Boursin and Bacon Dip

 

 

 

 I saw this recipe somewhere on the tick tocks, and immediately knew it would be the perfect holiday party dip. Just a few ingredients, quick to throw together, and it even looks festive on the plate. 

 I made it for my family's Christmas party and everyone loved it! Of course I tweaked it a little, because I just can't help it. Feel free to do the same if you feel so inspired.

 I served mine with rice crackers because I love how crispy they are, but you do you!

I know your guests will love it. I mean, that kinda goes without saying because..... bacon.  Enough said!

Enjoy!

 

 

 

2 8oz pkgs cream cheese

1 5oz pkg garlic and chives Boursin cheese spread

1 tbs Ranch seasoning

8oz red or green pepper jelly

 

Using a mixer, combine cheeses and ranch seasoning. Spread onto a serving plate in a thin layer. Top with pepper jelly. 

Cut the bacon into small lardons and saute until crisp. Drain fat. (save the rendered fat for another use!) Sprinkle crispy bacon over the jam. Serve with your choice of chips.  

 

Tips:

Don't like pepper jelly? Choose your favorite! I bet pineapple would be great here.  

Old Fashioned Bacon Beans

 

 

 Do you like baked beans as much as I do? For me, it just wouldn't be a summer BBQ without them. And I love trying different versions. I've made them with applesauce, maple syrup, pineapple... I've even made them with blueberries. But then I thought, "what if I don't start with the usual ketchup/tomato based sauce?" That would be a new variation all on its own! So I did some googling and this is where I landed. It's a tweaked version of a recipe I found on Food.com, and it's delicious! It's just as "baked beans" as the others, but since it's the bacon that really shines here, I decided to call them Bacon Beans. What's not to love? Make them for your next BBQ or camping trip, or any time you'd like a quick and easy side dish. 

 If you love bacon, they might be your new fave! 

 

 

 

1/2 lb bacon, chopped

1 medium onion, chopped

3/4 cup brown sugar

2 tbs mustard

1 tbs apple cider vinegar 

1 28oz can great northern beans, drained

salt and pepper

 

Add the bacon to a cold sauce pan, and gently saute over medium heat.  Stir and saute until the fat begins to render and it starts to crisp. Add onions and continue to saute. When the onions have softened, stir in the sugar, mustard, and vinegar until well combined. Now gently fold in the beans, so as not to break them up. Pour into a casserole dish and bake uncovered at 350ºF for about 1/2 hour.

 

 

Tips:

Be sure to start your bacon in a cold pan. You want to gradually bring it up to heat to melt that bacon fat. This will insure than you have enough fat in which to saute the onions, and your bacon will be nice and crispy! 

If you're in a hurry, skip the baking and just let them simmer on the stove for a bit over low heat. Just be careful not to burn them, and don't stir them too much because no one likes mushy beans! 

These amounts are just guidelines. Feel free to add as much as little of anything to suit your taste. Do you like a lot of onions? Do it! Want more brown sugar? Go for it. 

Feeding a crowd? Double or tripe this recipe as much as you need to! 

Peas and Pancetta

  So, since Thanksgiving is rapidly approaching, I was looking for some interesting and different ideas for holiday side dishes, and I happened upon Ina Garten's recipe for Peas and Pancetta. First off, if you're not familiar with pancetta, it's like bacon, but it's just cured, not smoked. Anyway, the recipe sounded great, so I decided to try it. To be quite honest, I thought it was ok, but I immediately knew I'd want to change a few things. Full disclosure, I wound up changing literally everything in the recipe except for the peas and pancetta. Only just small changes, but changes nonetheless. 

 In addition to the two main ingredients, the original recipe called for olive oil, shallots, and fresh mint. Frankly, I don't see what the shallots brought to the party that would be different from just using a regular onion. And if I'm being genuinely truthful, shallots always feel a little pretentious to me. Does anyone really keep a supply of shallots in one's pantry? And conversely, does anyone NOT keep a bag of onions handy? You see my point. I also wondered why we were using olive oil when butter would have been so much better. I mean, you usually put a pat of butter on your regular steamed peas, am I right?? And the biggest deal breaker, I think, was the addition of the fresh mint. Maybe it was originally included to add a freshness to the dish, but it was absolutely not working for me. (Sorry, Miss Ina!) So I chose fresh thyme leaves and parsley as a substitute. For me, thyme makes everything taste and smell like Thanksgiving, and fresh parsley gives everything a fresh hit. So I gave it a try with all of my tweaks, and I must say, I enjoyed it MUCH better! 

  So, here it is. I can't exactly take credit for this recipe, because it wasn't really my idea to start with, but I will happily take credit for the updates. And who knows? Maybe you'll read this and think, Nope, the original sounds much better! and to that I say, Go for it! Cooking is subjective, right? You make it that way YOU like it! That's what makes it fun! That's what I did! 

You should too! 

Enjoy!

2 or 3 tbs butter

4 oz diced pancetta

1 red onion (or onion of your choice), finely diced

1 24oz bag frozen peas

1 tsp fresh thyme leaves removed from the stem

Salt and pepper 

Fresh parsley

In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the pancetta, and stir to render some of the fat for a few minutes, then add the finely diced onion. Stir and cook until the onions soften and the pancetta starts to brown, a good 10 minutes. Add the frozen peas, (no need to thaw!) and the fresh thyme leaves. Cover the pan and let it cook for a few minutes, stirring every so often, until everything is heated through. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve topped with an addition pat of butter and a sprinkle of fresh parsley.

