bacon

Cheddar, Bacon, and Leek Frittata
recipes

Easy, Breezy, Cheesy: Cheddar, Bacon, and Leek Frittata

We may still be in the throes of wool coat and tights weather, but I'm already eagerly anticipating warmer days for one frivolous but fantastic reason: with Spring weather comes picnic season.
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We may still be in the throes of wool coat and tights weather, but I'm already eagerly anticipating warmer days for one frivolous but fantastic reason: with Spring weather comes picnic season. Generally, these blissful afternoons spent relaxing in the park are fueled by a stop at my favorite specialty foods shop to pick up some cheese, bread, wine, and fruit, but occasionally I prepare a slightly more involved, less spontaneous spread. Often this centers around a portable, low-fuss, room-temperature-friendly, and — most importantly — delicious dish: the frittata.

This bulked-up, bacon-studded iteration will be no exception. I can already picture it: me, a few friends, a bottle of rosé, hearty slices of this frittata, a basket of berries, and, ultimately, sun-drenched bliss. Until then I'll have to satisfy my craving table-side, but hey, with a dish as lovely as the one at hand, I'm hardly complaining.

Keep reading for the picnic- and brunch-friendly recipe.

Candied Bacon
bacon

Candied Bacon

We know from experience; bacon strips covered in brown sugar and baked until caramelized are a good thing.
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We know from experience; bacon strips covered in brown sugar and baked until caramelized are a good thing. Life Above the Clouds shares this candied bacon recipe that you'll want to make over and over again.


Candied bacon: I saw this recipe a while ago and I've been dying to try it. Simple enough, this is basically just bacon covered with brown sugar and thrown in the oven. I didn't even follow the recipe. It tastes like sin in the best possible way. Sweet and savory and oozing with bacon-y goodness (aka grease). I'm definitely going for a run tomorrow . . . but it was so worth it.

  • 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons chile powder (I just used black pepper)
  • 20 slices of thick-cut bacon (1 1/2 pounds)
  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line 2 rimmed baking sheets with foil.
  2. In a small bowl, whisk the brown sugar with the chile powder.
  3. Press bacon strips in to the sugar mixture.
  4. Arrange the bacon strips on the foil and sprinkle any sugar leftover onto the bacon.
  5. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until caramelized and almost crisp. Transfer the bacon to a rack set over a sheet of foil to cool completely; serve.

(Inspired by Food & Wine)

To see more of Life Above the Clouds's bacon photos, read the rest of her post. Then start following Life Above the Clouds, and get to work on your own food blog. You could wind up featured here!

Jalapeno Poppers Recipe Video
Appetizers

Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers: A No-Fuss Snack For Game Day!

Bacon-wrapped anything is delicious, so it goes without saying that these jalapeño poppers — which are stuffed with herbs and cheese, then wrapped with an entire slice of bacon each — are over the top.
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Bacon-wrapped anything is delicious, so it goes without saying that these jalapeño poppers — which are stuffed with herbs and cheese, then wrapped with an entire slice of bacon each — are over the top. Despite sounding indulgent, they're incredibly easy to make and perfect for a game-day party. Learn the tricks to prepping them, like how to keep the heat in check and avoid messy oven explosions, when you watch the video.

Cheddar Beer Soup Recipe
Soup

Soup's On: Spicy Cheddar Beer Soup

Perhaps you've tried cheddar beer chips, cheddar beer fondue, or even beer-infused cheese, but I'm going to go out on a limb and say that this bacon-studded cheddar beer soup is a whole new frontier, unless you've dined at Jonathon's Oak Cliff in Dallas, TX, where this ridiculously indulgent dish hails from.
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Perhaps you've tried cheddar beer chips, cheddar beer fondue, or even beer-infused cheese, but I'm going to go out on a limb and say that this bacon-studded cheddar beer soup is a whole new frontier, unless you've dined at Jonathon's Oak Cliff in Dallas, TX, where this ridiculously indulgent dish hails from.

Now, let's address the hulking elephant in the room: unlike many soups, this soup is decidedly not diet food, but that's OK. Heck, I could barely finish one petite bacon-studded bowl before admitting defeat, even though I loved every dreamy-creamy spoonful. Rather, this luxuriously decadent soup is the sort that's meant to be shared and paired with a pint of beer and a heaping mound of the greenest salad you can get your hands on.

That said, it is very good — as in ditch your dinner plans and make it tonight good. I can say with absolute certainty that I'll be making it at any appropriate opportunity I can conjure — for starters, I can think of no better Super Bowl party treat — and suggest you follow suit. Treat yourself!

