Candied Bacon Goat Cheese Blueberry Grilled Cheese Food

BLUEBERRY GRILLED CHEESE

Steps:

• Outside: Spread olive oil onto the outward facing side of each piece of bread.
• Cheeses: Onto the inside of each piece of bread, spread evenly with goat cheese and top with a slice of cheese.
• Fillings: Onto one of the pieces of bread, pile on chopped blueberries, arugula, and basil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, optionally adding a drizzle of balsamic. Set remaining piece of bread with cheese on top.
• Cook: Cook in a pan or panini press on medium heat for about 5 minutes, flipping halfway through, or until everything is melted and hot.

CANDIED BACON GOAT CHEESE BLUEBERRY GRILLED CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400°F.
• Place the bacon and brown sugar in a plastic bag.
• Toss to coat.
• Lay the bacon strips across a wire rack on top of a baking sheet.
• Place in the oven for 20 minutes.
• Remove the bacon from the oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, begin preparing the sandwiches.
• Place ½ tbsp of butter on each side of bread.
• Flip the bread and place ½ tbsp of goat cheese on the other side of the bread.
• Place 2 strips of bacon on one side of the bread and a few blueberries on the other side.
• Sandwich together and place in a skillet over medium heat.
• Cook for 5 minutes per side or until the bread is browned.

CANDIED BACON

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 rimmed baking sheets with parchment.
• Separate the bacon into strips and blot each dry. Spread the sugar on a large plate. Press both sides of each bacon strip in the sugar. Arrange the coated bacon on the prepared baking sheets. Sprinkle with any remaining sugar.
• Bake the bacon for 15 minutes, turn the strips over and continue to bake until golden and glazed, 15 to 20 minutes more (it will still be pliable). Remove to a rack and let cool; the bacon will harden but it won't be super crispy.

CANDIED BACON

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Put bacon slices in a bowl, season them with pepper and toss with the brown sugar. Cover a baking sheet with parchment or foil and arrange the bacon in a single layer on top. Sprinkle any sugar left in the bowl over the bacon. Top with another layer of parchment or foil and top it, squarely, with another baking sheet. The baking sheet will flatten the bacon as it cooks.
• Place the tray in the center of the oven and bake for 20 minutes. Check the bacon by lifting the top tray and parchment. If it is not golden brown and fairly crispy, resist the temptation to turn up the oven temperature, and cook it for 10 to 15 minutes longer. Check it again. Keep in mind that when you remove the tray and transfer the bacon to a serving platter or individual plates, the bacon will "crisp" up a little more. Be patient!

WHIPPED GOAT CHEESE WITH WARM CANDIED BACON AND DATES

Steps:

• 1. Preheat the oven to 400° F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.2. On the baking sheet, toss together the bacon, 1 tablespoon rosemary, the brown sugar, 1 teaspoon honey, and the cayenne. Arrange in an even layer. Tear the dates and scatter them around the bacon. Bake 8-10 minutes, until the bacon is crisping.3. Meanwhile, combine the goat cheese, cream cheese, olive oil, and a pinch of salt in a food processor and pulse until smooth and creamy. The goat cheese mix can be kept in the fridge for up to 3 days, but bring to room temp before serving. 4. In a small bowl, combine 1/3 cup honey, 1 tablespoon rosemary, a pinch of cayenne - to taste, and a pinch of salt. 5. Spoon the goat cheese into a serving bowl and then top with the warm bacon and dates. Drizzle over a little the rosemary honey. Serve with bread or crackers.

BACON WRAPPED GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Freeze the goat cheese for five to ten minutes if too soft and gooey so you can roll it into 8 lumberjack-thumb sized logs.
• Sprinkle with salt and pepper, and roll in the chives.
• Wrap with bacon so that the whole log is covered.
• Place in an aluminum foil boat, or a shallow glass pan (i.e. a pie tin).
• Bake for ten minutes, or until the bacon is golden brown and the cheese bubbly.
• You can do these on the grill too if you have an aluminum grill pan. Or in a pan on the stove over medium heat turning occasionally so that it is evenly browned.

CANDIED BACON WITH GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, combine the sugars with the pepper, mixing until well blended. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper or quick-release foil (regular foil works just as well) and spread the sugar mixture over the sheets. Press one strip of bacon at a time into the sugar mixture, then flip it over to coat the other side. Place the bacon strips side by side on the sugar as you finish, to form a single layer in the pan.
• Repeat with the remaining bacon on the other cookie sheet. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Place the cookie sheets in the oven and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the bacon is darkened and cooked through. Remove sheets from oven and let cool for 5 to 7 minutes.
• Once the bacon has cooled and hardened, cut the strips in half and top each with a dollop of goat cheese.