2516. BACON-SIMMERED PINTO BEANS with JALAPENO PEPPERS and COTIJA CHEESE

makes eight servings


1 1/2 lb. dried pinto beans (4 cups), rinsed
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
4 slices thick-cut bacon, coarsely chopped
1 onion, chopped (about 1 1/2 cups)
4 garlic cloves, chopped
2 jalapeños, seeded, minced, divided
Kosher salt
1/2 cup cotija cheese, crumbled (4 oz.; for garnish)
chopped fresh cilantro (for garnish)
pickled onions

Place beans in a large pot. Add enough water to cover by 4". Let soak overnight. Drain beans. Heat 1 Tbsp. oil in same large heavy pot over medium heat. Add bacon to pot and cook until crisp, stirring occasionally. Using a slotted spoon, transfer bacon to paper towels to drain. Pour off all but 2 Tbsp. drippings from pot. Add onion, garlic, and 1 minced jalapeño and cook, stirring often, until soft, about 10 minutes. Add drained beans to pot. Pour in enough water to cover beans by 2" (about 8 cups). Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer, stirring occasionally and adding more water by 1/2-cupfuls if dry, until beans are tender, about 2 hours. Stir in remaining jalapeño and reserved bacon. Season to taste with salt.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Bon Appétit Test Kitchen, Bon Appétit, May 2011
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High Class: Bacon and Beer Pairing

One of the things that we love about bacon is that it’s a very egalitarian kind of food product. Bacon is not usually the first thing that leaps to mind when you think about fancy meals. People from all walks of life, many cultures, and of all levels of income. Bacon has a reputation for [...]
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2515. HATCH GREEN CHILE BACON PIE

4 thick-cut slices bacon
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup masa (corn flour)
1/4 cup yellow cornmeal
1 tsp salt, divided
2 pinches of dried ground chipotle powder
3/4 cup olive oil
1 cup heavy cream, divided
6 eggs plus 1 egg yolk
1/4 cup milk
6 Hatch green chiles, roasted, peeled and diced
1 bunch green onions, chopped
6 ounces panela cheese (or mozzarella)
2 ounces cotija cheese (or feta)

Dice the bacon and cook it over medium heat in a skillet until it starts to brown - do not cook it fully. Drain on a plate lined with paper towels. Set aside. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Make the crust: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, masa flour, cornmeal, 1/2 tsp salt, and a pinch of dried chipotle. In a measuring cup, whisk together the olive oil and 1/4 cup of heavy cream. Pour the liquid into the flour mixture and stir with a fork until the dough has just come together. Press the dough over the bottom and up the sides of a large pie plate. The top edge will look a little raggedy; that's fine.

Line the pie plate with a piece of foil, covering all the dough, and add some dried peans or pie weights. Bake the crust 15 minutes, then take it out of the oven. Remove the foil and weights.

While the crust is in the oven, stir together the remaining 3/4 cup cream, the other pinch of chipotle powder, eggs and yolk, milk, diced roasted Hatch green chiles, green onions, cheeses, and cooked bacon. Pour the mixture into the pre-baked pie crust and place the pie plate on a foil-lined baking sheet - this will keep your oven from getting dirty if the pie happens to bubble over.

Bake the pie about 50 minutes, until the center is set and the top is starting to brown. Cool at least one hour before serving.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Erika Penzer Kerekes, In Erika's Kitchen, September 11, 2010
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The Monster Muffaletta Sandwich Recipe

Have you ever eaten a sandwich and thought, “Wow, I wish there was more stuff on this sandwich”? Does this happen to you a lot? Do you always feel like you need a little something extra? Well, boy, do I have a sandwich for you. The Muffaletta. It is so absolutely fabulous that it has [...]
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