December 17, 2018

Candied Maple Bacon

Posted by HI Cookery under 12 December | Tags: , , , |
1 Comment 

Candied Maple Bacon

December 17: National Maple Syrup Day

Maple syrup and brown sugar on bacon? Oh my! This is a triple threat treat that is both savory and sweet at the same time. It is so irresistible just right out of the oven that we are too impatient to let the candied maple bacon slices cool to a crisp. This snack is definitely not for the health conscious so we rarely indulge on candied maple bacon—except on National Maple Syrup Day (and the upcoming National Bacon Day on December 30)!

Recipe

Ingredients

  • 1 pound thick cut bacon (we used maple flavor)
  • 1/3 cup maple syrup
  • ½ cup brown sugar

Directions

Line a jelly roll/lipped baking pan with foil and place a wire rack in the middle. Cut the bacon in half and place the slices on top of the wire rack. Brush with maple syrup. Sprinkle with brown sugar. Bake in a preheated oven at 400 degrees F for 10-15 minutes.

Remove from the oven and turn over the bacon slices on the wire rack. Brush again with maple syrup and sprinkle with more brown sugar. Return to the oven and bake for 10 minutes more or until crisp. Watch carefully to make sure the bacon does not burn. Remove from the oven and immediately place the candied bacon on a sheet of waxed paper to prevent sticking to the wire rack as it cools. Serve at room temperature or reheat if desired.

Notes

  • In addition to December 30, some sources note that other bacon holidays include February 26 and September (the Saturday before Labor Day). These are additional days that we get to indulge in candied maple bacon!
  • Search our blog for other recipes that include maple syrup as an ingredient.
 

September 1, 2012

Bacon-Wrapped Water Chestnuts

Posted by HI Cookery under 09 September | Tags: , , , , , , |
1 Comment 

Bacon-Wrapped Water Chestnuts

Bacon-Wrapped Water Chestnuts

September (Saturday before U.S. Labor Day):  International Bacon Day

Everything is better with bacon—especially when wrapped around roasted water chestnuts and smothered in a sweet barbecue-style sauce! We serve these bite-sized bundles as appetizers and they are really popular at parties and potlucks.  They may be messy to make but they can be prepared ahead of time and then served later. Celebrate with a savory sampler at your next social gathering and on International Bacon Day—bake bacon-wrapped water chestnuts!

Recipe

(From Ingrid K.)

  • 1 pound bacon strips
  • 2 cans (8 ounces) whole roasted water chestnuts
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • ¾ cup ketchup
  • ¾ cup brown sugar (we used C&H brand)

Directions

Soak toothpicks in water to prevent them from burning in the oven. Cut bacon strips in half or thirds and peel apart. Drain the cans of chestnuts and pat dry. In a large bowl, mix the Worcestershire sauce with the ketchup and brown sugar until smooth.

Bacon-Wrapped Water Chestnuts

Stir in the chestnuts and bacon until well coated. Wrap a piece of bacon around a chestnut, rinse hands in a bowl of water and secure with a toothpick. Place each on a foil-lined baking sheet. Repeat for the remaining chestnuts and bacon.

Bacon-Wrapped Water Chestnuts

Spoon the extra sauce on the bacon-wrapped chestnuts. Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees F for 35 minutes, making sure the bacon is thoroughly cooked. Carefully remove each piece and serve on appetizer trays.

Bacon-Wrapped Water Chestnuts

Notes

  • Thanks to Ingrid K., Highlander’s former co-worker, for giving us this recipe at her retirement party.
  • Other Bacon Day dates include the first Saturday in January after the new year and February 19. In Manchester (United Kingdom), it is observed on January 14. A Facebook users group is promoting March 5 as National Bacon Day.
 

March 31, 2012

Bacon-Wrapped Tater Tots

Posted by HI Cookery under 03 March | Tags: , , , , , , |
Leave a Comment 

Bacon-Wrapped Tater Tots

Bacon-Wrapped Tater Tots

March 31: National Tater Day

Instead of French fries with our fast food, we sometimes order tater tots as a tasty alternative side dish. Tater tots are tiny versions of hash browns and other breakfast-style potatoes, too. When wrapped in and baked with bacon, they become an even better snack. Because they are quick and easy to prepare, they are a popular appetizer for game-day get-togethers, such as when watching March Madness on television (according to Highlander and Islander’s brother, Kahuna). Bake some bacon-wrapped tater tots for casual gatherings and on National Tater Day.

Recipe

(Adapted from Rachael Ray)

Ingredients

  • Frozen tater tots (we used Ore-Ida brand extra crispy tater tots)
  • Slices of bacon

Directions

Soak toothpicks in water so they do not burn in the oven. Cut each bacon strip in half. Roll the bacon around a tater tot with about half an inch overlap. Secure with a toothpick (see Notes). Continue wrapping bacon around as many tater tots as desired.

Bacon-Wrapped Tater Tots

Place on a foil-lined lipped pan and bake in a preheated oven at 450 degrees F for 15-20 minutes or until the bacon is browned, crisp and cooked through. Remove from the oven and put on paper towels to drain any grease. Serve hot.

Bacon-Wrapped Tater Tots

Notes

  • Because the tater tot is still frozen, the toothpick will not go all the way through when wrapping the bacon over it. After baking, carefully push the toothpick through the tater tot.
  • Eat bacon-wrapped tater tots in moderation! They are flavorful but fattening.
  • Bacon can be wrapped around many things besides tater tots (pineapple chunks, dates, shrimp, etc.). Try wrapping them around water chestnuts and baking them in barbecue sauce. Refer to the recipe for bacon-wrapped water chestnuts in our September blog post for International Bacon Day.
  • Say cheese! Sprinkle shredded Parmesan or cheddar cheese after baking the bacon-wrapped tater tots for additional flavor.