slowly pour in olive oil and whisk to emulsify.


bacon recipe source: a Better Happiness St. Sebastian, July 1, 2014

3377. BACON-WRAPPED BLACKBERRY PORK ROAST

1/4 cup blackberry preserves
3 tablespoons white wine vinegar or champagne vinegar
2 tablespoons dijon mustard
2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
1 4-to-5-pound boneless center-cut pork loin, trimmed
1 clove garlic, smashed
2 red onions, quartered
8 slices bacon
2 tablespoons instant flour
3 cups low-sodium chicken broth

Combine the preserves, 1 tablespoon vinegar, the mustard, thyme and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper in a small bowl. Poke the pork in a few spots with a paring knife, then rub with the garlic; season with salt and pepper. Rub the pork all over with the preserves mixture, then transfer to a large resealable bag and refrigerate at least 2 hours or overnight.

About 20 minutes before roasting, remove the pork from the refrigerator and preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Put the red onions in a metal roasting pan and set a rack on top. Wrap the pork with the bacon (see below), then set on the rack. Roast until the bacon is crisp and a thermometer inserted into the center of the pork registers 145 degrees F, about 1 1/2 hours. Transfer the pork to a cutting board; let rest 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, make the gravy: Discard all but 2 tablespoons of the drippings from the pan. Place the roasting pan over 2 burners over medium-low heat and whisk in the flour until incorporated. Add the chicken broth and whisk until thickened, about 5 minutes. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons vinegar and season with salt and pepper.

Remove the twine and slice the pork. Serve with the onions and gravy.

How to wrap pork: Lay the bacon slices over the pork, overlapping them slightly and tucking them under. Tie a piece of kitchen twine around each slice to secure it.

bacon recipe source: Food Network Kitchen/Food Network Magazine

3360. MIXED GREEN SALAD with DICED AVOCADO, PEACHES, CRISPY BACON, FETA CHEESE and CHAMPAGNE VINAIGRETTE

makes 4 servings


1/4 cup champagne vinegar

1 tablespoon honey
2 teaspoons minced shallots
1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/4 teaspoon minced garlic
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Salt and fresh ground black pepper
1/2 pound mixed greens
1 cup diced ripe peaches
1/2 avocado, diced
4 strips bacon, cooked until crispy and crumbled
1/3 cup feta cheese

 

In a blender, combine the champagne vinegar, honey, shallots, mustard and garlic. Puree until smooth, 10 to 15 seconds. While continuing to blend, slowly drizzle the olive oil into the blender through the opening in the lid until the dressing is smooth and emulsified. Season with salt and pepper to taste and transfer to a clean, non-reactive container with a lid. Set aside until ready to use, or store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

To make the salad, in a large stainless steel bowl, combine the mixed greens, peaches, avocado, bacon and feta cheese. Drizzle about 1/2 cup of the vinaigrette into the bowl and season with salt and pepper. Toss the salad gently but thoroughly to combine, then serve immediately on chilled salad plates.

bacon recipe source: Emeril Lagasse, "Meals in Minutes," The Essence of Emeril, Food Network

3359. BAKED COD with LEEKS, MORELS and BACON

serves four


3/4 oz. dried morel mushrooms 
1/2 cup boiling water  
3 tablespoons unsalted butter 
4 bacon slices 
2 cups thinly sliced leeks, white and light green portions 
1/4 teaspoon salt, plus more, to taste 
1 teaspoon Champagne vinegar 
4 cod fillets, each about 6 oz. 
Freshly ground pepper, to taste 
1 tablespoon minced fresh chives

Preheat an oven to 375°F.

In a small heatproof bowl, soak the mushrooms in the boiling water for 20 minutes. Squeeze the mushrooms dry and roughly chop the larger ones into bite-size pieces. Set aside.

In a large ovenproof fry pan over medium-high heat, melt 2 Tbs. of the butter. Add the bacon and fry until crispy, about 5 minutes. Drain on paper towels. Pour off all but 3 Tbs. of the fat from the pan. Add the leeks and the 1/4 tsp. salt, stir until evenly coated with the fat and cook, stirring often, until tender and beginning to brown, about 10 minutes. Crumble the bacon and add half to the leeks along with the reserved mushrooms and the vinegar. Toss to combine well and spread the leek mixture over the bottom of the pan.

