‘Bacon’ Articles at Sweetnicks

Recipe: Bunless Bacon Burger

June 8, 2015 · Narrative

Bunless Bacon Burger. Say *that* three times fast. Trying to avoid carbs or keep them at a minimum? This fun twist on a bunless burger wrapped in bacon might be just what you need. In fact, I’m sure of it.

For the most part, the kids like cheeseburgers.

And for the most part, I don’t eat a lot of carbs.

And bacon needs no explanation.

This recipe is kind of a riff on braciole, which loosely translates into … rolled up meat with delicious stuff inside.

Kidding. Kind of.

While this recipe may look fiddly and time consuming, I promise you, it’s not. Super simple. I don’t usually put photos of raw meat on the blog (in deference to my vegetarian readers), but you can see a messy in-process shot here for how I made them. You basically layer three pieces of bacon out for each burger. Spread the meat, top with the cheese, and peppers, roll up and bake.

Fancy enough for company or quick enough for a weeknight dinner.

The bacon on the outside gets nice and crispy, the beef tender, and that moment when you slice into it and all the cheese oozes out…? Heaven. Pure heaven.

You need these in your life.

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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.

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.

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.

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.

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Recipe: Pasta with Bacon & Leeks {Food Network}

March 27, 2014 · Narrative

A quick pasta dinner where bacon shines … kid-friendly, adult-approved, and perfect for company.

I’ve got to say, I might have salivated a little when I saw the most recent issue of Food Network magazine.

I mean.

Really.

Bacon.

It’s like they’re IN MY HEAD.

When it arrived, we were in the midst of planning a dinner with friends. Chrissie saw the cover recipe and said, “Make that, I’m coming.”

Loosely quoted.

And then there was a plan.

You know the whole spiel that you shouldn’t try out new recipes on company, right?

I threw caution to the wind.

Spit in the face of failure.

And delivered a delicious meal in the process.

Would you believe I’ve never had leeks?

True story.

This was my first time, and they couldn’t have been easier to prepare and blended so nicely with the heavy cream.

Seriously, though, is heavy cream ever not gonna work?

Especially when you pair it with the likes of bacon.

The crispier the better.

The recipe said 15 minutes, and it was spot on. Which meant it was perfect for entertaining. We chatted in the kitchen while I made it and put the finishing touches on the rest of our meal. It wasn’t a high-maintenance dish, which means it didn’t go south when we started talking about boys, ex-husbands, school bullies, and tattoo adventures.

Which is pretty much my favorite kind of recipe. Who needs high maintenance?

The only thing I changed was to add more bacon. Because. Well, bacon. And also because, as we rationalized, as a recipe from the BACON issue, and a dish that had BACON in its name, four slices just weren’t gonna cut it.

So I think I added seven.

It might have needed even more.

And our starter? These bacon-wrapped jalapenos. And, um, the entire plate of everything was gone by the end of the night.

Pretty much my favorite way to end a dinner with friends.

Make it!

Hungry for more bacon recipes?
These Flourless Peanut Butter & Bacon Cookies are so light and so good!
Our dogs go crazy for these homemade Peanut Butter & Bacon treats and I bet yours will too.
This Hot Bacon and Cheese Dip is pretty much my favorite.
Bacon Cracker Appetizers … addicting!

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Recipe: Bacon-Wrapped Stuffed Jalapeno Peppers

March 10, 2014 · Narrative

A super quick, sure to impress, stuffed jalapenos recipe featuring bacon. And really, how can you go wrong from there?

On Mondays, I try to have my blog post written earlier because I want to watch The Bachelor live so a girlfriend and I can do a play-by-play on everything that went down.

#commitment

Because, well, how better than to exclaim with shock when you hear some of the things that come out of The Bachelorettes’ mouths? And if there isn’t a drinking game for Juan Pablo’s go-to line of “…es ok,” well, then, there should be.

#Bachelorhumor

So tonight’s post had to be an easy one to write. So I’m not behind on Bachelor shenanigans.

Of course I went with bacon.

Because, you know … bacon.

I first made this new-to-me bacon-wrapped stuffed jalapeno recipe last weekend when friends came over.

And omg.

Really.

So this weekend, when I needed a go-to, sure-to-impress appetizer recipe while entertaining a new friend of the male persuasion, I made these again.