Tips:

One of the best things about this recipe is that it comes together in only a few minutes. The peas stay plump and bright green and sweet and delish! The only down side is that it's not really a good make-ahead sort of dish. I tried making it in advance, figuring I'd just heat it up for serving, and the peas weren't as bright green, and they weren't as plump and fresh. So if you're making it for a holiday meal, stir it up right before you sit down to the table so it's nice and hot when you serve it. 

 One other thing.. be sure you don't over cook the peas. They can go from bright green and lovely to grey and shriveled in a snap. You really only want to cook them until they're just heated through and no longer frozen. If you can't find pancetta, just use regular bacon!

 

 

Joey's Applesauce Baked Beans

 

    

 I was recently gifted several pounds of dry beans. Now, if you've read my blog in the past, you know I love a good batch of baked beans, so I figured I'd take all of these beans, soak them overnight, then put up pints of pork and beans using my pressure canner. Perfect! They'll be a welcome addition to my "wall of jars", which proudly displays all of my canning and preserving endeavors.

  My goal was to come up with 20 pints of beans because that's how many jars I can fit in my pressure canner. Great. I soaked them, boiled them, made a fabulous sauce, got all of my canning supplies ready, and then filled up all the jars. They turned out perfectly!!! The only problem was, after I filled my 20 jars, I still had an entire bowl of beans leftover. Well? I guess I'm coming up with another recipe for scratch made baked beans!!

 Usually, when I make my famous baked beans, I just use canned baked beans and then zhuzh them up with bacon and onions and other flavorings. But this time, since I already had the beans all soaked and boiled and ready, I figured why not try something different?

  Then I remembered a BBQ sauce recipe that uses applesauce and molasses as a base, in addition to some of the more usual baked beans ingredients. I thought "how can this not be good?" So I went with it. 

It turned out SO good, I think this is now my go-to recipe when it comes to baked beans from scratch!!

 It's sweet, it's savory, it's tangy, it's rich, it's deep, it's complex, and it all works perfectly well together!!! Btw, the applesauce really does come through and it gives it a light fresh flavor. It was exactly what I wanted!

 So, if you have the time to do your baked beans from scratch, give this recipe a try. I promise you'll love it!!! You're guests will too! Just be careful... if you bring it to a friend's BBQ event, they might ask you to bring it every year!!

 

 

 

 
1 pound dried navy beans
8 ounces thick cut bacon , diced
1 medium yellow onion, diced

1/2 cup ketchup
1/2 cup molasses
1/2 cup plain applesauce
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 tbs apple cider vinegar
1 tbs lemon juice
1 tbs prepared mustard
1 tbs Worcestershire sauce

1 tsp liquid smoke

1 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper

In a large pot, cover your beans with cold water. Soak the beans over night, up to 24 hours. Drain.
Cover with fresh water and boil for 30 minutes or until beans are tender but not mushy.
Meanwhile, in a large pan, saute the bacon and onions. Drain excess bacon fat, if needed.
Add remaining sauce ingredients. Stir well. Taste the sauce and adjust seasonings, if needed. 

Add drained beans. Gently toss to coat beans in sauce. Do this in a large mixing bowl if you need to.
Place all in a large casserole dish or cast iron pan. Top with more bacon, if desired.
Bake uncovered at 350ºF for 45 minutes.

Tips: 

If you prefer a different kind of bean, go for it! Pinto beans, Great Northern beans, any kind will work. Just know that different beans absorb differently. Some beans are VERY thirsty and will drink up everything from your soaking liquid to your boiling liquid to your final sauce. Be sure your beans are good and saucey when you put them into the oven to bake. No one likes dry baked beans!

Btw, when I  made the sauce, I didn't really measure anything. The amounts are really just a guess, all added to taste. If you'd like it sweeter, add more brown sugar. If you'd like it to be a little more tangy, add more cider vinegar. If it's too sweet, add a little more Worcestershire sauce and lemon juice. Adjust it to how YOU like it!

And one last tip... If you're cooking for a BBQ, you can make them in advance, and then just reheat them for your event. A good way to do this is in your slow cooker. Another big tip is to make enough sauce to reserve a little extra on the side, just in case the beans get too dry.. you can add a little more sauce and they'll be perfect!

Bacon Wrapped Asparagus Bundles

 

   This recipes is from Trisha Yearwood, and it's sort of an alternative (or maybe just a nod) to the favorite green bean casserole. They're super easy to assemble in advance and then bake while your turkey is doing its resting after roasting.
Oh! And don't forget the cheese sauce and crumbled French fried onion rings! Thats what really makes it! Absolutely delish!

 

1 1/2 pounds fresh asparagus, ends trimmed
8 slices bacon
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon mustard powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
Pinch freshly grated nutmeg
1 cup whole milk
1/2 cup grated Gruyere cheese
1/2 cup crispy fried onions


Preheat the oven to 400ºF.
Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
Divide the asparagus spears into 8 bundles. Wrap each bundle in the middle of the spears with one piece of bacon. Place the bundles seam-side down on the prepared baking sheet. Drizzle with the olive oil and sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Bake until the bacon is fully cooked, about 25 minutes.
Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Sprinkle the flour over the butter and stir. Cook until the mixture is golden brown and has a nutty aroma, about 1 minute. Stir in the mustard powder, onion powder, nutmeg and remaining 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Slowly whisk in the milk a little at a time and continue cooking and whisking until the mixture thickens, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the cheese until melted, then take off the heat.
Carefully transfer the bacon bundles to a serving platter. Pour the cheese sauce over the asparagus and sprinkle with the fried onions. Serve warm.


