Smoked Bacon Wrapped Red Apple Food

BAKED APPLES AND BACON

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Arrange the bacon on a sheet tray, sprinkle with some of the thyme and bake until crispy, about 12 to 15 minutes.
• Slice the apples horizontally to create 5 to 6 cross sections of the apple. On a separate sheet tray lined with a silpat or parchment paper lay the apples out in a single layer and drizzle with a little olive oil. Sprinkle a little sugar and thyme on each slice then bake in the oven until the apples begin to dehydrate and sugar has melted and caramelized, about 8 to 10 minutes
• To serve, lay the apple and bacon slices, alternating, in a long overlapping line on a serving platter. Or, break the bacon pieces in half and reassemble the apple slices back together, placing crispy bacon pieces in between each slice. Garnish with arugula and serve.

SMOKED BACON WITH ONIONS AND APPLE RINGS - APPEL-FLASK

Steps:

• In a heavy skillet, melt butter. When foam subsides, add the bacon and fry for 5 to 10 minutes or until the bacon is lightly browned. Remove bacon from skillet and set on paper towel lined plate to drain.
• In same skillet used for bacon, fry the onion slices for 6 to 8 minutes adding more butter as necessary. When the onions are soft and transparent, add the apple rings.
• Put lid on skillet and simmer apples over low heat for 5 to 10 minutes. Carefully stir apples to keep them from sticking. When the apple rings are done, they should offer little or no resistence when pierced with the tip of a sharp knife, return the drained bacon to the skillet.
• Cover skillet and simmer an additional 3 to 5 minutes or until the bacon is heated through. Liberally grind fresh black pepper over the top and serve immediately.

SMOKED BACON WRAPPED RED APPLE

Steps:

• 1. Combine sugar, salt, pepper and cinnamon in a small mixing bowl
• 2. Brush bacon wrapped apples with olive oil and sprinkle with maple sugar mixture.
• 3. Smoke apples for 2 1/2-3 hours in a 250 degree smoker. Baste every 30 minutes or so with basting sauce. Garnish with chopped parsley. Enjoy!
• 4. **You can substitute brown sugar for the maple sugar and substitute maple bacon slices for the regular bacon slice**