Brie Bacon Toasties Food

MAPLE, WALNUT AND BACON BRIE BITES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F.
• On a baking sheet or ovensafe serving platter, bake the Brie wheels until warm to the touch and slightly oozy, 3 to 5 minutes.
• In a small bowl, combine the walnuts, maple syrup, vinegar and bacon. Top each warmed Brie bite with a spoonful of the maple syrup mixture. Garnish with scallions. Serve immediately.

CRISPY BACON & BRIE GRILLED CHEESE SANDWICH WITH CARAMELISED ONIONS

Steps:

• To make the caramelised onions, heat a large frying pan over medium heat then sauté the onions in the olive oil with the salt until soft and golden. Add the sugar and vinegar and allow to caramelise. Set aside.
• To make the sandwich, butter the bread on both sides then top with the onions, brie cheese and bacon.
• Grill in a hot pan/sandwich press until golden brown and heated through.
• Serve immediately.

BAKED BRIE BREAD BOWL WITH ONION JAM

Steps:

• Put the bacon in a large nonstick skillet and turn the heat to medium. Cook until the fat renders, about 5 minutes, then add the onion and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring, until the onion softens, about 5 minutes. Add the thyme sprigs and garlic; reduce the heat to medium low. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is browned and broken down, 30 to 35 minutes, adding the vinegar and brown sugar in the last 5 to 10 minutes. If the pan gets too dry, add a splash of water and scrape up any browned bits. Remove from the heat; stir in the mustard and parsley.
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350˚ F. Put the brie in the freezer to firm up, 5 to 10 minutes. Using a serrated knife, slice off the top one-third of the bread loaf (reserve the top). Hollow out the bread so that the brie will fit inside. Slice the top and insides of the bread; drizzle with the olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Arrange the sliced bread on one baking sheet and put the bread bowl on the other.
• Remove the brie from the freezer and trim off the top rind. Fit the brie inside the bread bowl and top with the onion jam, discarding the thyme stems. Transfer both baking sheets to the oven and bake until the bread is toasted and the brie is hot, about 10 minutes for the sliced bread and 15 to 20 minutes for the bread bowl. Sprinkle the brie with thyme. Serve with the toasted bread.

BRIE & BACON TOASTIES

Steps:

• Set the grill on high and put a sheet of foil under the grill rack to catch any cooking juices and save on washing up later. Lay the bacon on the rack and grill for 2 minutes. While it is grilling, slice the cheese (aim to get about 8 long slices) and core and slice the pear.
• Put the slices of bread under the grill as well for just under a minute until the bread is evenly toasted on one side only. Keep an eye on it - a whole minute is just that little bit too long and the bread may start to char.
• Flick the bread over and cover the untoasted sides first with a layer of pear slices, then the grilled bacon and then the rest of the pear slices. Don't worry if it looks a little rough and ready - it all adds to the effect. Drape the brie on top and scatter over the pecans, roughly breaking them with your fingers as you go.
• Grill for another minute or so, until the cheese is melted and oozy. Remove and eat straight away with the rocket or watercress on the side.

BRIE APPETIZERS WITH BACON-PLUM JAM

Steps:

• In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until partially cooked but not crisp. Remove to paper towels with a slotted spoon; drain, reserving 1 tablespoon drippings., Add onion and shallot to drippings; cook and stir 5 minutes. Add garlic; cook 2 minutes longer. Stir in coffee, water, vinegar, plums, brown sugar, maple syrup, chili sauce and pepper. Bring to a boil. Stir in bacon. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 hours or until liquid is syrupy, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat. Cool to room temperature., Transfer mixture to a food processor; pulse until jam reaches desired consistency. Place cheese slices on toasted baguette slices. Top each with 2 teaspoons jam.

BACON, BRIE AND RED ONION BAGUETTES

Steps:

• Heat your oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Slice the baguette sections vertically and fill each with 2 slices of bacon and a quarter of the cheese. Put them on a baking sheet. Cook in the oven for 5 mins, until the bread is crisped up and the cheese is beginning to melt.
• Top each with a dollop of red onion chutney and serve immediately.