Tips:
-I’ve decided that the whole bundle should be wrapped in bacon, instead of just the center. So, I think the next time I make this, I’m gonna wrap the bundles from end to end. That way everyone can have bacon in every bite! More is more!
-If you can’t find Gruyere, just use any Swiss cheese.



 

Caramelized Onion and Bacon Dip

 

 This recipe comes to us from one of my favorite youtube channels, Whippoorwill Holler. Miss Lori and Mr Brown recently posted a video of how to make this dip, and I immediately knew that this would fall into the category of “how can this not be good?”
 And I have to say the timing of their video couldn’t have been more perfect. A day or two before, I had cooked a dinner of Salisbury steaks for my niece Terri and her family, and I had LOTS of caramelized onions leftover. This would be the perfect way to use them up!
Then I was invited to my sister Cathy’s for a little outdoor hang. Now I had the perfect occasion to try it! Clearly, all the stars were lining up for me try this recipe! I even had all the other ingredients on hand. How perfect is that?
 And OMG is it good!!!!! It’s everything you want in an onion dip, only better. Keep this one in your arsenal of party foods. I guarantee you’ll come back to it again and again!
 

1 cup sour cream
3 oz. softened cream cheese
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp white wine vinegar
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
4 to 6 slices crispy bacon, chopped
1 pound sweet onions
Salt and pepper to taste


Place bacon in skillet over medium low heat. Slowly render the fat and cook bacon until it’s crisp. Remove from pan. Chop bacon to small bits. set aside.
Using the same pan, pour out all but about 2 tbs bacon fat. Add sliced onions. Saute over medium heat until caramelized. This should take a good 20-30 minutes. Don’t rush!
While your onions are caramelizing, mix together the rest of the ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Let the bacon and onions cool, then add them to the mixture. Adjust your seasonings. Chill until ready to serve with potato chips or Doritos.

Fun fact: You can make caramelized onions in your slow cooker! It’s true! Just throw a few pounds of sliced onions into your slow cooker, toss with a few tbs melted better, salt and pepper, turn it to high, and in about 5 hours, you’ll have caramelized onions! Just be sure to leave the lid slightly ajar so that the extra moisture can evaporate.

Tips:
This dip is the perfect example of how my Mom used to always say “if you like a lot, add a lot.” Do you like a lot of bacon? Do you like a lot of black pepper? Add as much as you like. I added extra bacon and a little extra splash of Worcestershire sauce. YUM.
Btw, full disclosure, since I had LOTS of caramelized onions, I basically doubled the whole thing, although my amounts may or may not have been exact. I just used what I happened to have on hand. Speaking of which, I used regular vinegar instead of white wine vinegar.
For a little extra oniony garnish, sprinkle with chopped chives or scallions for a pretty presentation.

 

 

Bacon Wrapped Dates

  OK, Friends, here it is. Here's the easy simple delicious party appetizer you've been looking for. It's so simple, you don't even need a recipe, and it's so delicious, your guests will devour them in no time. I recently read a blog that said "they won't win any beauty contests, but they'll disappear from your buffet" and it's SO true. They're not the most colorful of foods, but they're packed with fabulous flavor! It's that addictive combination of salty and sweet that I just can't resist, and let's be honest, everything tastes better with bacon, right? So here we are.
 My niece, Natalie, made these little gems for my family Christmas party and they were a big hit! And seriously, when I tell you you don't need a recipe, you really don't need a recipe! It's just bacon and dates! But if you like, I'll still write it as if there were more to it than that. Make them for your next big party, and I promise you'll be a hit too! Thanx Natalie!




Sliced bacon, any thickness
Pitted dates


Heat oven to 400ºF.
Place a sheet of parchment or foil on a baking sheet.
Cut each slice of bacon in half. Wrap each half-slice around the whole date. Place seam side down on your baking sheet. Continue until all of your dates are wrapped. Bake until bacon is crispy, 25-30 minutes. Remove to a plate, and serve.

OR

If you don't want to bake them, you can saute them in pan over medium low heat, turning them so that they cook through, about 20 minutes total.




Tips:
If you'd like to get a little fancier, stuff the pitted dates with any kind of cheese before wrapping them. Cream cheese, goat cheese, or even any kind of smoked cheese would be fabulous. I've also seen people just placing a whole almond inside each date. You could even do both! Stuff it with cheese, place an almond inside, wrap the whole thing in bacon and then bake. Be as creative as you like!
Oh, and if you want to secure them with a toothpick before baking, it's probably a good idea to soak your wooden toothpicks in some water before putting them in the oven. Just sayin!

Bacon Apple Sweet Potato Casserole

  If you're looking for a recipe that SCREAMS Thanksgiving, this is it! For a while now, I've been doing a savory take on sweet potatoes, and this recipe ticks all the boxes. Don't get me wrong, I love love LOVE the favorite Candied Sweet Potatoes and the favorite Sweet Potato Casserole with all the brown sugar and such, but lately I've been embracing the sweet potato in a savory light.
 I found this recipe on a blog called Mel's Kitchen Cafe, and although I tweaked the amounts and method here and there, the recipe and inspiration clearly belong to Mel. I'm not sure I would have ever added shredded CHEESE to a sweet potato dish, but it's fabulous! How brilliant is that?? And tbh, I wanted MORE cheese the entire time I was INHALING it. More is more! At the same time, it has all the Thanksgiving flavors that you want in a casserole... rosemary, sage, I bet you could even add some thyme, because why not? They go beautifully with the cheese, and the apples enhance the sweetness of the potatoes. And the bacon, well, we all know it makes everything better.
 So if you're looking for a new take on sweet potatoes, seriously TRUST ME on this one. It's absolutely Thanksgiving worthy, and it tastes like Autumn in a casserole. It's literally one of my favorite new things that I've made in quite a long time. Like, not even kidding. You must try it!



