#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛
Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged photo, but Lola just has ZERO boundaries and Clifford is exceptionally patient. 😂
I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s so good for you), so when I saw that a local patisserie has a smoked salmon croissant available (weekends only), I added it to my list of things to seek out. I popped into @chocolatinenj early on Mother’s Day and was rewarded with this deliciousness. Layers of soft flaky croissant dough, tender smoked salmon, light whipped cream, thinly sliced red and green onion slivers and dotted with capers… it was every bit as amazing as you’d imagine it would be. If you’re local, don’t sleep on this one. 😋
Weekend photos in review, the belated edition. 1/ Weekend photos in review, the belated edition.

1/ hit up a few yard sales and snagged this beautiful pasta dish from Italy with my favorite color for a buck, 2/ and one of these printer trays came home with me too, 3/ pre Mother’s Day celebrations with 30 local moms, 4/ finished the weekend supervising furniture assembly
Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd bir Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd birthday. Unfortunately she’s not here to celebrate because she died suddenly at age 49. I think of her often … every Mother’s Day because we spent most of them together since her husband worked weekends … when I discover a new food adventure (we once did a day long donut crawl) … when I’m sharing a special time with my kids knowing that her then-11 year old is growing up without her. Before she passed, I always appreciated every day, but since then, even more so. You never know what the next day can bring, so relish in the sunshine, surprise rainstorms, making wishes over railroad tracks and all the wonderful randomness life can throw your way. Don’t waste a single second, say yes, live on the outskirts of your comfort zone, laugh often, tell people you love them, give eight second hugs, and squeeze every ounce of joy you can out of life. Do it for the people who can’t. ✨
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Sweetnicks

Food and Life

Recipe: Balsamic Strawberries with Crisp Cherrywood Smoked Bacon atop Vanilla Ice Cream

June 30, 2014 · Narrative

Balsamic macerated strawberries, crispy bacon, vanilla bean ice cream. The most unusual sundae that works in a purely magical way.

Balsamic Strawberry Sundae - lone shot-001

After meeting the team from Jones Dairy Farm back in February, I knew I wanted to work with them. For a variety of reasons. Because I loved their mission statement. Because their products contain no filler or unpronounceable ingredients. Because they are a family business. And, you know. Bacon.

Because c’mon on…

My first assignment for Jones Dairy Farm was to create a recipe with their bacon. Not just any bacon, mind you. Dry aged. Cherrywood smoked. Thick cut. Pretty much the bacon to end all bacon.

In the grand scheme of things, it’s not hard to create a bacon recipe. But I wanted to do some out-of-the-box thinking with this one. Create something completely different. A recipe you wouldn’t have thought of on your own.

And here we are.

Balsamic Strawberry Sundae-001

Now besides the fact that this recipe features bacon, tomorrow is also the kick off of National Ice Cream Month. Yes, a full month to celebrate ice cream. And this recipe to celebrate bacon.

I mean, life can hardly get better.

This recipe is super simple, and took full advantage of the fresh strawberries we picked recently. You’ll get a subtle, rich tang after you marinate the chopped strawberries in balsamic vinegar, and the extra juice is perfect when lightly drizzled over your ice cream. Top it with the crispy chopped pieces of bacon, and well, it’s honestly just awesomeness in your mouth.

And the neighbors I force fed it to completely agree.

Jones Dairy Farms bacon - sideways-001

One more thing. I don’t cook the bacon in a pan. That’s so old school. I bake it in the oven. I’ve been doing it that way as long as I can remember and it’s the best way to cook bacon for three simple reasons:

1 – no splatter or mess on your stove top and also no babysitting

2 – by putting it on a wire rack set inside the cookie sheet (as pictured above), you allow the bacon to get perfectly crispy from all sides

3 – the bacon doesn’t cook in the grease, as it would in the pan, since it drips to the bottom. which makes it a tiny bit healthier. and that means you can have more. You’re welcome.

Celebrate summer. And National Ice Cream Month. And most of all, BACON, with this simple, but blow-your-mind recipe.

