2922. BACON CHARD QUESADILLAS

makes 4 servings, 2 quesadillas each


4 slices center-cut bacon, chopped
1 small red onion, halved and thinly sliced (about 3/4 cup)
4 cups chopped chard leaves (from 1 bunch)
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1 15-ounce can black beans, rinsed
8 6-inch whole-wheat tortillas
1 cup shredded Pepper Jack cheese

Cook bacon in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, stirring often, until crisp, 2 to 3 minutes. Reduce heat to medium, add onion and cook, stirring, until softened, about 2 minutes. Add chard and pepper; cook, stirring, until wilted, 1 to 2 minutes. Add beans and coarsely mash; stir to combine. Remove from heat.

Place tortillas on a work surface. Spread a generous 1/4 cup filling and 2 tablespoons cheese on half of each tortilla. Fold tortillas in half, pressing gently to flatten.

Wipe out the pan and return to medium heat. Add 4 quesadillas and cook, turning once, until golden on both sides, 2 to 4 minutes total. Transfer to a platter and tent with foil to keep warm. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook the remaining quesadillas.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Eating Well, March /April 2013

2719. SEARED CATFISH with APPLE and BACON VINAIGRETTE

serves four?


3 tablespoons sherry vinegar?
1 tablespoon dijon mustard?2 shallots, minced?4 oz bacon, chopped1/4 cup olive oil?8 large Swiss chard leaves, chopped?1 granny smith apple, sliced?salt to taste?4 catfish fillets, 6 oz each?2 tablespoons butterjuice of 2 lemons??In a bowl, whisk together the vinegar, Dijon, and 1 minced shallot. Heat a pan on medium and cook the bacon until crispy. Whisk the bacon and its fat into the vinegar mixture, along with 3 tablespoons olive oil. Heat a thin film of oil in a nonstick pan on medium. Add the chard and other shallot; cook until the chard wilts gently, about 5 minutes. Add the apple; season with salt. Transfer the chard to a plate and wipe out the pan. In the same pan, heat a thin film of oil on medium. Season two catfish fillets with salt and sear them until golden brown on both sides. Remove them and add 1 tablespoon butter, 1/2 cup water, and half the lemon juice to the pan. Simmer until the sauce thickens. Repeat with the remaining fillets. Serve the fish (over rice if desired) with the pan sauce, vinaigrette, and chard.??bacon recipe courtesy of: Men's Health, 33 East Minor Street, Emmaus, Pennsylvania 18098?





2612. MUSHROOMS, BACON and SWISS CHARD with GEMELLI

makes eight servings 


2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
4 thick-cut smoked bacon, diced
1 onion, finely chopped
2 fresh thyme sprigs 
1 package (340 g) mixed fresh mushrooms, sliced
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup white wine
1/2 cup sodium-reduced chicken broth
1 bunch Swiss chard, stemmed and leaves cut in thirds
3/4 cup whipping cream
4 cups gemelli pasta
1 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese

In Dutch oven, heat oil over medium-high heat; cook bacon until crisp, about 4 minutes. Drain all but 1 tbsp fat from pan. Add onion and thyme; cook until softened, about 3 minutes.

Stir in mushrooms and half each of the salt and pepper; cook until mushrooms are browned and no liquid remains, about 5 minutes.

Stir in wine, scraping up browned bits. Add chicken broth and Swiss chard; cook until tender-crisp, about 4 minutes. Stir in cream and remaining salt and pepper. Discard thyme sprigs.

Meanwhile, in large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta until al dente, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain and add to mushroom mixture, reserving 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid. Toss in half of the Parmesan cheese and enough of the cooking liquid to coat. Top with remaining cheese.
 
 
bacon recipe courtesy of: Soo Kim and The Test Kitchen, Canadian Living Magazine, March 2011

2468. CLAM, CHARD and BACON PIZZA

makes 4 to 6 servings


All-purpose flour (for dusting)
1 1-pound store-bought pizza dough
1 10-ounce can whole baby clams
2 slices thick-cut bacon (2 ounces), cut into 1"-wide pieces
3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons minced shallot
1 1-pound bunch Swiss chard, center stalks removed, leaves torn
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, cut into 1/2" cubes
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
1/2 teaspoon yellow cornmeal
1 tablespoon good-quality extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan

Preheat oven to 500°F. Fill a large bowl with boiling water. Place a baking sheet over; dust with flour. Place dough on baking sheet; cover loosely with plastic wrap and let sit for 10 minutes to soften. Flip dough; cover and let sit 10 minutes longer.

Meanwhile, drain clams, reserving liquid. Cook bacon in a 12" cast-iron skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned, 4–5 minutes. Transfer bacon to a paper towel–lined plate. Add garlic and shallot to drippings in skillet and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 2 minutes. Stir in chard and 1/2 cup reserved clam liquid and cook, stirring, until chard is just wilted, about 2 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Stir in butter, vinegar, and as many clams as you'd like. Transfer mixture to a medium bowl.

Wipe out skillet and heat over medium-high heat until very hot. Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface to a 12" round. Sprinkle skillet with cornmeal and transfer dough to skillet. Brush top of dough with oil. Cook, shaking pan occasionally and turning pan to avoid hot spots, until bottom of dough is golden and crispy, 6–8 minutes.

Spread chard mixture over dough. Bake until crust is golden and cooked through, 6–8 minutes. Scatter bacon and cheese over; cook just until cheese is melted, 2–3 minutes longer.


bacon recipe courtesy of: The Bon Appétit Test Kitchen, Bon Appétit, February 2012