5 lbs sweet potatoes
1 lb thick-cut bacon
2 medium leeks, washed well, trimmed of tough edges and sliced thinly
2 large honey crisp apples, cored, peeled and finely diced
2 tsp brown sugar
1 tbs finely chopped fresh sage
1 tbs finely chopped fresh rosemary
S&P to taste
8 oz shredded sharp cheddar cheese
8 oz shredded Monterey Jack cheese


In a large pot, boil sweet potatoes until fork tender. Remove from pot and let cool until you can handle them. Remove peels, place in a large bowl, and mash them until smooth.
 In a skillet, cook the bacon until crisp. Remove the bacon pieces to a paper-towel lined plate, leaving a tablespoon or so of drippings in the skillet and removing any excess grease. Chop the bacon to small bits. set aside.
Over medium heat, add the leeks, apples, brown sugar, sage, and rosemary to the skillet. Lightly season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring often, until the leeks and apples have softened and caramelized slightly
Add about 3/4 of both cheeses, bacon, and leek/apple mixture to the sweet potatoes, reserving a bit of everything to sprinkle on top. Stir to combine. Add additional salt and pepper to taste, if needed. Lightly grease a large baking dish and spread the sweet potato mixture evenly in the pan. Sprinkle the rest of the bacon, leek mixture, and cheese over the top. Bake for 30 minutes until hot and bubbly. Serve immediately.


Tips:
The original recipe baked the potatoes instead of boiling them. Do whichever method you prefer!
I think I'll add fresh thyme next time I make it. Why? Because I LOVE fresh thyme!
I bet you could use another mildly flavored onion instead of the leeks. I'd do a Vidalia, I think.
Definitely go for a SHARP Cheddar. You want that  flavor to come through. The original recipe used Fontina instead of Jack. Again, you do you!

Bacon Cheeseburger Casserole

  Every year, when the weather begins to change from Summer to Fall, my first thought isn't just the change of seasons, but also the change of MENU! Yes of course, I love all the warm spices, (I love pumpkin spice everything!) But more than anything, I start to think of casseroles! Warm, homey, satisfying, stick to your ribs, cheesy, creamy casseroles! Now, usually, this is when I'm already testing casserole ideas for Thanksgiving, but this time I thought "Lets do an easy midweek dinner casserole before we start thinking about holiday family feasts." And that's exactly what we have here.
 This is my tweaked version of a recipe I found on a blog called Staysnatched.com.and it was just exactly what I had in mind. Cheesy, ooey gooey, and bacon. What's not to love?
 So if you're a cheeseburger lover, this one's for you. Added bonus, if you happen to be doing Keto or low carb, this one's for you too!



6 pieces of bacon
1 onion, chopped
2 lbs ground beef
Splash of Worcestershire sauce
3 cloves garlic, minced
4 oz cream cheese
Pepper to taste
4 eggs
2 cups cheddar cheese
2 tbs mustard
1 cup milk
Ketchup and dill pickles for serving


Heat oven to 350ºF.
In a large skillet, saute strips of bacon until crisp. Remove from pan and set aside on paper towel to drain.
Add chopped onions to skillet. Saute in bacon fat until they begin to soften. Add ground beef. Cook and stir, breaking up the beef until it's brown. Remove excess fat. Add Worcestershire sauce, garlic, and cream cheese. Cook and stir until cheese melts. Add pepper to taste. Place beef mixture in a 9x13 pan. While the beef is cooking, in a separate bowl, combine eggs, cheese, mustard, and milk.
Spread over beef mixture.
Bake 20 minutes. Top with crumbled bacon. Bake an additional 10-15 minutes. Remove from oven and let stand 10-15 minutes.  Serve with a squeeze of ketchup and a few dill pickles.



Tips:
The thing that makes this taste like a cheeseburger is the Worcestershire sauce. So be sure to include it! Well, that, and the mustard and ketchup. I actually debated on whether or not to add the ketchup right into the casserole, but opted to serve it alongside the casserole with the dill pickles. This way, you can add as much or as little ketchup as you like. Full disclosure, I like to serve it with an extra little squeeze of mustard as well!
For a little variation, you can swap out half the beef for mild Italian sausage. Just remove it from the casings, or buy bulk sausage that has no casing.You could also swap American cheese for the Cheddar. You do you!
One of the key steps to this recipe is removing the excess fat after browning the meat. The first time I made it, I didn't think there was so much fat from the beef and bacon, so I just left it in. Then I added all the full fat cheeses (and originally heavy cream too, instead of milk, if I'm being completely honest). The final product was... well, let's just say Chef Anne Burrell would have called it The Exxon Valdez. If your final product turns out to be too oily, don't fret! Just place a few layers of paper towel on top of your casserole and they'll absorb the excess oil. No one needs to know!
 BTW, the original recipe even suggests serving it as a breakfast option. OOO I bet it's great topped with a sunny side egg. Mmmmm Who's with me?

Joey's Loaded Tater Tot Casserole

 OK, so my original thought was not to make a casserole, but rather to make a party dip. I was looking for recipes to post for New Year's Eve, and I found a recipe for Tater Tot Dip. Ooo that sounds good, ok, let's run with it. But then I started thinking of a loaded baked potato, and I thought, "why not add bacon to it? Why not add broccoli to it? And scallions?" Suddenly my loaded dip was turning into a loaded casserole. So I figured I'd go with it! Turns out it was quite a happy accident because it's delicious! Serve it as an all in one casserole, or do what I did and serve it with a couple fried eggs on the side. FABULOUS. It's actually not as heavy as it might seem and you can definitely taste all the flavors.
 If you like a loaded baked potato, then you'll love this one! Maybe eventually I'll get back to finding just the right recipe for a tater tot dip!