Because, you know … bacon.

And as he said after his first bite, “…these are f***ing good,” and then he followed that up by apologizing for swearing. Which was then followed with asking me how I feel about swearing.

Now, in all honesty, me and jalapenos do not have a good track record. Which means I mostly avoid cooking with them, because oh the burn! No matter how careful I am, I always end up cursing the moment that I decided to cook with jalapenos and swear I will never do it again.

But then I find a recipe with bacon and all bets are off.

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Recipe: Flourless Peanut Butter Bacon Cookies

January 7, 2014 · Narrative

Peanut butter and bacon come together to make one sinfully delicious cookie.

When we were planning which recipes we were going to make for our holiday cookies trays, the kids and I decided on a good mix of old favorites and new discoveries.

And bacon.

Because, after all, if we’re going to be making Peanut Butter Bacon treats for the dogs, we might as well make something bacon-themed for us as well. Via these Flourless Peanut Butter Bacon Cookies.

By crisping up all the bacon for both recipes at the same time, it was easy to make quick work and get both recipes banged out in nothing flat.

And you know, bacon.

We love these cookies.

Much like the traditional criss-cross peanut butter cookie we all know and love, these Flourless Peanut Butter Bacon Cookies are slightly different with the addition of crispy bacon bits and the omission of flour. Perfect for all your gluten-free friends! By omitting the flour, it does make a very fragile cookie, so these are best when *not* served on a cookie platter or sent in the mail.

So, you know, pretty much stellar for enjoying in the confines of your own kitchen. Or with your very bestest friends. Or the cutest kitchen helpers you know.

‘Cause we always have time for that.

Don’t let the cookies’ fragility keep you from making them. You just need to be gentle when stacking or plating because they break easily.

They’re definitely all-stars and worth making.

Again and again and again.

Because, you know, BACON.

It is a delicate sugary, crispy, salty party in your mouth with each and every bite. Just double the bacon.

Hungry for more bacon recipes?
This Hot Bacon & Cheese Dip is a must-make. Trust me.
These Bacon Crackers are deliciously addictive and hitting our oven again tonight.

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Recipe: Peanut Butter Bacon Dog Treats

January 6, 2014 · Narrative

Homemade dog treats filled with peanut butter and bacon. The perfect thing to make for your favorite dog.

Last year, I wasn’t motivated to bake masses amounts of cookies for the holidays.

But this year, we more than made up for it.

I think between the kids and I, we ended up making about 15 different kinds of cookies, seven different kinds of fudge, and two rounds of homemade dog biscuits.

It was awesome.

We delivered cookie platters to friends and neighbors during Christmas week. And then did another round, this time with fudge platters, to more friends, favorite teachers, and, you know, our own kitchen counter stash.

And then, it was dog treats.

Because how could we neglect the favorite pups in our lives?

And, you know, bacon.

Because if there is ever an excuse to cook and crisp up a pound of bacon to snatch pieces from, we’ll find it.

And so Merry (and a handful of other dogs) got to enjoy these homemade Peanut Butter Bacon Dog Treats.

Heart-shaped of course.

Merry is an odd dog, base case. Very picky about her treats. And she doesn’t like peanut butter.

Which means that although we went ahead and made these anyway, I wasn’t holding out any hope that she might like them.

But in a true testament to her oddities, even though she despises peanut butter, she was all over these.

She knows exactly which container we keep them in.

What it sounds like when we open that container, even if she’s in the other room.

And devours them.

So much so that we have made several batches since the first.

Featuring all natural ingredients and no chemicals, preservatives, additives or any other junk you don’t want in your pet’s food, these are super simple to make with just a handful of items.

In fact, the kids and their babysitter made the first batch together.

If you have a pup that you want to spoil, they will love you forever for these treats.

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Recipe: Hot Bacon and Cheese Dip

December 5, 2013 · Narrative

Warm melted cheese, crispy bacon, and buttery cracker crumbs make this appetizer dip a real winner.

When we had our All Things Bacon party a few weeks ago, I quickly declared this Hot Bacon and Cheese Dip the star of the night, followed by these Bacon Crackers. I texted my friend the very next day to get the recipe. It’s super simple to make and a definite crowd pleaser … and perfect for any entertaining you might be doing in the coming weeks.

