Ginas Chocolate Covered Bacon Food

CHOCOLATE COVERED BACON

Steps:

• Heat large skillet on high; add bacon strips.
• Turn bacon strips over as needed with tongs.
• Cook back until it's reduced to about ¼ of its original size and appears to be crispy. (Personally I believe that the bacon should be crispy; however if you prefer your chocolate covered bacon chewy opposed to crunchy then reduce cooking time by removing your bacon earlier).
• Drain bacon on papertowels to remove grease.
• While the bacon is cooling fill the double boiler or medium sauce pan with water and bring to a medium heat.
• Place double boiler top pan in double boiler bottom pan or put the small sauce pan in the medium sauce pan.
• Slowly add chocolate morsels into top pan and stir while morsels melt. Do this until all morels have been added. (Be sure to keep stirring to prevent the chocolate from burning.).
• Using your fingers or tongs carefully dip the bacon strips into the chocolate, if necessary use a spoon to spoon the melted chocolate over the bacon evenly coating it.
• Once coated lay strips on cooling rack (with something underneath to catch the drips) or waxed paper lined cookie sheet. Cool in refrigerator for 15 minutes to set chocolate.

GINA'S FLOURLESS CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Spray a 9-inch springform pan with baking spray. Line the bottom of the pan with a circle of parchment paper and spray again.
• In a medium saucepan over low heat, combine the chocolate and butter, constantly stirring until fully incorporated. Remove from heat and set aside.
• In a large bowl add the sugar and eggs. Using a handheld mixer beat together until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. While mixing, slowly add cocoa powder, salt, vanilla extract, and brandy. Add the chocolate mixture and blend until just combined. Pour batter into prepared pan.
• Bake in the center of the preheated oven for about 50 minutes or until a thin crust forms on the top and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with few crumbs attached. Remove and cool in the pan on a bakers rack. Remove the sides of the pan and dust with powdered sugar and arrange seasonal berries in a pleasing fashion on and around the cake. Serve with Whipped Cream.
• With a hand-held mixer, beat the cream until peaks soft peaks form. Add the sugar and brandy and beat until well combined.

GINA'S CHOCOLATE POUND CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 10-inch Bundt pan and dust with cocoa powder.
• In a large bowl of a stand mixer, add the butter and the sugar. Using the paddle attachment, cream together until light and fluffy and the volume has increased. Add the eggs and egg yolk, 1 at a time, beating after each addition.
• In another mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, the salt, and baking powder.
• Add the dry ingredients alternatively with the buttermilk to the butter and egg mixture ending with the flour. Stir in the vanilla and pour the batter into the prepared Bundt pan. Bake for 1 hour and 10 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the cake comes out clean. Let cool on a wire rack before turning out onto a serving plate and slicing.
• Add the chocolate to a medium-sized bowl. In a small saucepan over low heat, add the cream and bring to a low simmer. Pour the cream over the chocolate and add the corn syrup. Once the chocolate melts, whisk together to combine. Drizzle over the cake and serve.

GINA'S BROWN SUGAR BACON

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Mix brown sugar, cayenne, and black pepper together in a medium bowl. Add bacon and toss.
• Line a baking sheet with a wire rack and lay bacon on the rack. Pat any remaining spice mixture on the bacon. Put the baking sheet on the top rack of the oven and bake until crisp, about 15 minutes. Remove from the oven to a serving dish and let cool slightly before serving.