1 (2 lb) bag frozen tater tots
1 lb ground beef
1/2 pound thick cut bacon
2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
3-4 scallions, plus more, chopped
1-2 cups cooked broccoli
16 oz container of sour cream
salt and pepper
2 eggs, beaten


Preheat oven to 350ºF.
Cut up the bacon into small pieces. Place it in a saute pan, and slowly cook over medium heat until slightly crisp. Remove from pan and place in a large mixing bowl. Do the same thing with the ground beef, cooking until browned. Drain any excess fat and add to the bowl. Add the tater tots, 1 cup of cheese, and remaining ingredients to the bowl. Stir until well combined. Taste it and adjust the seasoning, if needed. Pour mixture into a large casserole dish. Bake uncovered for 30 minutes. Sprinkle remaining cup of shredded cheese over the top. Bake for another 15 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Remove from oven. Top with additional chopped scallions, if desired. Let it sit for a good 10 minutes before serving.



Tips:
Be sure to season it well. The potatoes are quite bland without a good pinch of salt and pepper. You can even use any favorite all purpose seasoned salt, if you'd like.
Feel free to swap out any of the ingredients to suit your likes or to use what you have on hand. Don't have any broccoli? Leave it out! Use what you have and make it your own!

Kale with Bacon

 Ok, this one's quick and easy peasy. I know kale is very trendy at the moment, but when you get right down to it, there are many reasons why everyone is going crazy for it. Well, for one thing, it's like super crazy good for you. It has a ton of vitamins C and K and beta-carotene and antioxidants and about a bazillion other nutrients that I can't even pronounce. And on top of all of that, it's delicious!!! It's hearty enough that it still keeps its integrity when you cook it (instead of just turning to mush), and it doesn't disappear in the pan the way fresh spinach does when you cook it.
 This recipe is from Taste of Home, and I knew it was a winner at first glance. Frankly, you can cook anything with bacon, onions, and garlic, and I'm in heaven. When I made it for my Friendsgiving dinner, it was a big hit! But no one needed to know how easy it was. And remember, your Mom always said to eat your greens, right? She was absolutely right!
 I think maybe Popeye would have eaten kale instead of spinach if he had cooked it with bacon and onions and garlic. Just sayin!


2 pounds fresh kale, trimmed and torn 
8 bacon strips, diced 
2 large onions, chopped 
4 garlic cloves, minced 
1 teaspoon salt 
1/2 teaspoon pepper

 In a large saucepan, bring 1 in. of water to a boil. Add kale; cook for 10 minutes or until tender. Meanwhile, in a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Using a slotted spoon, remove to paper towels; drain, reserving 1 teaspoon drippings. In the drippings, saute onions and garlic until onion is tender. Drain the kale; stir into onion mixture. Add salt, pepper and bacon; heat through. 

Tip:
If you're not a fan or pork, try turkey bacon instead!!
For a little extra added flavor, try cooking it in chicken broth instead of just plain water!

Cider-Glazed Turnips & Apples with Sage & Bacon

 Here's another fabulous side dish that falls right in line with my latest obsession with apples and sage. It's from Finecooking.com, and I absolutely fell in love at first bite. It also fits my criteria for the perfect Thanksgiving dish because it's easy, you can do it ahead of time, and you can adjust the amounts to feed however big of a crowd you're having at your table this year.
 It's a pretty simple dish, but it really hits a lot of different notes that all work perfectly together. You have the sweetness from the apples and cider and the freshness from the sage, both of which mellow that sharp bite that the turnips can sometimes have. And we all know everything is better with bacon, right?  That just goes without saying! It makes everything rich and special enough for your holiday guests.
 The other thing that I love about this recipe is that it is cooked on the stove top, not in the oven. If you've ever cooked Thanksgiving dinner, I'm sure I don't need to tell you that oven space is precious real estate that is not always readily available when you're trying to get everything cooked and hot at the same time. Having the option of cooking something without using the oven is a life saver (not to mention a time saver as well!) You just sit it on the back burner and let it braise until everything is nice and tender, and the cider is sweet and syrupy. YUM! Oh, and if you're not a fan of turnips, I think maybe you just haven't found the right recipe for them. This could be the one to change your mind! And if you've never tried them, well, now is the perfect opportunity! Enjoy!

1-1/2 lb. small purple-top or white turnips (about 9 small)
4 slices bacon, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
2 Tbs. unsalted butter
1 cup apple cider
2 tsp. granulated sugar
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 large firm, sweet apple such as Pink Lady or Braeburn
2 tsp. chopped fresh sage


Peel the turnips and cut them in half lengthwise. Cut each half into wedges 1 inch thick at the widest point. Put the bacon pieces in a large skillet and set over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until crisp, about 8 minutes. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels. Pour off the bacon fat from the pan and set the pan back on the burner. Add the butter and, when it’s melted, add the turnips, apple cider, sugar, and 1-1/2 tsp. salt. Bring to a boil over high heat. Cover the pan with the lid slightly askew, reduce the heat to medium high, and cook at a steady boil, shaking the pan occasionally, until the turnips are just tender but not soft (a pairing knife should enter a turnip with just a little resistance), 8  to 10 minutes. Meanwhile, peel and core the apple and cut it into 1/2-inch slices. Uncover the pan, add the sliced apples and sage, and continue to boil, stirring occasionally, until the liquid has reduced to a sticky glaze, 2 to 3 minutes. The turnips should be soft and the apples should be crisp-tender. (If not, add a few tablespoons of water and continue to cook for another 1  to 2  minutes.) Toss in the cooked bacon and season to taste with black pepper and more salt if necessary.