Season the cod fillets with salt and pepper and lay them on top of the leeks. Dot with the remaining 1 Tbs. butter. Bake until the fish flakes with a fork, about 12 minutes. Garnish with the remaining bacon and the chives and serve immediately.





bacon recipe source: Williams-Sonoma's One Pot of the Day: 365 recipes for every day of the year, by Kate McMillan (Weldon Owen, 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

3248. KALE and GRAPEFRUIT SALAD with WARM BACON and WILD MUSHROOM DRESSING

makes four servings


1 to 2 bunches black kale (about 1 pound), washed, stalks removed, sliced into 1/4-inch ribbons
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided, plus more for massaging
3 slices thick-cut bacon, roughly chopped
8 ounces wild mushrooms, thinly sliced (such as crimini and chanterelle)
1 medium shallot, minced (about 1/4 cup)
1/4 cup champagne vinegar
1/4 cup grapefruit juice
1 tablespoon honey
1/3 cup toasted hazelnuts, roughly chopped
1 large ruby red grapefruit, cut into segments
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

Place kale in a very large bowl. Sprinkle with a couple of pinches of salt and a light drizzle of olive oil. Begin massaging, squeezing fistfuls of the kale and rubbing between your fingers. Once uniformly wilted, set aside and prepare the dressing.

Place a medium saute pan or skillet over medium-low heat. Add bacon and cook, stirring every now and then, until most of the fat has rendered and bacon bits are brown and just crispy. Using a slotted spoon, remove bacon to paper-towel lined plate. Pour bacon fat into a measuring cup. If necessary, add enough olive oil to make 1/4 cup. Pour back into pan.

Add the mushrooms, stir to coat in the fat and spread in an even layer. Don’t touch them for 3 to 5 minutes. They will start to soften and sizzle. Now stir and cook, stirring often until they are golden brown around the edges. Stir in the shallots and cook until mixture is browned and aromatic.

Add vinegar, scraping up any brown bits on the bottom of the pan. Turn the heat off. Add 2 tablespoons olive oil, the grapefruit juice and 1 tablespoon honey. Mix, taste for seasoning and adjust according to your palate.


bacon recipe source: Florida Department of Citrus, P.O. Box 9010, Bartow, FL 33831-9010; Miami Herald, February 20, 2014

2390. BURRATA with BACON, ESCAROLE and CARAMELIZED SHALLOTS

yields twelve servings


FOR COOKING THE ESCAROLE:
3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
6 garlic cloves, chopped
1 shallot, chopped
2 medium heads escarole (about 1 1/4 pounds)
2 teaspoons kosher salt

FOR THE CARAMELIZED SHALLOTS:
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 1/3 cups thinly sliced (lengthwise) shallots (about 6 to 8)
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

FOR DRESSING THE ESCAROLE:
1 cup minced shallots (about 4)
1/4 cup Champagne vinegar, or to taste
1 large garlic clove, minced
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, or to taste
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, or to taste

FOR FINISHING AND ASSEMBLY:
12 slices of batard, fat baguette or rustic white bread, 1/2-inch thick
Extra virgin olive oil, as needed
12 thick slices (about 12 ounces) smoked bacon
2 garlic cloves
1 1/2 pounds burrata
Extra virgin olive oil
Coarsely ground pepper

To cook the escarole: In a blender, combine the olive oil, garlic and shallot; purée until smooth. Transfer to a large bowl. Cut the escarole in half through the core and toss well with the marinade, working it between the leaves.

Heat a grill, or place a large heavy-bottomed skillet over high heat. Sprinkle the escarole with salt, and grill or sear it well in the skillet, turning occasionally, until deep brown and charred in places, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl and cover with plastic wrap; set aside to wilt for 10 minutes. Cut off and discard the cores, and cut the leaves crosswise into 1 1/2-inch strips.

For the caramelized shallots: In a large sauté pan, heat the oil over medium-high heat until almost smoking. Add the shallots and cook, stirring only as necessary, until brown around the edges and soft, about 5 minutes. Add the vinegar and stir until the bottom of the pan is dry, about 6 minutes. (This makes more shallots than you need for the recipe. The remainder will keep, covered in the refrigerator, for several weeks, and can be used on sandwiches or with grilled meats.)

For dressing the escarole: In a large bowl, combine the minced shallots, vinegar, garlic, salt and olive oil. Add escarole, toss well and adjust seasonings to taste.

For finishing and assembly: Heat the oven to 350 degrees with one rack in the middle and another above it. Brush one side of each slice of bread with olive oil and arrange the slices on a baking sheet, oiled sides up. Arrange the bacon slices on another sheet. Place the bread on the middle rack and the bacon on the top rack. Bake the bread until golden brown and crisp, 15 to 20 minutes. Rub each oiled side with a cut clove of garlic. Bake the bacon until cooked all the way through but not crisp, 15 to 17 minutes; transfer to paper towels to drain.

