the Bacon Nation blog

serves four


25 grams dried porcini mushrooms
1 tablespoon sunflower oil
1.5kg guinea fowl
150 grams thick-cut streaky bacon, or gammon steak cut into short, chunky strips
1 large onion, chopped
8 small garlic cloves, thinly sliced
100ml dry white wine
150ml chicken stock
A little grated fresh nutmeg
25 grams unsalted butter, chilled
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

Cover the mushrooms with 200ml boiling water and soak for 20 minutes. Preheat the oven to 200°C/fan180°C/gas 6. Heat the oil in a small casserole. Season the guinea fowl inside and out, add to the casserole and brown all over. Lift out, then add the bacon or gammon and fry until golden. Add the onion and fry over a medium heat for 5 minutes until soft.

Drain the mushrooms, reserving the liquid, and slice any large ones. Add to the casserole with the garlic and fry for 2-3 minutes. Add the wine and mushroom liquid and simmer vigorously until well reduced. Return the guinea fowl to the casserole, pour over the stock and cover with a tight-fitting lid. Cook in the oven for 45 minutes to 1 hour.

Lift the guinea fowl onto a board. Cover tightly with foil and let it rest for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, stir the nutmeg and butter into the casserole, and vigorously simmer until reduced to a well-flavoured sauce. Don’t let it go too far or it will get salty. Stir in the parsley. Carve as you would for chicken and divide between 4 warmed plates. Spoon over the sauce and serve.

That’s right…you heard me correctly…BACON…BEER…CORNBREAD!

Hmmmmm…

I like beer…

I like bacon…

I like cornbread…

WIN!

Bacon Beer Cornbread

Ingredients:

• 6 slices thick-cut bacon, chopped
• 1 1/2 cups finely ground cornmeal
• 1 1/2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 1/2 tablespoons baking powder
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 3 large eggs
• 1 cup of your favorite beer
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/3 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted

More photos and directions over at How Sweet It Is. Go visit!

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Summer is truly the season of salads. I just showed you how to make something a little different, in a quinoa salad, and now let’s hop back on the traditional bandwagon with good old fashioned creamy macaroni salad. I’m going to change it up a little bit with the addition of some more slightly exotic [...]

makes six servings


2 lbs. large cooked shrimp, peeled and deveined with tails removed
1 (12 oz.) package bacon, cut into small pieces
1/2 onion, diced
3 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, minced
12 corn tortillas (or flour)
1 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
juice of one lime
2 avocados, diced (optional)
Monterey jack cheese (optional)

 In a large skillet cook bacon over medium high heat until evenly browned. Drain the bacon fat from the skillet. Add diced onions and stir fry for 5 minutes or until the onions are tender. Add shrimp and diced chipotle peppers. Cook 4 minutes or until heated through.

Heat tortillas in a skillet over medium high heat for 10 seconds. Turn over and heat for another 5-10 seconds. Fill heated tortillas with shrimp mixture top with cilantro, lime juice, avocado and cheese.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Bobby, BlogChef.net, August 11, 2009

On season 5 episode 14 we talked about food and drink related reality TV shows, Bacon Salts big plans for TV, bacon smell update, vegans, soul food, Sean announced he finish the Mr. Baconpants novel, and we finished up the show with talk of a bacon contest.

We are almost back on track with getting all the show notes posted. Let hope by this time next week I will be posting these the day after we record the show.

Go to BaconLIVE.com to learn how to subscribe and/or watch us live Wednesdays at 7pm ET!

If you’re anything like me, the moment the weather even hints at spring, when it’s raining three-quarters of the time and only the bravest and most stalwart crocuses dare show their faces, I’ve already fired up the barbecue. While I love to bake (bacon cupcakes, of course), and there is much to be said for [...]

makes about 24


Cupcakes
1 cup small diced chicken breast (12 ounces wt.)
3 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup each 1/8-inch-diced onion, celery and red bell pepper
1 tablespoon minced garlic
3/4 cup cornmeal
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 tablespoon Old Bay seasoning
2 eggs
1/3 cup whole milk
1/3 cup sour cream
1/2 cup frozen corn kernels, thawed and drained well
8 strips cooked bacon, chopped fine (about 1/2 cup chopped)

Frosting
4 ounce cream cheese, at room temperature
1 1/2 tablespoon milk
1 teaspoon Tabasco sauce

Garnish
2 thinly sliced green onions

Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F.

To make the cupcakes: Spray nonstick mini-muffin tins with cooking spray. Set aside.

Cut chicken breast into 1/4-inch small pieces. In a small skillet or sauté pan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the chicken breast and sauté for about 3 minutes moving around the pan with a spoon. When chicken is three-quarters cooked then add the onion, celery, and bell pepper for about 3 to 4 minutes more, until vegetables are just starting to get tender. Add the garlic and sauté about 30 seconds more. Let cool.

Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk together the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, and Old Bay seasoning; set aside. In a large bowl, whisk together the egg, milk, and sour cream.
Once the cooked mixture is cooled, add the cornmeal mixture to the egg mixture and mix lightly. Fold in the drained corn, bacon, and cooked and vegetables. Do not overmix; fold in just until evenly distributed.

Divide batter between the prepared mini muffin cups, fill to the top – you will get about 24 cupcakes. Bake the cupcakes for about 22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in cupcake center comes out clean.

Let the cupcakes cool in the pan for about 5 minutes, then carefully remove them from the pan and let cool briefly on a wire rack before frosting. The cupcakes can be made up to 1 day in advance, covered, and refrigerated before frosting. Refrigeration is imperative if making in advance. If reheating cupcakes, warm them for minute or so in a 350-degree F oven before frosting.

To make the frosting: In a small bowl, mash the cream cheese with a fork, then whisk in the milk and Tabasco until smooth and creamy. Top each cupcake with about 1 teaspoon of frosting then sprinkle with green onion for garnish. Serve warm.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Kathy Casey, Kathy Casey Food Studios-Liquid Kitchen, 5130 Ballard Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98107 | on Seattle Tall Poppy, March 2011