Category Archives: Uncategorized

REVIEW – FilterChef

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So a few weeks back, I got on a mini kick about bacon grease.  During that time, I came across this:

how-it-works-mini

The FilterChef!

I was intrigued, so I went ahead a bought one.  Man, am I glad I did!

FULL DISCLOSURE: I bought this product myself and I am not being compensated in any way for my review.  Photos after the jump.

Here’s a gallery of images from my first use of the FilterChef.  The micro-screen really does a great job straining the grease and you are left with golden goodness to be used in a multitude of recipes.

fchef1 fchef2 fchef3 fchef4 fchef5 fchef6 fchef7 fchef8

Best of all, clean up was a snap AND it looks great in the kitchen.  A far cry from grandma’s Taster’s Choice coffee can in the fridge.

If you like bacon and want to add a little taste to your recipes, then I can not recommend this any more.  You can pick them up at their website!

So now I have what I need to begin my next challenge – the bacon infused bourbon!

Originally posted 2009-07-10 12:06:39.

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Bacon Pic of the Day – I’m Eatin’…

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whatever these guys are sellin’!

on a stick people…ON A STICK!!!

Come on Michigan, let’s bring the State Fair back!!  Look at what we are missing out on!

via ThatsNerdalicious

Originally posted 2010-09-01 20:21:21.

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Pig Nuts!!!

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Yes, I said it, PIG NUTS!!!  Pig Nuts, Pig Nuts, Pig Nuts!!!

Candies Pig Nuts!

I CAN NOT BELIEVE that in the 2 1/3 years of this blog I had yet to come across this incredible recipe. God bless Instructables!

Better yet – I have EVERYTHING to make this in my kitchen RIGHT NOW!

It will happen this weekend.  I will have PIG NUTS!

Candied Pig Nuts

Ingredients:

16oz. Shelled Pecans Halves (thinking of using almonds too) 12oz. package thin-sliced uncooked Bacon 1 Large room temperature egg (just the white) 2tsp. Maple Syrup (or Maple-flavor Syrup) 2tsp. Cold water 3/4C. White Granulated Sugar 1/4C. Light Brown Sugar 2tsp. Ground Cinnamon (Reduce to 1tsp. if fresh-ground) Butter flavored cooking spray 1/2tsp. Bacon Salt OPTIONAL 1/2tsp. Dried Red Pepper Flakes

Directions:

You have to visit Instructables for the step-by-step (photos included for you visual learners).

Thank you to aristocob for your fantastic recipe AND sharing it with the world!

Originally posted 2011-04-15 20:31:21.

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Better with Bacon – Blazin’ Hot Bacon Dip…

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Oh Paula Deen!  I know my boy Anthony Bourdain doesn’t think that highly of you, but I’ve got a little place in my (clogged) heart for you!

This is one of hers, courtesy of Smithfield (hence the shout of in the recipe):

Blazin’ Hot Bacon Dip

Ingredients 1/2 lb. Smithfield bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled 8 oz cream cheese 1 (10 oz.) can of diced tomatoes with green chilies, drained 2 limes, juiced 1/2 chipotle pepper in adobo sauce, chopped 1 bunch cilantro, roughly chopped Salt and pepper to taste Directions: Place all ingredients, except Smithfield bacon, in the bowl of a food processor and pulse a few times to combine. Do not process until completely smooth, keep slightly chunky. Pour mixture into a mixing bowl and fold in all but a tablespoon of bacon. Pour dip into a serving bowl and top with remaining tablespoon bacon. Serve with tortilla chips, crackers or vegetables.

photo and recipe via Smithfield

Originally posted 2011-09-15 20:52:02.

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Better with Bacon – Potato, Bacon and Ale Soup

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After snowmagadon (let’s try spelling that again) Snowmageddon last night in SE Michigan, there couldn’t be a better time for a warm, hearty soup (with bacon)…

Thank goodness for this recipe from chef Christopher Deraiche, chef/part owner of Ottawa’s Wellington Gastropub.  That’s up there in Can-na-da where they know something about the stick to your ribs goodness of a hearty broth!

Now doesn’t that just look good?!

Ingredients are in metric so consider yourself forewarned.