Place the bread oiled side up on a work surface. Mound about 1/2 cup of the escarole on top of each slice, leaving the edges of the bread visible. Cut each slice of bacon in half, and lay both halves side by side on the escarole. Cut the burrata into 12 wedges and place one on each of the crostini, then drizzle with olive oil and top with a teaspoon of the caramelized shallots. Garnish with coarsely ground pepper.


bacon recipe courtesy of: The New York Times, October 26, 2011, adapted from The Mozza Cookbook by Nancy Silverton, with Matt Molina and Carolynn Carreño, Knopf, 2011

2081. PUMPKIN, MUSHROOM and BACON ORZO

serves two


1 cup orzo
1/2 cup chopped bacon
1 onion, diced
1 basket mushrooms, quartered
salt and pepper, to taste
1 tablespoon champagne or white wine vinegar
1 cup chicken broth
1/2 cup pureed pumpkin
2 tablespoons minced herbs (rosemary, sage, thyme, etc.)
1 tablespoon butter
shaved parmesan cheese, as needed to garnish

Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the orzo until about halfway done, about 4 minutes. Drain and set aside. In a large skillet, cook the bacon over medium heat. Cook until crisp. Remove from pan and reserve. Add the onions to the rendered bacon fat and saute until tender, about 4-5 minutes. Add the mushrooms and continue to saute until tender. Season the vegetables generously with salt and pepper. Deglaze the pan with the vinegar. Add the broth and pumpkin, and bring to a simmer. Stir in the orzo and continue to simmer until the liquid has mostly evaporated and the orzo is completely tender, about 6-8 minutes. Stir in the herbs and butter. Adjust seasoning if needed, and serve garnished with parmesan cheese.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Erin, The Apartment Kitchen, October 13, 2010

1760. MACHE SALAD with FIGS and BACON

serves four


8 medium-to-large fresh figs, cut in half lengthwise through the stem end
8 slices bacon, each cut in half
4 ounces mâche
3 ounces gorgonzola cheese, crumbled

Vanilla Vinaigrette:
2 tablespoons vanilla bean vinegar or champagne vinegar
1 teaspoon honey
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

Place half of the bacon strips on a double thickness of paper towels. Cover the bacon with another double thickness of paper towels and microwave on high until the bacon is half-cooked, 30 to 60 seconds, depending on the wattage of your microwave and the thickness of your bacon. It's a good idea to experiment with an extra strip of bacon to determine the exact timing of this step, as microwaves vary widely in cooking power. You want the bacon to color slightly but still be pliable enough to wrap around the fig halves.

Once removed from the microwave, immediately wrap the bacon strips around half of the figs, securing the ends with a toothpick, if needed. Repeat the microwave step with the remaining bacon, and then wrap the remainder of the figs. The figs can rest at room temperature for an hour or two before proceeding, if desired. They can also be refrigerated, covered, for up to 8 hours.

To make the vinaigrette, combine the vinegar, honey, and olive oil in a small jar, seal tightly with a lid, and shake to emulsify. Season to taste with salt and pepper, and set the vinaigrette aside at room temperature. The dressing can be made 2 days in advance and kept in the refrigerator. Bring to room temperature before serving.

Position a rack at the topmost level of the oven, closest to the heat source. Preheat the broiler on high. Place the bacon-wrapped figs on a baking tray and broil, turning once, until the bacon is cooked. Remove the figs to a paper towel-lined plate while you finish the salad.

Place the mâche in a large bowl and toss with the vinaigrette. Divide the greens among 4 salad plates. Arrange 4 bacon-wrapped figs on each salad and top with some of the Gorgonzola cheese. Serve immediately.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Earthbound Farm, 1721 San Juan Highway, San Juan Bautista, California 95045

1628. BACON-WRAPPED BLACK COD, ROASTED with BABY BEETS and MICRO GREENS with BEET BEURRE BLANC

yields four entree-size servings


4 bunches assorted baby beets (about golf ball size)
1/4 cup olive oil, plus 1 tablespoon and 1 teaspoon
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 large red beets
3 shallots, minced
1/4 cup white wine
1/4 cup champagne vinegar
8 ounces butter, cut into small pieces plus 1 tablespoon
ground white pepper
4 (6-ounce) pieces black cod
16 to 20 pieces thinly sliced bacon
2 cups micro arugula

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Scrub the beets, trim the stems and cut off the tails. Place in a baking dish lined with aluminum foil. Toss the beets with 1/4 cup of the olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper and add about a 1/4-inch of water. Cover the baking dish and bake until the beets are tender, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and set aside, covered, to cool. Peel the beets by gently rubbing the skin off of the beet with a paper towel. Slice the beets into very thin rounds or wedges. Set aside until ready to serve the fish.

