Tuesday, May 28, 2013

"The only bad part of bacon is that it makes you thirsty. For more Bacon." (Bacon S'Mores)

Memorial Day.  What better way to spend it than camping?  We just got back from Stony Brook Park in Upstate New York.  One of my favorite things about camping is a big campfire and S'mores.  Only one twist....Bacon.  Bacon S'mores.  It's a thing.  It's delicious.  You know you want to try it.


Jim Gaffigan really does know what my past camping trip was all about...CampingWaking Up and Bacon – Jim Gaffigan



Bacon S’mores

Yield 1 s'more (add each ingredient for extra people)
Prep Time 2 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes

Ingredients
  • 2 graham cracker halves
  • 1 marshmallow
  • 1 piece bacon, precooked (look in your deli section, next to the not-yet-cooked bacon)
  • 2-3 squares chocolate
Tools
  • Skewers or stick
  • campfire
Method
  1. Precooked bacon is great to use as you can just take a piece of bacon, and place on a graham cracker.  Top it with Chocolate.
  2. Skewer the marshmallow and roast until melted and bubbly. Do this slowly and far from the flames if you want golden brown.
  3. Place the marshmallow on the chocolate, on top of the bacon, and top with remaining graham cracker.
  4. EAT.





Saturday, May 18, 2013

You Had Me At Bacon (Bacon Double Chocolate Chip Cookies)

There was a Bake Sale Fundraiser at work this week to raise money for the March of Dimes.  I was in the mood for a chewy, chocolatey cookie (with bacon, of course) so I made this batch of cookies that has a box of cake mix in it (recipe below).  Within 30 minutes of the sale opening, the 4 Dozen cookies I brought in, were gone.  Never Underestimate the Power of Bacon!






Bacon Double Chocolate Chip Cookies

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:
4-6 slices of  cooked bacon, chopped finely
1 package devil's food cake mix
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
1 cup chocolate chips

Cook the Bacon.  Drain on a paper towel, then chop fine.  Set aside
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. 
Beat half of the cake mix with the butter, vanilla and eggs until smooth. Add remaining cake mix, the chopped bacon and the chocolate chips. Stir well. Drop dough from a rounded teaspoon onto an un-greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 10 minutes.  (Makes about 4 dozen cookies.)

Saturday, May 11, 2013

Mommy Brings Home the Bacon (Bacon Cannoli Cups)

Hope that you are thinking about your Mom for Mother's Day tomorrow...What mom wouldn't love Cannoli's on their special day?  Ok, so maybe the lactose-intolerant or consistency-food-textures-intolerant...why not add bacon?


Did you know...that there is a book all about how Mom can also bring home the bacon?  I find this on my last mission to "as the magic box" about Mothers and Bacon.  "Mommy Brings Home the Bacon" is a heartwarming story that explores the touching relationship between a young boy and his working mother.



I made my own desert for Mother's Day, a day early, cause it looked really ungodly delicious.  This is the Second Attempt at making these.  Last night's Cannoli Filling did not set up.  It was Cannoli Soup.  So I scrapped that and started again.  Much better recipe and absolutely beautiful. 



Bacon Cannoli Cups
4 slices of bacon (maple, if you'd like), cooked, chopped fine

1 package of wonton wrappers, thawed (sold in the freezer section)



Sweet Cream Cheese Filling
1 (8 oz.) Cream Cheese~softened
1 (14 oz.) Sweetened Condensed Milk
2 TBSP. Lemon Juice
1 (3.4oz.) Instant Vanilla or Chocolate Pudding
1 (8oz.) Whipped Topping~thawed
*Mini Chocolate Chips, Bacon,~Optional

 
Cook your bacon, drain on a paper towel, and chop fine
 
Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.  Using a cupcake pan, stuff the wonton wrappers into greased cups.  bake for 10-15 minutes or until golden brown.  Cool completely.
 
Blend the Sweet Cream Cheese Cannoli filling together and let chill.  Pipe into wonton cups, tops with powdered sugar, chocolate chips and bacon.  Stand back, and watch them dissappear.

Saturday, May 4, 2013

Come to the Darkside....We Have Bacon! (Bacon Lightsabers!)

Happy Star Wars Day!  May the Fourth be with you! (And also with you.  A reading according to Luke...and Leia).  So yeah, you probably didn't think there would be a connection between a Geeky Holiday and Bacon, but there are tons.  Bacon is the "IT" thing that can go with anything.  Ever just google bacon to see what weirdness is out there?  It's kinda what I do when I get stuck and need ideas.  My friend Martin has challenged me to a google-bacon challenge.  And while I'm in the process of doing some research for that project, here's some Bacony Star Wars to honor the geek in you.

This guy took his Bacon and Star Wars obsession a little far.  How about a Bacon At-At?









I made these in honor of the holiday, and in celebration of my neighbor's first oven-fired pizza-cooking of the season, and his practice BBQ before the Roc City Rib Fest!  Delicious!


Bacon Lightsabers
1 lb thin-sliced bacon, cut crosswise into thirds
1 (10 ounce) package pretzel sticks
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon chili powder

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a  baking sheet with aluminum foil, place a cooling rack inside of foil-lined pan; lightly grease rack.

Wrap 1 piece of bacon around each pretzel stick. In a shallow dish, combine brown sugar and chili powder. Roll each wrapped pretzel in sugar mixture to coat. Place on prepared rack. Bake 20 minutes, turning once, or until bacon is crispy.

Remove from racks, and let cool.