Bacon And Balsamic Vinaigrette Food

SKILLET-BRAISED BRUSSELS SPROUTS

Steps:

• Place bacon in a large skillet over medium-low heat; cook until just crisp, about 10 minutes. Transfer bacon to a paper towel-lined plate, reserving bacon grease in skillet.
• Increase heat to medium-high under skillet; saute Brussels sprouts in the bacon grease until lightly browned, 2 to 3 minutes. Add garlic to Brussels sprouts; saute until garlic is fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Pour chicken stock over Brussels sprouts mixture and cover skillet with a lid; simmer until Brussels sprouts are bright green, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove lid and continue simmering until liquid is evaporated and sprouts are tender, about 5 more minutes.
• Remove skillet from heat and stir bacon, butter, vinegar, salt, and pepper into Brussels sprouts mixture until butter is melted.

WARM BACON VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Place the pieces of bacon in an even layer in a large skillet and cook over medium heat until cooked through and crispy, turning as needed to cook the bacon evenly, about 10 minutes.
• Remove the bacon to a paper towel to drain and cool and set aside.
• Drain all but 2 tablespoons of the bacon grease from the skillet. Add the shallow and garlic to the skillet and cook in the bacon grease for 2-3 minutes.
• Add the olive oil, vinegar, honey, mustard, salt and pepper to the skillet and whisk well to combine. Reduce heat to low and keep warm until ready to serve. (Note: Crumble or chop the reserved bacon and use as a topping with the salad or veggies you're using the vinaigrette for.)

GRILLED ROMAINE WITH BLUE CHEESE-BACON VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Preheat the grill to high heat.
• Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a saute pan over high heat. Add the onions and bacon and cook until the bacon is crispy. To the same pan add the balsamic vinegar and 1 tablespoon of the olive oil and stir to combine. Remove from heat and set aside.
• Brush the romaine lettuce with the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil, place on the grill cut side down, and quickly sear.
• Serve the lettuce, cut side up, and drizzle the balsamic dressing over the lettuce. Sprinkle with blue cheese and garnish with cracked black pepper.

BACON AND BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Slice bacon into 1/2 inch pieces and fry until just crispy. Drain on paper towels.
• Remove bacon from pan, and all but 2 Tbsp of the bacon fat.
• Gently saute the onion until just soft, making sure not to brown.
• Add the brown sugar, blend in and then add the vinegar. Reduce for a minute or two.
• Add the olive oil, as much as to your taste and the salt and pepper to taste.
• Cool, but do not refrigerate. Dress your salad just before serving.
• Serve this warm or at room temperature over a salad of hearty greens like romaine. I usually add some very finely sliced red onion rings, mushrooms and homemade croutons, but let your imagination work here. I've thought of trying it in the summer with just onions and fresh sliced strawberries.

BACON-BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Cook bacon in heavy large skillet over medium heat until crisp. Using slotted spoon, transfer to paper towels (reserve as garnish for Spinach Salad with Shrimp and Fennel). Remove skillet from heat. Reserve 3 tablespoons drippings in skillet; mix in oil. Whisk vinegar, shallots, garlic and brown sugar in small bowl. Add to drippings in skillet. Stir over medium-low heat just until warm. Season with salt and pepper. Use warm.

BALSAMIC AND BROWN SUGAR BACON

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Line cookie sheet with foil. Place wire rack on foil.
• Arrange bacon in single layer on rack. Bake 20 minutes. Meanwhile, in small bowl, stir together brown sugar and balsamic vinegar.
• Turn bacon over; spoon brown sugar and balsamic mixture over bacon slices. Bake 10 to 15 minutes longer or until golden brown. Remove from rack. Cool completely, about 15 minutes.

BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the vinegar, mustard, and garlic. Add the oil in a slow steady stream, whisking constantly. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

GREEN BEANS WITH BACON-BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Cook beans in boiling water for 2 minutes.
• Drain; rinse under cold water.
• Drain well; set aside.
• Cook bacon over medium-high heat until crisp.
• Remove bacon, crumble.
• Set aside.
• Add green onions to bacon fat in skillet; saute 1 minute.
• Remove skillet from heat; let cool slightly.
• Add sugar and vinegar to skillet; stir until sugar dissolves.
• Stir in crumbled bacon.
• Pour vinaigrette over beans, tossing gently to coat.
• Sprinkle with almonds.

ASPARAGUS WITH BACON, RED ONION, AND BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Adjust oven rack to about 4 inches from heating element and heat broiler.
• Toss asparagus with oil and salt and pepper, then lay spears in single layer on heavy rimmed baking sheet. Broil, shaking pan halfway through to turn spears, until asparagus is tender and lightly browned, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Cool asparagus 5 minutes and arrange on serving dish.
• Fry bacon strips in medium skillet over medium heat until brown and crisp, about 6 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer bacon to paper towel-lined plate and set aside.
• Whisk onion, vinegar, parsley, and oil in small bowl; season to taste with salt and pepper. Drizzle over asparagus, sprinkle with bacon, and serve immediately.

WARM BACON VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Cook bacon in large skillet until crisp; remove bacon and drain on paper towels. Reserve 2 T drippings in skillet.
• Cook shallots and garlic in hot drippings for 3 minutes, or until tender. Add brown sugar and cook stirring constantly for one minute or until sugar is dissolved.
• Process garlic mixture, orange juice, and remaining ingredients in blender until combined.
• FYI the cooked bacon is not actually used in this recipe, but you can top your salad with it if desired.

BROCCOLI WITH BALSAMIC-BACON VINAIGRETTE SAUCE

Steps:

• Make the sauce: In a 1-quart saucepan over medium heat, cook the bacon, stirring occasionally until crisp, about 5 minutes. With a slotted spoon, transfer bacon to a dish lined with paper towels, leaving the fat in the pan.
• Add the shallot to the bacon fat and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 1 to 2 minutes (if you want to reduce the fat, use a nonstick pan and discard all but a tiny bit of the bacon grease).
• Add 1 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar and scrape with a spoon to dissolve brown bits stuck to the pan.
• Off the heat, stir in the remaining vinegar, the lemon juice and mustard.
• Gradually whisk in the oil (don't worry if the sauce doesn't emulsify).
• Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Cook the broccoli: Bring an inch or so of water to a boil in a pot fitted with a steamer insert. Put the broccoli in the steamer; sprinkle with salt, cover tightly and steam until just tender, 3 to 4 minutes.
• The broccoli should be neither crisp nor soft, but exactly in between. To check, bite into a piece you quickly run under cold water, being careful not to burn your tongue. Transfer to a serving bowl.
• Briefly reheat the sauce if necessary. Drizzle over the steamed broccoli, sprinkle with the bacon bits and serve.