Peel the 3 large red beets and cut them into wedges. Place the beets in a medium saucepan, cover with water and add 1 teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer until tender about 10 to 15 minutes. Set aside let cool. Puree the beets with 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid. Strain slowly through a fine mesh sieve. Transfer the liquid to a small pan and reduce to 1/4 cup.

Make the beurre blanc in a small pan by combining the shallots with the white wine and the champagne vinegar. Cook until the liquid is almost completely reduced, about 10 minutes. Add 2 tablespoons of the beet reduction. Whisk 8 ounces of butter, little by little, making sure to completely incorporate each addition before adding more. Season the sauce with salt and ground white pepper, to taste, and set aside to keep warm while you prepare the fish. Do not allow sauce to boil or it will separate.

Wrap each piece of cod with about 4 slices of bacon, overlapping the edges slightly, until the entire piece of fish is covered with bacon. Ideally, the edges of the bacon will meet on the skin side of the fish. Place the wrapped fillets on a sheet pan and bake at 375 degrees F for 20 minutes.

In a small bowl, season the micro greens with 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon of olive oil, a pinch of sea salt and ground black pepper.

When ready to serve the fish, heat the beets in a small saucepan with the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter and just enough water to submerge them. Season the beet slices lightly with salt and pepper and serve the beets on the side of the fish.

Serve the cod immediately with the warm beets, beurre blanc and the micro green salad.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Emeril Lagasse, "Seafood Specials," The Essence of Emeril, 2007

1469. GRILLED SALMON with BACON and POTATO HASH

makes four servings


GARLICKY VINAIGRETTE
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1/2 small shallot, finely chopped
1 small garlic clove, minced
1 tablespoon bottled clam juice
2 tablespoons Champagne vinegar
1/2 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
salt and freshly ground pepper

CHIVE OIL
1/2 cup chopped chives
1/4 cup canola oil
salt

HASH AND SALMON
1 pound unpeeled small white new potatoes, sliced 1/4-inch thick
3/4 pound thin asparagus
1/2 pound sliced applewood-smoked bacon
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
3/4 cup chicken stock
3/4 cup bottled clam juice
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 cup snipped chives
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh dill
salt and freshly ground pepper
four 6-ounce skinless center-cut salmon

MAKE THE GARLICKY VINAIGRETTE: In a blender, combine the mustard, shallot, garlic, clam juice and vinegars and mix until smooth. With the machine on, add the oil in a thin stream and process until emulsified. Season with salt and pepper.

MAKE THE CHIVE OIL: Puree the chives with the canola oil in a blender until smooth. Season with salt.

MAKE THE HASH AND SALMON: Bring 2 medium saucepans of salted water to a boil. In one, cook the potatoes until just tender, about 10 minutes. Drain and cool in a bowl of ice water; drain again and pat dry. In the other, cook the asparagus until crisp-tender, about 3 minutes. Drain and cool under running water, then pat dry. Cut the asparagus into 1/2-inch lengths.

In a large, deep skillet, fry the bacon in 1 teaspoon of the olive oil over high heat until crisp, about 5 minutes. Drain the bacon on paper towels and coarsely chop it. Pour off the fat and wipe out the skillet.

Heat the remaining 2 teaspoons olive oil in the skillet. Add the potatoes and bacon and cook over moderately high heat, stirring, until the potatoes are just beginning to brown in spots, about 6 minutes. Add 1/2 cup each of the chicken stock and clam juice and cook, stirring gently, until most of the liquid is absorbed, about 6 minutes. Stir in the asparagus, butter, chives, dill and the remaining 1/4 cup each of chicken stock and clam juice. Cook until most of the liquid is absorbed, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and keep warm.

