Once upon a time when I was new to a group of friends, a now-dear pal asked about the fruit salad at a summer party, “Is it vegetarian?” I laughed out loud, wondering how a fruit salad could possibly incorporate meat. Little did I know that my gang could find a way to sneak bacon into just about anything. “Bacon makes it better” is a favorite motto.
Bacon has gotten a bad reputation as a greasy diner food that has no place in a healthy diet; but cooks can use bacon to add punch to otherwise boring meals without going overboard. I think the larger problem with this salt-satisfying cured pork product is that although it is easy to cook, it’s messy and sometimes painful (splatters! ouch!) with intense cleanup. And the house can smell like bacon for days.
When I have bacon on hand, I will cook a pound in the oven on a Sunday evening and then use it sparingly during the week. If the idea of cooking an entire pound is too much for you, just do one tray and freeze the other half-pound for another week. This method is simple, easy to clean up, and creates amazingly flat slices of cooked bacon. The odor dissipates more quickly, and best of all, you don’t have to stand over a hot stove nursing your splattered skin as you try to turn the slices over.
We like to make BLT’s on whole wheat bread with a side of vinaigrette-dressed slaw. This makes a quick dinner on a night when we’re all running out to meetings, practice, and coffee dates. It’s also a perfect solution to a morning playdate that spills over into lunch.
When I have cooked bacon on hand I dice and sprinkle it onto baked potatoes with light sour cream to create a restaurant-style “loaded” baked potato; crumble and top creamy soups such as chowders or potato soups for maximum crowd-appeal; and dice and add just a slice or two to big leafy salads with slices of grilled chicken, shrimp, or steak.
My personal favorite? Add the pre-cooked bacon to a quiche for a fancy lunch with friends and add a salad on the side. Once you have mastered the basic method for quiche, the variations are endless. Quiche is elegant for entertaining during the day–even if you have vegetarian guests, because it is just as easy to make two pies–one with bacon or ham, one without. When I made this heavenly Zucchini, Bacon, and Gruyere Quiche, I roasted the bacon in the oven and sauteed the veggies in olive oil. I also used a favorite brand of frozen pie crust to save time. (Cheater method: you can even use pre-cooked bacon!)
Bacon Lovers’ Recipes
In the winter I aim for one type of soup per week. Unfortunately, my husband doesn’t see soup as a satisfying meal unless it contains fatty meat products and is accompanied by bread of some sort (sound familiar?), so I try to add things to round out our dinner. I used to stop at a bakery for fresh bread on soup day, but now that I have two busy kids I find that extra stop to be a chore. Savory Bacon and Cheddar Muffins are easy to pull together (you can make the batter the night before and scoop and bake at dinner time) and are a good complement to a soup or salad meal. Vary them by using herbs or other cheeses, or diced ham in place of the bacon if that’s what you have on hand.
And one last surprise. No, no, I am not giving you a bacon-laced fruit dish here–instead another rather unexpectedly delicious flavor combination: Maple-Laced Bacon & Chocolate Chip Cookies. Make them for a tailgate party or any other gathering that includes the meat-loving people in your life.
From the Editor
Swine Dining
Cooking from the Carpool Lane
Rats! We finished up the last of our bacon yesterday morning. I love the stuff and could eat it all day, so I will definitely have to try out some of your recipes. I feel a run to the store coming on. Thanks for sharing!
We love bacon but rarely use to it cook b/c of the mess & hassle. I love the idea of baking bacon to reduce the mess and saving it to use over the course of the week. I have the same problem with soup, can’t wait to try out the muffins to accompany it — sounds like a winner for everyone at the table!
I’m really intrigued by the bacon and chocolate chip cookies. Can’t wait to try them!
The quiche is to die for! I made it this week.
I love bacon but would never have thought to put it in muffins. I can’t wait to try them.
I love these ideas and can’t wait to try the quiche. Another way to freeze bacon is to roll up two to four slices at a time, wrap each roll in plastic wrap, then freeze the rolls. You can thaw a few slices at a time for a recipe. For some recipes–such as black beans and rice–you can chop the frozen bacon and cook it as is.
I can’t wait to try the muffins with a soup…and my husband will be beside himself with joy if I start incorporating bacon into our meals.
These ideas are fabulous. My husband, a true bacon lover, will be ever so grateful! Thanks!
I love the quiche recipe – looks yummy! Thanks Robin!
Thanks for the great ideas Robin! I just added bacon to my shopping list for the week.
I’m excited to try the quiche and the cookies. I never would have thought to pair bacon and chocolate chip cookies, but hearing it now it sounds delicious!
Jenn, How about chocolate-covered bacon? It exists!
I love new brunch ideas. The muffins sound right up my alley and real men do eat quiche especially if it has bacon in it. Not sure about the cookies but why not. I’ll try anything once.
The quiche are perfect for my family. I am the lone vegetarian in a family full of serious meat eaters. Thanks for your fabulous ideas!
Omg, chocolate-covered bacon??? Swoon.
Robin
Good luck with your new plummio, now I now were I can get som recipes and if I am looking for some thing a little diff I well now just were to go.
good luck.
love
anita
MMMMM….bacon! What isn’t better with bacon? On a whim about a year ago, I made chocolate chip and bacon cookies (inspired by a gourmet chocolate bar with bacon that I bought my husband for Christmas). His co-workers are still asking for the recipe! My husband loves to make homemade ice cream, so now you have me thinking how to incorporate bacon into it. Maybe maple walnut and (thank you Sarah from the above post) chocolate covered bacon chips??? Robin, you are right…everything is better with bacon! Can’t wait to try the quiche recipe.