Recipe after the jump…

Potato, Bacon and Ale Soup

Ingredients:

1 cup Double-smoked bacon, diced 250 mL 1/2 Medium onion, peeled and medium diced 1/2 1/2 Leek, white part only, washed and sliced 1/2 1/2 Bulb of garlic, peeled and chopped 1/2 4 Potatoes, peeled and diced large 4 4 cups Chicken or vegetable stock 1 L 2 cups Ale 500 mL 2 tbsp Fresh thyme leaves 25 mL Pinch, grated nutmeg Salt and pepper, to taste

Directions:

In a large soup pot over medium heat, render bacon about 5 minutes. Add onion, leek and garlic, and sweat them 3 to 4 minutes. Add potatoes, stock, ale, thyme and nutmeg. There should be enough liquid to cover vegetables by about 2 inches (5 cm). If not, add more stock. Bring to a simmer and cook, uncovered, about 20 minutes. Working in batches, puree soup in a blender and pass through a sieve.

- Note: For thinner soup, add more stock or beer. Serves 6.

recipe and photo via edmontonjournal.com

Originally posted 2010-02-10 19:44:52.

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Better with Bacon – Bacon Bourbon Brownies…

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Yup, that’s what I said, bacon + bourbon + brownies.  That equals deliciousness!

See that “crumble” on the top?  That’s diced bacon my friends.

I got wind of these from over at The Food in my Beard (now that sounds like a food blog I could get behind). He’s got great step-by-step photo instructions but no recipe.  For that, you’ll have to use what he did over at Food and Wine.

Originally posted 2011-12-26 21:44:30.

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Buttermilk Pancake Cupcake with Maple Buttercream and BACON!

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I’ve lived in Brownwood, Texas for almost 4 years now. It’s a pretty small town in the middle of nowhere. I miss the vast variety of food in Austin, and the lack of a decent grocery store makes it a bit worse. But today a great local business called the FlourPower Bakery just a few blocks from my house has made the last several months so much better. My first trip was to find something to eat on my wife’s birthday last August so I showed up suddenly and bought most everything they had left for the day. I got a half dozen chocolate covered strawberries and a bunch of push-up pops filled with pie/cake that were amazing! Best desserts we’ve had since we moved here. Since then we’ve had countless cupcakes too. I love the red velvet and the chocolate the most, but they do usually have many more to choose from.

A few months ago I mentioned on their Facebook page that I’d love to see a french toast cupcake with a maple bacon cream icing and they probably thought I was just being silly. But something must have gotten into them because today a friend of my wife’s called her and said we had to get to FlourPower ASAP and get their bacon cupcake!

This cupcake is beautiful. The first thing I did was eat the bacon. It was good! As I licked off a layer of maple frosting I really wished there was more bacon inside. If eaten together, the sweetness would have killed off any bacon flavor. MORE BACON would have fixed that right up! But, since they’re just getting started in the bacon arts, it’s OK. The buttermilk pancake cupcake was soooo good too. It was perfectly moist and had a bit more maple syrup in the middle! Overall I’d say the frosting was a bit too sweet. With the added maple syrup, it was pretty extreme. The bacon had a nice sweetness too! I hope they keep this up. I’m not sure if it’s possible to make a not-so-sweet frosting, but I hope they give it a shot!

So far there have only been about ten comments to their Facebook post and most people seem to have been excited to try it. I can’t wait to see what they come up with next!

Skillet Bacon Jam, We Meet Again!

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Today I got a sample of Skillet Bacon Jam. I’m not sure if it’s a new recipe, but it didn’t look like the stuff I bought last year! It seemed more spreadable now, and doesn’t look so creepy in the container.

First thing I did with this newer, smoother bacon jam was to dip a banana in it, and then dipped that in Nutella. BACON JAM NUTELLA BANANA. Success! Ohhh it’s so good.

Second thing I did was halve a dozen cherry tomatoes and scoop out the stuff inside and refill them with Skillet Bacon Jam. It’s delicate work, but trust me, it’s worth it. I used toothpicks to put the halves back together, topped them each with a little fresh basil leaf, and finally with a small cube of fresh mozzarella. I served those with grilled cheese sandwiches made with more bacon jam, pepper jack and havarti dill cheeses. Overall it was a great meal from just a few tablespoons of the insane bacon goodness that is Skillet Bacon Jam.

The ingredients are bacon, onions, balsamic vinegar, and some spices. I’ve made my own a few times and it’s just not quite the same. If i had more, the first thing I would do is bake pork chops and baby potatoes slathered in Skillet Bacon Jam. If there was any left, I’d mix it with some sour cream and brown sugar and dip strawberries in it.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.