For even more Jones Dairy Farm goodness, be sure to grab a copy of their just-released cookbook. It was put together to celebrate their 125th year anniversary and features many bacon recipes, along with highlighting their other products as well. Everything from breakfast to dessert is yours for the making. Free to download.

image

Balsamic Strawberries with Crisp Cherrywood Smoked Bacon atop Vanilla Ice Cream
Recipe courtesy of Cate O’Malley

Four servings

Ingredients
6 slices Jones Dairy Farm cherrywood smoked bacon
2 cups strawberries
5 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup sugar
vanilla bean ice cream

Directions
1 – Preheat oven to 425. Put a wire rack on a cookie sheet and lay the bacon on the wire rack in a single layer. Bake in oven for 30 minutes, or until it reaches desired crispiness.
2 – While the bacon is cooking, rinse the strawberries, cut the tops off, and quarter them. Set aside.
3 – Put the balsamic vinegar in a bowl and add the sugar. Stir and let it sit until the sugar dissolves (about 10 minutes).
4 – Once the sugar has dissolved, add the strawberries to the balsamic vinegar mixture and toss to coat.
5 – Once the bacon is cooked, remove from oven, let cool slightly and chop into bite size pieces.
6 – Divide your ice cream into four sundae dishes, top with the strawberries, a little drizzle of the marinade, and the crispy bacon.

I was compensated to create this recipe through my work with Jones Dairy Farm. All opinions are my own.

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Posted In: Narrative · Tagged: bacon, Jones Dairy Farm, National Ice Cream Month, recipe, sundae

Comments

  1. Joanne says

    July 1, 2014 at 7:08 am

    So how long until 16 Handles adds bacon to their toppings after seeing this?! Crazy, but awesome!
    Joanne recently posted..Ultimate Cherry Pie

    Reply
  2. Beth @ The First Year says

    July 1, 2014 at 8:40 am

    What a fun combination to put together!
    Beth @ The First Year recently posted..Banana Split Pudding Pops

    Reply
  3. Becky Mortson says

    July 1, 2014 at 9:00 am

    Im beginning to love Balsamic Strawberries with Crisp Bacon! thank you for the great idea!
    Becky Mortson recently posted..Build Better Knees program is available now…

    Reply
  4. Meg says

    July 1, 2014 at 10:36 am

    This sounds amazing. Love all the contrasting flavors — so unique! <3
    Meg recently posted..Settled-ish

    Reply
  5. Christie - Food Done Light says

    July 1, 2014 at 11:09 am

    Oh, I know this is going to be good! Love the bacon on top of vanilla ice cream.
    Christie – Food Done Light recently posted..Saving and Printing Recipes with Ziplist

    Reply
  6. Martha @ A Family Feast says

    July 1, 2014 at 7:17 pm

    What?!?! This sounds fantastic!! I love that Jones cherrywood bacon…and in ice cream…with balsamic strawberries… Oh. My… What a great recipe!
    Martha @ A Family Feast recently posted..Grilled Steak and Corn Salad

    Reply

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#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛

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#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛
Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged photo, but Lola just has ZERO boundaries and Clifford is exceptionally patient. 😂
I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s so good for you), so when I saw that a local patisserie has a smoked salmon croissant available (weekends only), I added it to my list of things to seek out. I popped into @chocolatinenj early on Mother’s Day and was rewarded with this deliciousness. Layers of soft flaky croissant dough, tender smoked salmon, light whipped cream, thinly sliced red and green onion slivers and dotted with capers… it was every bit as amazing as you’d imagine it would be. If you’re local, don’t sleep on this one. 😋
Weekend photos in review, the belated edition. 1/ Weekend photos in review, the belated edition.

1/ hit up a few yard sales and snagged this beautiful pasta dish from Italy with my favorite color for a buck, 2/ and one of these printer trays came home with me too, 3/ pre Mother’s Day celebrations with 30 local moms, 4/ finished the weekend supervising furniture assembly
Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd bir Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd birthday. Unfortunately she’s not here to celebrate because she died suddenly at age 49. I think of her often … every Mother’s Day because we spent most of them together since her husband worked weekends … when I discover a new food adventure (we once did a day long donut crawl) … when I’m sharing a special time with my kids knowing that her then-11 year old is growing up without her. Before she passed, I always appreciated every day, but since then, even more so. You never know what the next day can bring, so relish in the sunshine, surprise rainstorms, making wishes over railroad tracks and all the wonderful randomness life can throw your way. Don’t waste a single second, say yes, live on the outskirts of your comfort zone, laugh often, tell people you love them, give eight second hugs, and squeeze every ounce of joy you can out of life. Do it for the people who can’t. ✨

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