Tips:
I know I usually like to switch things around and tweak a recipe here and there, but for this one, I didn't change a thing! It's just absolutely delicious as it is. I used Honeycrisp apples, because they're my favorite. What's yours? I also didn't drain out all of the bacon fat as instructed, because... bacon.

Roasted Cabbage with Bacon

 Everyone loves boiled cabbage with ham or corned beef for St Patrick's Day, but have you ever considered roasting your cabbage instead? I must say that roasting is my preferred method for cooking vegetables because it really intensifies the flavor while bringing a toasty element to the party. So why not roast your cabbage instead of boiling it??? Now, add some bacon and you've made it FANTASTIC! I mean, lets face it, everything is better with bacon, am I right? It's the same sort of vibe you get when you do roasted Brussels sprouts with bacon. FABULOUS.
 The secret to the success of this dish is roasting the bacon ON TOP of the cabbage wedges. Who knew doing something so simple would be such a game changer? It makes ALL the difference! As the bacon cooks, the fat renders and drips down onto the cabbage, flavoring it with all of that delicious bacon-ness. How awesome is that? Serve it as a main dish or just as a simple side with your ham or corned beef. Oh, and just fyi, if you're choosing to restrict carbs from your diet, this one is now WAY high on your must-list because it's WAY low on carbs! BONUS! I think this is now my new favorite way to cook cabbage. And if you think you don't like cabbage, I urge you to give it a try! You just might surprise yourself!! It's REALLY delicious!


1 head green or Savoy cabbage, outer leaves removed
Olive oil
Coarse kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Thick cut bacon, as many slices as it takes to cover your cabbage wedges


Heat the oven to 450°F. Cut the cabbage into quarters and slice the bottom of each quarter at an angle to partially remove the stem core. Cut each quarter in half again so you have eight wedges. Lay these down on a baking sheet and drizzle very lightly with olive oil. Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Cut each slice of bacon in half and lay on top of the cabbage. Roast for 30 minutes, flipping the cabbage wedges once halfway through. If the edges aren't browned enough for your taste after 30 minutes, put them back in for five-minute increments until they are. Serve immediately; the wedges cool down fast.

Tip:
To make it easier to flip the cabbage wedges, leave the bacon in larger strips and drape them across each wedge. Remove them to flip the wedges, then place them back on top again. When everything is cooked, you can cut the bacon into smaller pieces for serving, just as I've done in the photo. Easy!

Slow Cooker Loaded Potatoes

  Ok, so lets talk about comfort food. You have your mac n cheese or lasagna or some other favorite pasta... You have your pizza and your deep fried EVERYTHING... You have your casseroles or your burgers... I love ALL of them. But for me, the one thing that will always be highest on the comfort foodometer is POTATOES! Any kind, any color, and every way you can possibly think of cooking them, potatoes are my go-to comfort food. I'm not even kidding. French fries are totally my undoing. I've literally never met a potato I didn't like. Now, add cheese and bacon and cook them in a slow cooker! BOOM. You've taken a simple potato and elevated it to something AMAZING. It's seriously the definition of comfort food, especially when you want something hearty to fill you up on a cold day.
 I first saw this recipe in a Delish video, and immediately added it to my Must List. I was originally going to make it as a side dish for a ham dinner, but then realized it goes GREAT as a breakfast or brunch side dish too!! Serve 'em up with a fried egg on top and it's heaven on a plate! It's the perfect thing if you want to free up some oven space, or if you'd like to avoid turning on the oven altogether! It's also convenient because you can assemble it ahead of time. It's so good, you could even have it as a main dish! If you don't own a slow cooker, this is definitely a good reason to buy one!


Cooking spray
2 lbs. baby potatoes, halved and quartered if large
3 c. shredded Cheddar
2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
8 slices bacon, cooked
1/4 c. sliced green onions, plus more for garnish
1 tbsp. paprika
kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Sour cream, for drizzling

 Line a slow cooker with foil and spray with cooking spray. Add half the potatoes, 1 1/4 cups cheese, half the garlic, 1/3 of the cooked bacon, half the green onions, and half the paprika. Season with salt and pepper. Repeat. Cover and cook on high until potatoes are tender, 5 to 6 hours. (The bigger your potatoes, the longer they'll need.) About 20 to 30 minutes before serving, top with remaining cheese and bacon (this is your moment to make the potatoes look pretty!) Garnish with more green onions, drizzle with sour cream, and serve.

Tips:
Ok, I know this is where I usually talk about everything I'd do to tweak the recipe or vary it in some way, but honestly, this recipe is just perfect the way it is! The only thing I'd say is.. just like Mom always said.. if you like a lot of something, add a lot! Want more cheese or maybe a different kind? How 'bout some more bacon? Are you a pepper monkey? Add as much as you want! Actually, come to think of it, I think I might add more scallions next time, and maybe a little less garlic. TBH, I didn't even measure. I just kinda threw everything in. You do you!

oh, and one other thing.. yes, my Pixar slow cooker is the envy of all who see it!! 

