Maple Bacon Food

MAPLE-GLAZED BACON

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. On a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet, arrange bacon in a single layer. Bake until fat is rendered and bacon is beginning to brown, 15 to 18 minutes. Carefully remove from oven and brush with pure maple syrup. Bake until bacon is browned and sticky, 3 to 5 minutes. With tongs, transfer to a wire rack, then set rack on baking sheet and let bacon drain. Serve warm.

MAPLE-ROASTED BACON

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Place a baking rack on a sheet pan and arrange the bacon in 1 layer on the baking rack. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until the bacon begins to brown. Remove the pan carefully from the oven; there will be hot grease in the pan! Brush the bacon slices with maple syrup and bake for another 3 to 5 minutes, until the bacon is a warm golden brown. Transfer the bacon to a plate lined with paper towels and serve warm.

MAPLE-CURED BACON

Steps:

• In a small bowl, mix together syrup, salt, dark brown sugar, and pink salt. Coat entire pork belly with the cure and place in a large resealable plastic bag. Place in the coldest part of the refrigerator and cure for 5 days, flipping bag about every 12 hours.
• Remove pork belly from bag and wash any large deposits of salt under cold running water.
• Fire up smoker or grill to between 200-225°F, adding 1-2 fist-size chunks of smoking wood on top of the coals when at temperature. When wood is ignited and producing smoke, place pork belly in smoker, fat side up, and smoke until an instant read thermometer registers 150°F when inserted into thickest part of the meat. Remove pork belly from smoker and let cool. Wrap in plastic wrap and place in refrigerator until completely chilled.
• Cut bacon into slices at desired width and cook using your favorite method. Store leftover bacon in Ziploc or vacuum sealed bags in the refrigerator for up to a week, or in the freezer for up to 4 months.

MAPLE-CANDIED BACON

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Line a rimmed baking sheet with heavy foil. Place a baking rack over the lined sheet tray and arrange the bacon slices across the rack next to each other, not overlapping.
• In a small bowl, whisk the maple syrup and mustard. Generously spoon over the top of the bacon, and bake 12 to 15 minutes. Turn the bacon over and baste with syrup mixture. Bake an additional 5 to 10 minutes, or until the bacon has reached desired crispiness.
• Carefully remove the pan from the oven. Sprinkle hot bacon with a scant pinch of finely ground black pepper. Let the bacon rest on the rack for 5 minutes.

MAPLE BACON POPCORN

Steps:

• Cook bacon in a skillet until crispy, and once cooled, crumble it up. Reserve the bacon drippings.
• In a medium (2 quart) saucepan combine 2 tablespoons of bacon drippings and three kernels of popcorn; place on a tight-fitting lid and cook over medium heat. When you hear the three kernels pop, it is time to add the rest of the popcorn inches Gently shake the pot as the popcorn cooks and pops. When you hear less than one pop every one to two second, turn off the heat and let the pan sit for one minute. On a large baking sheet (13X18) coated with cooking spray, spread out the popcorn and sprinkle with salt.
• Preheat the oven to 250 degrees. In a medium pot (2 quart) combine brown sugar, maple syrup, and butter. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently. Sugar mixture should be boiling and will start to thicken when it is ready after about 6-9 minutes. Turn off the heat, and quickly stir in the vanilla and baking soda; the mixture will turn lighter in color and will become foamy.
• Evenly pour the sugar mixture over the popcorn. Sprinkle with the bacon bits. Place the pan into the oven and cook for 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes. Let the popcorn cool and harden, break into pieces and store in an airtight container.

MAPLE BACON CUPCAKES

Steps:

• 1) Cook some bacon in a fry pan (about 6 thick strips). Reserve the drippings and place in the fridge to solidify. Mince 1/4 a cup of the bacon. The chef should eat whatever is left to assure that the bacon is tasty.
• 2) Beat the crud out of the butter and solidified bacon fat 'till light and creamy. Add the brown sugar and maple syrup and beat well until combined.
• 3) Add the egg and beat until incorporated.
• 4) Sift the flour, salt, baking soda and powder together.
• 5) Add some of the flour and mix, then some of the milk, then continue to alternate the dry and wet ingredients, ending with the dry. Mix until just combined. Fold in the bacon. Taste and add more maple syrup, flour, or milk if needed for desired taste. Keep in mind the maple frosting is very sweet, and to add in very small increments for alterations as maple syrup in large amounts can break a cake batter.
• 6) Scoop into cupcake papers and bake at 350 F for 18-22 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Be sure to rotate the pan after the first 15 minutes for even baking.
• Maple Syrup frosting.
• What You'll Need --
• 4 tablespoons of butter.
• 2 tablespoons of maple syrup.
• 1 cup of powdered sugar.
• turbinado sugar (optional, but recommended).
• coarse grain sea salt (optional, but recommended).
• What You'll Do --
• Combine the syrup and butter until combined. Add the sugar, a bit at a time, and whip at high speeds until combined. Pipe or spread onto cupcakes. Sprinkle on sea salt and turbinado sugar for decoration and a lot of added flavor.

MAPLE-BACON SCONES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Combine flour, sugar, 2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons baking powder, and salt in a bowl. Add butter and cut in with your hands or a pastry blender until crumbly with all pieces of butter smaller than a small bean. (You can use a food processor.) Make a small well in the center of the mixture.
• Pour cream, maple syrup, and chopped bacon into the well. Combine with your hands, working quickly so butter does not melt, until the dough sticks together. Divide dough into 12 equal portions. Roll and gently press each portion into a scone about the size of your palm; place on a baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until tops spring back when lightly touched, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and transfer to a wire rack.
• Mix powdered sugar, maple syrup, and milk for glaze together in a bowl until smooth. Drizzle over scones.