Bacon Recipes: A Poll

[browngirl]

I have been researching bacon recipes recently, for an Upcoming Event *grin*. I only intend to make four recipes myself (besides purchased bacon items such as Bacon Chocolate and a comparison of several kinds of simply cooked bacon -- see why I'm limiting myself to four recipes?), and I have found an embarassment of riches, so I figured I'd ask people to help me decide. "None" is NOT an option.


In no particular order:

• Bacon Wrapped Tater Tots
  
• Bacon Cups filled with some variant of lettuce and tomato salad (unless people have other suggestions?).
  
• Bacon-Wrapped Bacon
  
• Dark Chocolate Bacon Cupcakes
  
• Bacon chocolate chip cookies with maple cinnamon glaze
  
• Maple, Gruyere, and Bacon Quiche
  
• Billionaire's Bacon
  
• Bacon Popcorn
  
• Bacon & Date Appetizers
  
• Southern Cooked Greens
  
• Angels on Horseback (a recipe) and/or Devils on Horseback.
  

Also, as a bonus, I found this helpful experiment in bacon cooking, which extends over two phases and several methods. Cooking for Engineers indeed!




ETA: Please pick more than one recipe if you like! I need lots of votes!
[Poll #1207971]

Comments

[cereta.livejournal.com]

I have had bacon-wrapped dates at two tapas places in Chicago, and they are the most amazing things EVER. Seriously, you start off kind of "huh," and the next thing you know, you're ordering a third plate. I dream about them.

[browngirl.livejournal.com]

Because I'm insane I'm thinking of making Angels on Horseback, Devils on Horseback, and bacon-wrapped dates as one platter. Should I call the last Maidens on Horseback or Saracens on Horseback?

[fitfool.livejournal.com]

For bacon-wrapped dates? How about Eloping on Horseback?

[browngirl.livejournal.com]

That is *perfect*, but then all your suggestions here are!

[fitfool.livejournal.com]

*grin* I'm glad you liked the suggestion

[koshmom.livejournal.com]

I disagree with the microwave bacon experiment. I have a better way of nuking bacon. I have a tray, similar to this:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000264J2W?smid=A2TBDGJEUH5S52&tag=dealtime-kitchen-20&linkCode=asn

(and I can loan it to you for the event if you like)

Basically, it's got long grooves in it. the grooves are quite deep, at least one half inch. You lay the bacon flat across the grooves, and toss it in the nuker. I don't cover it, because I found if I do the bacon gets soggy. About halfway thru the cooking time, I take a fork and, sliding the tongs between the grooves, I gently lift the bacon off the grooves to ensure that nothing is sticking. But all I do is "lift", i don't adjust. Also, leave the fat on the bacon (a papertowel might soak fat up prematurely). The fat seems to enable the bacon to cook more evenly.

When the bacon is done, it's normally pretty consistent throughout the bacon strip: either crisp, or slightly soft (depending on how you like your bacon). Cook a little longer if you like it totally crisp. Use a paper towel immediately after cooking to "sop up" excess fat that is pooling on various bacon slices. Must sop immediately for most ideal bacon texture.

The biggest advantage to this is that the bacon STAYS FLAT. Perfect for a BLT sandwich (which will have to be available at the event!) or perfect for just plain ole snacking. Bacon looks more attractive when flat. And it tastes fabulous!

[browngirl.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't feel comfortable borrowing your tray, because I don't know when I'd be able to get it back to you, but thank you a *lot* for telling me about this widget! It sounds really useful indeed. I'll have to look into getting one.

[koshmom.livejournal.com]

Well, since I was expecting to come with Thespian's housemate smoagendash, I can bring the tray and go home with it when we leave.

Heehee. The vegetarian voted. :P

[jenny_evergreen]

I didn't check the recipes, but voted for two that just sound like a really good idea from the basic description. :)

Re: Heehee. The vegetarian voted. :P

[browngirl.livejournal.com]

Hey, you're not the only vegetarian on my flist. Besides, you still eat, so I think you're still qualified.
*notes your contribution as well*

Re: Heehee. The vegetarian voted. :P

[jenny_evergreen]

*modifies to A vegetarian* :)
I DID eat meat once upon a time, too, and I have a decent memory. ;)

[libitina]

I am conflicted on the cooking bacon question - My mother always laid out a pan fulla bacon and baked it at 350 - with fairly reliable results. This is what I would do for mass bacon production.