The Ultimate Onion Tart

 

 

 I recently had a few friends over for a French-themed dinner and this was one of the appetizers I made. It starts with lots of sweet onions cooked way way down until they're caramelized and golden. Add some bacon, a little cream, and some fresh herbs, and you have the makings for a fabulous first course or appetizer. Serve it with a crisp salad and you'll have a lovely and light summer lunch or brunch. Oh, and as much as I'd love to take the credit for it, this recipe isn't mine. I found it on a blog called Food Republic. As soon as I saw it, I knew this was the one I'd make. Frankly, they had me at bacon! It looks and sounds fancy, but it's really simple to make! Make it the next time you want to impress someone. I promise they'll love it!

 

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 tablespoons butter

5 strips bacon, diced 
2 pounds yellow onions, sliced into rings  

2 springs fresh thyme 

1 teaspoon salt

2 eggs  

1/2 cup half and half 

2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper

1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed

 

Preheat oven to 375ºF.

Melt butter and oil together in a large skillet and add the diced bacon. Cook until the bacon is halfway cooked. Add the thyme, onions, and salt to the skillet. Cook on medium-low heat until the onions are completely translucent and caramelized. This will take around 30 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly. Combine eggs and half and half in a bowl. Add the caramelized onion mixture and the freshly ground black pepper. Roll out puff pastry and place in a pie plate or tart pan. Trim edges. Add the onion mixture to the pastry and bake for 35 minutes or until the crust and top are slightly browned. Allow to cool, then slice and serve.

 

 Tips:

Be sure to really take the time to let the onions caramelize, low and slow. You really don't want to rush this. The more you cook them down, the sweeter they will be, resulting in a much deeper flavor.  

The recipe calls for 2 tsp black pepper. That seemed like far too much, so I just added a 1/2 tsp. Add as much as you like!

 

Hot Bacon Cheese Spread

 Are you planning a party? Need some menu ideas? Here's a dip that I made a while back for a small group of friends, affectionately known as the LOBLs, (which stands for Living Our Best Life). Basically we just get together, have some great food, catch up with each other, and spend the entire night laughing. It's clearly a great way to live your best life. I highly recommend it!
 This recipe is perfect because you can make it ahead and it's ALWAYS a big hit. Frankly, I love anything with bacon and cheese, so I knew this one was gonna be a keeper even before I tasted it.
It's from Taste of Home, and it's the perfect party food, whether it's for the big Super Bowl Party, a Birthday Bash, or just simply a group of friends Living Our Best Life.
 DEFINITELY give this one a try!

2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
1 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup chopped onion
5 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled
1 garlic clove, minced
1 unsliced round loaf (1 pound) Italian bread

Heat oven to 350°F.
Cut top fourth off loaf of bread; carefully hollow out bottom, leaving a 1-inch shell. Cube removed bread and set aside. Combine the remaining ingredients; spoon into bread bowl. Replace top. Place on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake for 1 hour or until heated through. Serve with reserved bread cubes.

Tips:
To make it ahead, simply mix up the ingredients and then store it in the fridge until the day of the party. I wouldn't put it in the bread bowl until you're ready to bake it.
 If you'd rather not do the bread bowl, no problem! Just mix everything together and bake it in a casserole dish. Serve with pita or tortilla chips, or cut up a few fresh bakery torpedo rolls,  or even break up a few soft pretzels for dipping. Sheer HEAVEN!
BTW, I doubled the whole recipe because more is more!
Enjoy this recipe with a light-bodied white wine such as Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio.

Sweet Chicken Bacon Wraps

 Having a party? Not sure what to make??  If you're looking for a hot appetizer, then you simply MUST try this recipe. Easy to make, only a few ingredients, and you can assemble them in advance and then pop them in the oven just before your guests are due to arrive. It's the ideal party food because (as my sister Cathy would say) it's a "picky-uppy" thing. Mingling guests can pick one up with one hand while holding a drink in the other. Perfect, right? And let's be honest, is there ANYTHING that isn't better when it's wrapped in bacon????? Seriously. Miss Paula definitely got this one right when she was coming up with the recipe.
You should probably make extra because your guests will devour them!

1 1/2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts 
1 (1 lb) package sliced bacon 
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar 
2 tablespoons chili powder 


 Preheat oven to 350°F. 
Cut chicken breasts into 1-inch cubes. Cut each bacon slice into thirds. Wrap each chicken cube with bacon and secure with a wooden pick inserted on the diagonal starting where bacon seam overlaps. Stir together brown sugar and chili powder. Dredge wrapped chicken in mixture. Coat a rack and broiler pan with non-stick cooking spray. Place chicken on rack in broiler pan. Bake at 350°F for 30 to 35 minutes, or until bacon is crisp.


Tips:
If you want to add a little extra heat, try adding a creole spice blend. The blend of hot and sweet and smokey is just heaven!
Btw, I used thick-cut bacon just because I like it, but feel free to use any kind of bacon you like.
 

Eggs Benedict Casserole

 

 Usually, when you make classic Eggs Benedict, you make it in individual servings. You have your toasted English muffins, topped with ham or Canadian Bacon and a poached egg, drizzled with a rich and decadent Hollandaise sauce. DELICIOUS!! The only problem is that it doesn't exactly lend itself to feeding a crowd.
 Well, leave it to my fabulous sister Jeanie to find a recipe for Eggs Benedict that DOES feed a crowd! I mean, it stands to reason. She pretty much feeds the whole world with all the cooking she does. And she knows everything about everything. Let me put it this way....Lots of people come to me whenever they have a cooking question. Well, Jeanie is person I call when I have a cooking question. She's just amazing.
 Anyway, when we had our big Easter Brunch, she brought this dish and it was a HUGE hit. SWOOSH! There was nothing left. The recipe is pretty easy! And it's a total do-ahead, so it's a time saver too. I love that. I can't remember where she found it (somewhere on Pinterest, I think), but I'll still give her the credit for it. So, make this the next time you're feeding a crowd at brunch, or any holiday when you wanna serve a nice breakfast. (Christmas, anyone??) It's Delish!!
Thanx My Jeanie!!


