Spiced Bacon Bits Food

SWEET AND SPICY BACON BITES

Steps:

• Place the bacon in an even layer in a large skillet. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring often with a rubber spatula, until the bacon is light golden brown, about 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine the maple syrup, black pepper and cayenne in a small bowl.
• Pour off some of the rendered bacon fat, leaving just a small amount. Return the skillet to the heat and pour the maple syrup mixture over the bacon. Braise gently until the syrup thickens and glazes the bacon and the bacon is deep golden brown, about 15 minutes. Serve warm.

SPICED BACON

Steps:

• Arrange 6 slices thick-cut bacon on a rack set on a foil-lined rimmed baking sheet. Bake at 375 degrees F until they just start to crisp, 12 to 14 minutes.
• Microwave 2 tablespoons sugar with 1 teaspoon water until dissolved, about 45 seconds. Flip the bacon and brush the tops with the sugar mixture.
• Sprinkle with seasonings (such as chili powder, pie spice or Cajun seasoning). Continue baking until browned, 12 to 16 more minutes. Drain on paper towels.

REAL BACON BITS

Steps:

• To make the real deal, fry 8 slices bacon until extra crisp. Drain on paper towels, then finely chop and spread on a baking sheet. Bake in a 350 degrees F oven for 5 minutes. Let cool on clean paper towels until most of the fat is absorbed.

CARAMELIZED BACON

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line a sheet pan with aluminum foil (for easy cleaning) and place a wire baking rack on top.
• Combine the brown sugar and pecans in a food processor and process until the pecans are finely ground. Add the salt, black pepper and cayenne pepper and pulse to combine. Add the maple syrup and pulse again to moisten the crumbs.
• Cut each bacon slice in half crosswise and line up the pieces on the baking rack without touching. With a small spoon, evenly spread the pecan mixture on top of each piece of bacon, using all of the mixture. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the topping is very browned but not burnt. If it's underbaked, the bacon won't crisp as it cools.
• While it's hot, transfer the bacon to a plate lined with paper towels and set aside to cool. Serve at room temperature. (The caramelized bacon can be made early in the day and stored at room temperature.)

SPICED BACON BITS

Steps:

• In a bowl stir together the Worcestershire sauce, the brown sugar, the allspice, the cayenne, and black pepper to taste, add the bacon, and toss the mixture in 2 batches over moderately low heat, stirring frequently, until the bacon is crisp, transfer the bacon bits with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain, and sprinkle them with salt to taste. Serve the bacon bits as a topping for tomato or spinach salad.

SPICY CANDIED BACON

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Mix the chili powder and brown sugar in a shallow bowl.
• Fit a sheet of parchment paper onto a jelly-roll pan.
• Bury each slice of bacon in the chili and sugar mixture; rub both sides to assure the mixture adheres.
• Lay the bacon strips on the prepared pan.
• The bacon strips may be left flat or twisted two or three times by holding each end to make a candied "stick".
• Bake for 30 minutes without turning.
• Always transfer candied bacon using tongs; the hot sugar can easily burn your fingers.

SWEET AND SPICY BACON

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Stir together brown sugar, cayenne, and black pepper in a small bowl.
• Arrange bacon slices in l layer on a large broiler pan and bake in middle of oven (or upper third of oven if baking with eggs) 20 minutes. Turn slices over and sprinkle evenly with spiced sugar. Continue baking until bacon is crisp and brown, 15 to 20 minutes more, then transfer to paper towels to drain.