During the past year or so, bacon has surged into a prime place on today's fine restaurant menus. Here's a little bit about how to prep it, And some easy uses that just might get your creative juices going.
Of, course it especially tastes great when you coat it with a light dusting of Butt Kickin' Blacken then cooked in the oven.
1. Overlap the bacon on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper. Cooked at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes, or until it's crispy. As soon as you take it out of the oven, it will remain soft for just a minute or two. This gives you time to cut it across the strips. Or cut it to size of a small rectangle to use as a mini plate. The bacon will stick together as it cooks.
The bacon in the upper left corner of the main picture, is a strip of this that was formed into a ring before it cooled. The 3rd from the left on top is a rectangle, and underneath it is a round that was coated with Cocoa Rub without the salt.
You can cut it into strips, or various shapes. Coat it with rub, or any variety of Butt Kickin' Blacken. Be creative.
2. After you've cooked a bunch, you can grind it in a blender, to make bacon powder, or bacon salt.
3. Whenever I want bacon as a garnish, I mince it before cooking. This helps to keep all the pieces uniform.
I'll also cut it into pieces, that I will later add to chilli, baked beans, potato salad, etc.
4. Fry the bacon over medium heat. I use a black frying pan for this. You don't want too high a temperature because that will just burn the bacon.
5. Bacon can be cooked in the oven, 350 degrees for 10 - 15 minutes. The cooking time is based on the thickness of the bacon. You can cook it on a rack, or, on parchment paper.
6.This is a pile of crispy, cooked bacon that is ready for the blender.
Bacon Powder
Place about 1 cup of crispy, cooked bacon in a blender, or food processor, and blend until it becomes a powder. You may have to add either a little salt or sugar to help it along.
Bacon Salt
Add about 1 part Bacon Powder to 2 parts Salt, and blend in a blender until it's combined.
Bacon Potato Chips
I rarely purchase potato chips, and when I do, IO usually disapointed in the lack of flavor. Here's a quick recipe to kick up those flavors.
Place some chips (right out of the bag) onto a sheet pan, and set them in a 350 degree oven for 5 - 7 minutes. You want to cook them just until the oil looks shiny. Remove from the oven, and dust with Butt Kickin' Blacken, Bacon Powder, or, one of your other favorite seasonings. The chips will be warm and flavorful, as if you made them yourself.
Bacon Popcorn
I DO like snacking on popcorn, but it's got to have loads of butter and salt. I quite often I add garlic powder, for Garlic Popcorn, If you add just a bit, it's adds to the flavor without being too garlicky, if there is such a thing.
The ultimate way of making popcorn is to fry the dried kernals in a fry pan using bacon fat. But it's OK to make it however you want.
While it's cooking, place 1/2 stick of melted butter in a blender, add Bacon Powder, or Crumbled Bacon, Salt, and 1 teaspoon Butt Kickin' Blacken. Blend it up good, and drizzle it onto the popcorn once it's in a bowl, then garnish with extra crumbled bacon.
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