3/4 lb Canadian Bacon, chopped
6 English muffins, split, toasted, and cut into 1" pieces
8 eggs
2 cups milk
1 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp paprika

Sauce:
4 egg yolks
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 tbs lemon juice
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1/2 cup butter, melted

 Place half the bacon in a greased 9x13 baking dish. Top with English muffins and remaining bacon. In a large bowl, whisk the eggs, milk, and onion powder. Pour over the top. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
 Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Sprinkle with paprika. Cover and bake 375ºF for 35 minutes. Uncover and bake 10-15 minutes longer or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean.
 In a double boiler or metal bowl over simmering water, constantly whisk the egg yolks, cream, lemon juice, and mustard until mixture reaches 160º or until it's thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. Reduce heat to low. Slowly drizzle in warm butter, whisking constantly. Serve immediately with casserole.

Tips:
Instead of using this sauce recipe, you could always just make a regular classic Hollandaise Sauce. It's basically the same, though.
Don't have Canadian Bacon? Use regular diced ham instead.
I noticed that there's no salt and pepper added. If I were making this, I'd probably throw some in. Yes, I know the bacon is salty, but I'd still probably add more. Just sayin.
Jeanie told me that the only thing she did differently was that she buttered the English muffins before cutting them up and adding them to the casserole. Obviously. I mean, why wouldn't you???

Bacon and Egg Corn Muffins

Ok here's an easy one for you. Instead of making a big breakfast of bacon and eggs, or pancakes and syrup, why not put it all together in one delicious piece of awesomeness?
 It's a regular corn muffin, yes. But baked into it is bacon and scrambled eggs and cheese. How awesome is that??? They're perfect for a special holiday brunch. You could even make them in advance so you have a little travel sized all-in-one breakfast to grab and go. And if you serve them  with maple syrup, they have sort of pancake vibe. So GOOD!  Oh, and as much as I'd love to claim the recipe as my own, I must always give credit where it is due. The recipe is from Better Homes and Gardens. It makes 12 muffins, but if you have a crowd to feed, you may want to make more. They'll go quickly! This one will definitely be a hit!

4 slices bacon, cut in thirds

5 eggs

Salt and ground black pepper

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup yellow cornmeal

2 tablespoons sugar

2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup milk

1/4 cup vegetable oil or butter, melted

1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

 Maple or cane syrup (optional) 

 

 

 Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

 In a large skillet cook bacon just until it begins to crisp. Drain and reserve drippings. Return 2 tsp. drippings to skillet. For scrambled eggs, in a small bowl beat 3 of the eggs, 2 Tbsp. water, and a dash each of salt and pepper. Cook eggs in hot skillet over medium heat without stirring until eggs begin to set on bottom and around edges. With a large spatula, lift and fold for uncooked portion to flow underneath. Cook until set yet still moist. Transfer to bowl; set aside. Brush twelve 2-1/2-inch muffin cups with some of the remaining bacon drippings. Set muffin cups aside. In a medium bowl stir together flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, and 1/2 tsp. salt. In a separate bowl combine milk, oil, and remaining 2 eggs; stir into flour mixture. Fold in scrambled eggs and cheese. Spoon into muffin cups (cups will be full). Place one bacon piece on each muffin. Bake 15 to 17 minutes, until light brown and a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in cups on a wire rack for 5 minutes. To loosen muffins from pan, run a small metal spatula or table knife around edges of muffins; remove from pans. Serve warm with maple syrup.

 

Tips:

Vary the ingredients as much as you like! Do a veggie version with broccoli or asparagus or spinach. Switch it up with any kind of cheese. Try it with browned crumbled sausage. Do any combination!  It all works!

 If you want to take a little shortcut, just use a corn muffin mix and prepare it according to package directions. Then stir in your breakfast ingredients and bake them as usual. Easy!

Warm and Creamy Bacon Dip

It seems to me that I always get a bigger response from a warm dip than a cold one. It's true! I can serve a cold appy that took several ingredients and lots of time to chill only to get a mediocre response. But if I just stir together a few ingredients and pop it in the oven, suddenly everyone is giving OOOOOs and AAAHHHs.
 This dip clearly falls into the latter category. It's really simple to make. While the bacon is cooking, you just stir everything together! You can even do it in advance and then bake it right before your guests arrive. Easy, right? Serve it in a bread bowl, and use the hollowed out bread cubes as dippers. I guarantee your guests will love it!

8 ounces cream cheese, softened
2 cups sour cream
8 slices bacon(or more)
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup chopped green onion
 
Preheat the oven to 400ºF. 
In a skillet, brown bacon slices until crispy. Crumble or chop into bits. 
In a bowl, combine all ingredients. Place the mixture in a 1-quart baking dish. Cover. Heat the dip for 25-30 minutes or until hot. Serve with assorted fresh vegetables, crackers and/or chips. Dip may also be placed in hollowed round sourdough loaf, wrapped in foil and heated in 400 degree oven for 30 minutes.

Tips:
If you like a lot, add a lot! More bacon, more onions, go for it!
Instead of veggies or bread cubes, trying using broken soft pretzels as dippers. HEAVEN!