Heat a cast-iron grill pan or skillet. Season the salmon with salt and pepper and grill over high heat until browned on the bottom, about 3 minutes. Turn the salmon and cook until golden and crusty, about 2 minutes longer. Spoon the potato hash onto 4 plates and top with the salmon. Drizzle the garlicky vinaigrette and chive oil all around and serve immediately.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Andrea Curto, "America's Best New Chefs 2000," Food & Wine, July 2000

1455. CHICKEN LIVERS with BACON, PICKLED ONIONS, ZANTE GRAPES, and WATERCRESS

serves two


FOR THE PICKLED ONIONS:
1 1/4 cups champagne vinegar or white wine vinegar
2 heaping tablespoons sugar
2 bay leaves
1 small dried red chile
5 black peppercorns
A few pinches salt
6 small yellow onions, peeled, sliced into 1/4"–1/2"-thick rings and separated, ends discarded

FOR THE SALAD:
2 oz. sliced bacon, cut crosswise into about 1" pieces
2–3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
4 oz. chicken livers, trimmed, rinsed, and patted dry
Salt and freshly cracked black pepper
2 tablespoons whole zante or 6 halved seedless red flame grapes
2 small handfuls watercress
1/4 teaspoon sherry vinegar
3 tablespoons oloroso sherry

For the pickled onions: Combine 1 1/4 cups water, vinegar, sugar, bay leaves, chile (broken in half if you like a spicier pickle), peppercorns, and salt in a small saucepan, bring to a simmer over medium heat, and add onions. Gently stir the crowded onions as the brine returns to a simmer, then simmer them for 45 seconds. Pour onions and brine into clean jars and allow to cool. Tightly cover and store in the refrigerator for at least 1 day and up to 6 months.

For the salad: Put bacon into a medium skillet and cook over medium heat until just crisp. Set bacon aside, reserving rendered fat in skillet. Increase heat to medium-high and add 1 1/2 tbsp. of the oil. Add livers, season to taste with salt and pepper, and cook until they are browned on each side and faintly rosy on the inside, 1–1 1/2 minutes per side. Stir in bacon, grapes, and 8–10 ringlets of the pickled onions (save remaining onions for another use).

Toss watercress with vinegar and 1/4 tsp. of the oil, then divide between 2 plates. Spoon half the livers, bacon, grapes, and onions onto each plate. Deglaze skillet with sherry over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, then add remaining oil, swirling skillet over the heat. Spoon sauce over livers and salad and serve immediately.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Saveur, Issue #77

1260. QUAIL and SPINACH SALAD with HONEY MUSTARD and BACON DRESSING

Spinach Salad

1 smoked quail per person
1 handful spinach per person
sliced mushrooms, julienned green apples, and red onions for garnish


Hot Honey Mustard and Bacon Dressing

1 cup Creole mustard or coarse-grained tarragon mustard
½ cup Hudson's champagne herb vinegar
½ cup honey
1 cup bacon, diced into bits

Cook the bacon in a single layer, drain and crumble. Mix the bacon, vinegar, ½ cup honey and mustard together in a saucepan and bring to a light simmer.


Honey Cilantro Ginger Glaze

1-1/2 cups honey
¼ cup soy sauce
¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
1/3 cup fresh ginger, minced
¼ cup garlic, minced
¼ cup shallots, minced
2 bunches cilantro, leaves only
Salt and pepper to taste, 1 teaspoon minimum
¼ lb. sweet butter

Combine all glaze ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat; simmer for 4 minutes. Hold on warm, at 180º or less.

Smoke quail. This can be done earlier in the day. Re-warm quail in a 250º oven for 5 minutes after dipping it in the glaze.

To assemble salad, toss hot dressing onto cold spinach, ¼ cup per salad.

Garnish with sliced mushrooms, julienned apples, and red onions.

Dip quail in glaze one more time. Rest quail, glazed and hot, atop the wilted spinach salad.


courtesy of: Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, 200 Smith School Road, Austin, Texas 78744, (800) 792-1112

1050. GRILLED NECTARINE and BUTTER LETTUCE SALAD with BACON and PISTACHIOS

makes 6 servings


1 nectarine, peeled and pitted
3 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
3 tablespoon sherry or champagne vinegar
2 tablespoon honey
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 nectarines, pitted
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, flattened slightly
salt and pepper to taste
8 cup washed and torn butter lettuce, lightly packed
1/3 cup shelled pistachios
6 strips crisp, cooked bacon, crumbled
2 green onions, sliced

Combine all dressing ingredients in a blender or food processor and puree until smooth. Cover and chill until ready to serve. Cut each nectarine into 8 slices. Place on a well-oiled grill over medium-high heat and cook for a few minutes on each side to lightly brown. Season chicken with salt and pepper; place on grill and cook for about 5 minutes on each side or until cooked through. Let cool.* Place lettuce in a large salad bowl. Cut chicken into bite-size strips and add to bowl with pistachios, bacon, green onions and dressing; toss well. Add grilled nectarines and toss again lightly.


courtesy of: California Tree Fruit Agreement, 975 I Street, P.O. Box 968, Reedley, California 93654-0968, (559) 638-8260