Bacon Beer Bleu Alfredo Sauce With Caramelized Onions Food

THIS GARLIC BACON ALFREDO SAUCE IS SO GOOD, IT MAY HAVE CAUSED MY ENGAGEMENT - JUST SAYIN'

Steps:

• Set your oven to 400°F.
• Line a sheet pan with parchment paper (foil also works). Place 7 strips of bacon on the parchment on the left side of the pan, and add diced onions to the right side of the pan.
• Place in the oven and cook for about 15-20 minutes. (Make sure to watch your onions and stir as needed. If the bacon completes cooking first, remove it from pan with tongs and drain it on a paper towel while the onions finish up. The onions should be lightly brown to optimize sweetness.)
• Cook both until done, then drain them on a paper towel when complete.
• When cool enough to handle, tear the bacon into pieces. Set it aside.
• Bring a large pot of water to boil and salt as a rolling boil begins. Add the pasta when the water is boiling vigorously.
• Cook in accordance with package directions.
• Drain the pasta when al dente.
• In a metal saucepan, begin melting the butter over medium-low heat.
• After the butter has melted, add in the heavy cream. Allow the mixture to come together in a soft bubbling boil.
• Add in the cheeses. Stir until everything is melted and combined.
• Add in the pepper, garlic, and nutmeg. Keep it on medium-low heat.
• The sauce will thicken. Continue to cook until the pasta is complete.
• Pour the cream sauce over the cooked and drained pasta. Combine.
• Add in the onions and bacon. Stir.
• Taste and add salt as needed. Bacon is naturally salty, so the amount of salt you need is a personal choice. Reserving it for the end is best.
• Let the pasta rest for 5 minutes. Serve and enjoy!

CARAMELIZED BACON

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line a sheet pan with aluminum foil (for easy cleaning) and place a wire baking rack on top.
• Combine the brown sugar and pecans in a food processor and process until the pecans are finely ground. Add the salt, black pepper and cayenne pepper and pulse to combine. Add the maple syrup and pulse again to moisten the crumbs.
• Cut each bacon slice in half crosswise and line up the pieces on the baking rack without touching. With a small spoon, evenly spread the pecan mixture on top of each piece of bacon, using all of the mixture. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the topping is very browned but not burnt. If it's underbaked, the bacon won't crisp as it cools.
• While it's hot, transfer the bacon to a plate lined with paper towels and set aside to cool. Serve at room temperature. (The caramelized bacon can be made early in the day and stored at room temperature.)

CARAMELIZED ONION SAUCE

Steps:

• In a saucepan, over medium heat, add the oil. When the oil is hot, add onions. Season with salt and pepper. Saute for about 10 to 12 minutes, or until caramelized. Add the stock and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium low and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and using a hand-held blender, puree until smooth. Strain through a sieve and cool completely. Taste, and reseason if necessary.

PORK CHOPS & BACON CARAMELIZED ONION JAM WITH ALFREDO POTATO

Steps:

• Pork Chops and Bacon Caramelized Onion Jam:.
• Cut onions, and then bacon, into large 2-inch chunks (wash hands).
• Preheat large nonstick sauté pan on medium-high 2-3 minutes. Season pork chops on both sides with 1 tablespoon marinade mix. Place oil in pan, then add pork chops; cook 6-8 minutes, turning occasionally, or until well browned and pork is at least 135°F Remove pork from pan.
• Place onions and bacon in same pan; cook and stir 7-8 minutes or until bacon is crisp and onions are tender. Stir in remaining 2 teaspoons marinade mix. Reduce heat to medium.
• Add sherry and pork chops to onion mixture; cook 2-3 minutes or until liquid is reduced by about two-thirds and pork is 145°F (for medium). Serve.
• Nutritional Information: CALORIES (per 1/4 recipe) 390kcal; FAT 21g; CHOL 105mg; SODIUM 820mg; CARB 11g; FIBER 1g; PROTEIN 34g; VIT A 0%; VIT C 6%; CALC 4%; IRON 6%.
• Alfredo Potatoes:.
• Preheat oven to 425°F Place potatoes in 9-inch-square baking dish; coat top of potatoes with spray. Bake 20 minutes or until golden.
• Chop parsley; combine with bread crumbs. Stir Alfredo sauce into potato puffs, then top with bread crumb mixture. Bake 5-6 more minutes or until hot and bubbly. Serve. (Makes 6 servings.).
• Nutritional Information: CALORIES (per 1/6 recipe) 230kcal; FAT 18g; CHOL 35mg; SODIUM 880mg; CARB 16g; FIBER 1g; PROTEIN 3g; VIT A 10%; VIT C 15%; CALC 4%; IRON 0%.

PIZZA WITH CARAMELIZED ONIONS, FIGS, BACON AND BLUE CHEESE

Steps:

• At least 45 minutes before cooking, preheat the oven and pizza stone to 550 degrees.
• Melt the butter in a large sauté pan over high heat. Add the onions, thyme and bay leaves. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring often, until the onions begin to wilt. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions have softened and turn a deep, golden brown, about 25 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Remove the bay leaves and transfer the onions to a small bowl.
• Place the bacon in the pan and set over high heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until brown and crispy. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the bacon to a small bowl.
• Place the pizza dough on a heavily floured surface and stretch and pull, using your hands or a rolling pin, into about a 14-inch round. Place on a lightly floured pizza peel or rimless baking sheet. Cover with the toppings, careful not to press on the dough and weigh it down: the caramelized onions first, then the figs and bacon, and finally the Gorgonzola, leaving roughly a 1/2 inch border. Shake the pizza peel slightly to make sure the dough is not sticking. Carefully slide the pizza directly onto the baking stone in one quick, forward-and-back motion. Cook until the crust has browned on the bottom and the top is bubbling and browning in spots, about 7 minutes. Drizzle with a little olive oil and some cracked black pepper. Serve hot. Makes 1 pizza.

CARAMELIZED BEER-ONION AND BACON BURGERS

Steps:

• In 10-inch skillet, heat 1 tablespoon bacon drippings over medium-high heat. Add onions; cook about 15 minutes, stirring frequently, until softened.
• Reserve 1/2 cup of the beer. Stir remaining beer into onions. Heat to boiling; reduce heat to medium and simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, until onions are golden and liquid has evaporated, about 30 minutes. Cool.
• Meanwhile, roughly chop 4 slices of the cooked bacon; set aside. Roughly chop half of the onion mixture; stir into chopped bacon.
• In medium bowl, stir chopped onion and bacon mixture into beef. Add salt and pepper. Shape beef mixture into 4 large patties, thinner at center and thicker at edges for even cooking.
• In 10-inch skillet, heat remaining bacon drippings over medium-high heat. Add patties; cook 8 minutes for medium-rare, 10 minutes for medium, 12 minutes for medium-well, turning once. After turning, add reserved 1/2 cup beer to burgers, then top burgers with cheese. Cover skillet to melt cheese.
• Place burgers on bun bottoms; top with lettuce leaves, tomato slices, and remaining caramelized onions. Cut remaining 4 slices bacon in half; crisscross 2 pieces on top of onions on each burger, and cover with tops of buns.

BACON, BEER & BLEU ALFREDO SAUCE WITH CARAMELIZED ONIONS

Steps:

• Caramelize onions in oil.
• Render bacon until crisp.
• Remove bacon from pan and reserve.
• Sauté onions and bellas in bacon drippings.
• Deglaze with beer.
• Add half & half and reduce sauce.
• Stir in and melt cheese.
• Return bacon to the pan.
• Finish with pepper flakes.
• Serve over pasta and/ or with chicken.