Keep reading for the can't-miss recipe.

Bacon-Wrapped Hot Dogs Recipe
sandwiches

Root For the Home Team With Bacon-Wrapped Hot Dogs

Can I tell you a secret?
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Can I tell you a secret? I simply don't care for baseball. Most of the year this is a nonissue, but I live in San Francisco, where October Means Baseball. While I may not understand the hoopla over the actual sport at hand (sorry), I can get behind one important aspect of the experience: ballpark food.

Pungent garlic fries, snappy hot dogs, and nachos loaded with bright-orange cheese lure me in without fail, and for as long as the indulgent bites keep coming, I feel a part of this quintessential American experience. Now I get that bacon-wrapped hot dogs aren't exactly traditional ballpark fare, but in the spirit of the Giants' recent NLCS pennant win (and their upcoming attempt at a second World Series title), it only seems appropriate to serve up a riff on a hometown favorite: the Mission hot dog. These bacon-wrapped beauts are standard late-night fare hereabouts, and while one could enjoy these sober, come game 1 I'll be sticking to tradition and double-fisting with a beer in one hand and this juicy treat in the other. Just don't tell anyone that my attention will be elsewhere than the game at hand . . .

Keep reading for the over-the-top recipe.

Baked Butter Beans Recipe
bacon

The Ultimate Baked Beans

Itching to channel your outdoorsy side sans the mosquitoes?
by OnSugar Blog

Itching to channel your outdoorsy side sans the mosquitoes? This season, rely on smoky baked beans to bolster your camping daydreams. Here, Cooking in Pajamas shows you how.

Are baked beans a warm comforting dish for a blustery day, or are they the perfect side dish to serve at your Summer BBQ?
In my humble opinion, they're both. Nothing says Summer to me like a cookout with burgers and hot dogs, corn on the cob, and a side of baked beans. But then again, there is nothing quite as nourishing as a bowl of warm, comforting baked beans on a cold rainy day.

Nothing makes your house smell as good as a pot of homemade beans baking in the oven. Yes, this recipe cuts a few corners by using canned beans, but the final product will taste nothing like anything out of a can.

Keep reading for her baked beans recipe

Easy Recipe For Bacon and Spinach Quiche
summer

An Easy Classic: Bacon and Spinach Quiche

Of all the savory pastries out there, quiche is shockingly simple to prepare at home.
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Of all the savory pastries out there, quiche is shockingly simple to prepare at home. And when it comes to classic flavors, you can't go wrong with bacon, cheese, and spinach. It's a salty, satisfying combination that works for any meal morning, noon, and night.

This quiche is a rich combination of flavors with flaky, buttery crust, fluffy egg center, smoky bacon pieces, and crispy cheese topping. Pair it with a lightly dressed green salad to offset the heaviness. Keep reading for a fast, easy quiche recipe.

Simple Tip: Cook Bacon in the Oven
baking

Simple Tip: Cook Bacon in the Oven

Photo: Lauren Hendrickson A couple of years ago I watched the Barefoot Contessa roast bacon in the oven.
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Photo: Lauren Hendrickson

A couple of years ago I watched the Barefoot Contessa roast bacon in the oven. She was making a BLT and didn't need the bacon fat. I had never thought to bake bacon, and the idea has changed my life! Now, I roast bacon all the time. It's an easy, convenient, and splatter-free way to cook it. Here's what you do:

  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Cover a large cookie sheet with parchment paper or foil.
  2. Place the raw bacon in a row on the parchment paper.
  3. Roast in the oven for 15-20 minutes until bacon is crisp and cooked.
  4. Remove bacon to paper towel lined plates, pat dry, and use however you want.

Do you ever cook bacon in the oven?

Spicy Bacon Spaghetti Recipe
fast and easy

Fast & Easy Dinner: Spicy Bacon Spaghetti

Just because you're short on time doesn't mean you shouldn't make your own pasta sauce!
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Just because you're short on time doesn't mean you shouldn't make your own pasta sauce! This quick and spicy bacon-tomato pasta sauce is chock-full of flavor and takes only about a half hour to make. I had applewood smoked bacon on hand, but next time, I will use pepper bacon to add a little more complexity to the dish. To really heat things up, I used two jalapenos with no seeds — feel free to adjust it depending on your palate. Ready to simmer your own spicy pasta sauce? Keep reading for the recipe.