But now that I have my own place and am only feeding myself, I have become incredibly happy with micromanaging my pan fried bacon so that it always comes out perfectly.

~*~

I like the bacon cup idea - I think lettuce all warmed a bit from the bacon (and maybe with a few drops of the hot bacon grease poured over to wilt it a little) would go beautifully with the salty crispy goodness.

[jerusha.livejournal.com]

Ooh! What you said about the bacon cups combined with something I'd been thinking to create an idea that's making my mouth water.

Take spinach salad, which customarily includes bacon and uses a warm dressing, based on the bacon fat, to wilt the spinach slightly. Serve in bacon cups instead of crumbling the bacon into the salad. (I don't have my mothers's spinach salad recipe, but the Good Eats (http://www.goodeatsfanpage.com/Season10/spinach_salad/ac1.htm) recipe (http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,1977,FOOD_9936_36563,00.html) is a pretty close match, I think. For bacon cups, you'd probably want to make the other ingredients smaller (so diced rather than sliced for the eggs, mushrooms, and onions), but mmmmm.

[libitina]

\o/

*approves*

[browngirl.livejournal.com]

Me too!

Also, one day I should really introduce you to thespian. Fabulous redheads should meet each other. :)

[browngirl.livejournal.com]

You are *amazing*. That is the best idea! Thank you!

[thespian.livejournal.com]

Right now, I was planning on making the cups, and probably the caramelized/billionaire's bacon, since I can make that as early as Wednesday (since I need to clean the house, too ;-) ). I am also going to make a caesar, I think, so there's a good mostly veggie thing with fresh bacon bits of several types to load it down with.

[browngirl.livejournal.com]

Did you see jerusha's suggestion of spinach salad? Maybe we could have the cups and then two bowls of salad with tongs for people to choose from...

Anyway, more planning and stuff later. I'll get out of work that Friday at 1, FWIW.

[browngirl.livejournal.com]

Though while I'm distracting myself...

The quiche seems a clear winner, and I think I'd like to make a trio of Bacon Wrapped Bites, maybe Angels on Horseback, Demons on Horseback, and between them, bacon-wrapped dates. I just need to decide what to dub the last. Maidens on horseback?

I still want to make a bacon dessert, too, but maybe I should let the bacon chocolate carry that role all on its own.

[ceo]

I had the "billionaire's bacon" at a party recently. OH MY GOD THAT WAS INSANELY GOOD.

[browngirl.livejournal.com]

That sounds like a vote yes!

[thnidu.livejournal.com]

Oy, bubbeleh, have you ever got the wrong cook!

(I might vote anyway, but not tonight.)

[browngirl.livejournal.com]

I didn't think this needed more of a disclaimer than, you know, "BACON BACON BACON" all over the post. But yeah, it would have been ironic if you had voted in the poll tonight. :)

[thnidu.livejournal.com]

;-)

(I do eat bacon, just don't cook it at home.)

[dan-ad-nauseam.livejournal.com]

Preparing the Metallica tour menu, eh?

[fitfool.livejournal.com]

Bacon-wrapped tater tots: why haven't I thought to try this before?
Bacon cups: Those are adorable and I keep meaning to try making those
Bacon Chocolate Chip cookies with maple cinnamon glaze: sparkeymonster posted those once and I've been dying to taste them ever since.
Billionaire's Bacon: This sounds so decadent (and so simple!). For a variation, maybe try drizzling with maple syrup and baking.
Southern Cooked Greens: Yeah...adding bacon makes it easier to want to eat your greens
Bacon & Date Appetizers: See this post (http://fitfool.livejournal.com/111274.html) for another recipe with links to baking for mass production

[browngirl.livejournal.com]

The bacon-wrapped, goat-cheese-stuffed dates tasted like loving kisses. They were so splendiferously good I can't even express. Thank you for this recipe!