I mean. Really. Warm, gooey cheese. Crispy, slightly salty bacon. Subtly rich, but not so much so.

Is there any way this could possibly go wrong?

Not a chance.

And since I’m not eating carbs, I should probably tell you that this dip tastes equally delicious slathered on a piece of grilled chicken too. In case you happen to be going carb-free too.

And, you know, even straight from a spoon if you don’t want that little smidge at the bottom of the dish to go to waste.

When you’re short on time, but need an appetizer for your next gathering, this is it. After crisping up the bacon, you just mix a few ingredients in a bowl, bake, top with cracker crumbs. Devour. It doesn’t get better (and easier) than that.

And tomorrow? A new-to-me gift giving source.

Recipe: Hot Bacon and Cheese Dip

Ingredients

1 8-oz package cream cheese, softened (I used reduced fat)
1/2 cup mayo (I used 1/3 less fat Hellmann's)
1 cup Swiss cheese
1/3 cup chopped onions
7 slices cooked crisp bacon
1/2 cup crushed Ritz crackers

Instructions

Mix cream cheese, mayo, Swiss cheese, and onions.
Spread in flat dish and top with bacon and cracker crumbs.
Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes.

https://sweetnicks.com/2013/12/recipe-hot-bacon-and-cheese-dip/

Recipe: Bacon Crackers {Appetizer}

November 7, 2013 · Narrative

A crispy little easy-to-make bacon appetizer that will have you begging for more.

A few weeks ago, I met someone that had just moved here from Alabama for his job. Although he grew up in New Jersey, his wife didn’t and knew not a soul.

So, of course, I thought, “we must have a party to introduce her around!”

And then I thought … bacon.

Because that’s pretty much how my mind works.

For years now, I have been meaning to have a repeat of our All Things Bacon party that we had back in ’09, but just haven’t gotten around to it (distracted by Bright Shiny Things Syndrome), so I knew that this was the perfect theme for our get-together.

I invited a bunch of the friendliest faces I know in the neighborhood and everyone brought a dish (or three) that had bacon as an ingredient.

That afternoon, I cooked up four pounds of bacon.

Which means the house and the neighborhood smelled amazing.

For days.

And bacon leftovers?

Yes, please.

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Recipe: Bacon and Bleu Pinwheels {Pillsbury}

November 5, 2013 · Narrative

Bacon, Bleu cheese, and Boursin come together to make a delicious little party in your mouth … and the perfect appetizer for the holidays.

Now that Nick has fallen in love with these Cinnamon Crescent Rolls, every time he sees a roll of crescent roll dough in the refrigerator, he thinks it’s going to be his lucky day. So imagine his disappointment when I told him I wasn’t making them last night. Not to worry, he quickly rebounded when I mentioned bacon.

Both the kids are serious bacon addicts. To the point that I usually have to make twice as much as I need for a recipe because they will grab the crispy pieces as soon as they are cool enough to touch.

And, frankly, I don’t blame them.

When Pillsbury asked me to take a favorite recipe of theirs and put a twist on it for the holidays, I couldn’t agree fast enough.

First, because I love working with Pillsbury.

And second, because, well, bacon.

Who turns down a bacon project?

Not this girl.

I am a big fan of pinwheels. It’s a super simple appetizer to make, and the perfect holiday food. You know how when you’re celebrating holidays, everyone congregates in the kitchen? And you want to chat and keep them happy, but you still have exactly 13 dishes left to make and cook?

This is when these pinwheels are going to come in handy. Make ’em first, platter them up, and serve to your kitchen guests. Their mouths are busy munching, while you can finish your mile-long to-do list without too much distraction.

I took the Pillsbury recipe and made a few changes.

I used garlic dough, instead of regular.

Because everything is better with more garlic.

And instead of ranch, I used Boursin.

The garlic kind.

Yep. Double garlic in these babies.

Crispy bacon pieces.

And crumbled bleu cheese.

Lots of it.

Smatter it all about. Roll up the dough. Cut the spirals. Bake. Devour.

And suddenly holidays just got a little less complicated.

Tomorrow? Sahara Sam’s.

Hungry for more bacon recipes?
Devils on Horseback are OMG good, and not to be missed.
One of our favorite homemade pizzas ever.
Grilled cheese, bacon, and avocado. A delicious combination of comfort food.

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