Balsamic And Brown Sugar Bacon Food

BROWN SUGAR BACON

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Position racks in the top and bottom of the oven. Line 2 rimmed baking sheets with foil and set cooling racks into the baking sheets.
• Using your fingers, crumble together the brown sugar, smoked paprika and several grinds of black pepper on a plate. Dredge the bacon on both sides in the brown sugar mixture, rubbing so the sugar adheres. Arrange the slices on the racks without touching.
• Bake until the bacon is crisp and caramelized, flipping the slices and rotating the baking sheets from top to bottom halfway through, about 20 minutes total. Let the slices cool on the racks, turning once or twice so they don't stick.

BROWN SUGAR BACON

Steps:

• Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and preheat oven to 425.
• Lay bacon on paper and sprinkle with sugar.
• Bake 10 minutes then drain fat from pan (carefully!).
• Bake 5 to 10 minutes more, until it's as crisp as you like.

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.

BALSAMIC SOAKED BACON WRAPPED SCALLOPS

Steps:

• Heat a slotted broiler pan in a preheated 450 degrees F oven.
• Pat scallops dry and quarter them. Combine the vinegar, sugar, garlic and ginger and marinate the scallops 10 minutes. Arrange the bacon slices in a single layer. On each half-slice of bacon, place 2 slices of water chestnuts. Top with a scallop piece and wrap with the bacon, secure with toothpick. Place scallops on sides, exposed side facing out. Draw garlic and ginger from vinegar and drizzle over scallops then bake 10 minutes, turning once.

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.

GLAZED BACON

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• For the red chile-honey glaze: Lay the bacon in a single layer on a sheet pan, keeping space in between each slice. Place bacon in pan and bake until lightly browned and crisp, 15 to 20 minutes. While the bacon is cooking, whisk together the clover honey and ancho chile powder in a medium bowl until smooth. Remove the bacon from the oven, using mitts, and carefully drain the fat, tipping the pan, into a medium bowl. Blot the top of the bacon with a few paper towels. Place the sheet pan with the bacon on it on a cooling rack and immediately brush each slice with the glaze.
• For the sorghum glaze: Lay the bacon in a single layer on a sheet pan, keeping space in between each slice. Place bacon in pan and bake until lightly browned and crisp, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove the bacon from the oven, using mitts, and carefully drain the fat, tipping the pan, into a medium bowl. Blot the top of the bacon with a few paper towels. Place the sheet pan with the bacon on it on a cooling rack and immediately brush each slice with the sorghum syrup.
• For the brown sugar-pecan glaze: Line a baking sheet with a silpat or parchment paper. Lay the bacon in a single layer on the baking sheet, keeping space in between each slice. Divide the brown sugar evenly over the top of each slice of bacon and bake until bacon is golden brown and almost crispy, about 13 minutes. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with the finely chopped pecans, return to the oven and continue baking until pecans are toasted and bacon is crispy, about 3 minutes longer.
• Let sit at room temperature for 10 minutes.