HIDING THE EVIDENCE OF A BACON ADDICTION
Admittedly, I've been a little slow to jump on this particular bandwagon. Bacon, and pork products in general, were already declared the foods of this waning year. Experts say now we're on to fish, fondue and Peruvian food. I've come late to the game, owing to a host of religious, cultural and aesthetic factors--the very same that lead me to issue a disclaimer: the views expressed here do not represent those of my family, friends, doctor, the More Intelligent Life team or the Economist Group in general.
Blame my newish roommates or the fact that I love cooking with fat, I've become totally obsessed with bacon. Can't stop thinking about it. Can't stop phantom smelling it. Can't stop putting it in food where it previously didn't belong. Brunch in my house recently has included preparing bacon the Ina Garten way: laid flat on baking sheets (cooling racks if you want less mess), the window up, fan on, smoke alarm blaring. We're particular and spoiled--only thick-cut apple-smoked stuff from our local Whole Foods will do. No filmy gross strips or turkey bacon (at least not until someone explains what part of turkey is the pork-belly part).
Inevitably, these fat-fests leave us with lava-hot bacon grease puddled in bowls and on pans--too hot to throw out, too epidermis-threatening to clean. Last weekend I surreptitiously poured the extra bacon fat on some home fries for unsuspecting brunch guests, attempting to mimic that great deli-griddle taste. But bacon-loving spendthrifts take note: there are other, more sugary uses for that excess.
In the holiday cookbook round-up in the New York Times, the write-up included Jennifer McLagan's "FAT: An Appreciation of a Misunderstood Ingredient, With Recipes" (Ten Speed, $32.50). This review happened to casually mention spice cookies using bacon fat instead of butter, "a notion that may cause an unpleasant tickling in the back of your throat until you taste them: the salt sounds a blue note under the sugary ginger, cinnamon and cloves." Serious Eats has kindly posted McLagan's recipe.
Another use for spare fat is PDT's Bacon Infused Old-Fashioned, which also makes use of the maple syrup that you may have had out on the counter, anyway.
Leftover bacon your problem? Make some chocolate-covered bacon for dessert or as a giveaway gift. Or you could just go buy this at Roni-Sue's Chocolates, because maybe this is where you reach your gross-out limit, and truthfully, is there ever leftover bacon? ~ ARIEL RAMCHANDANI
Picture credit: Dan4th (via Flickr)


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you need to read this!
December 13, 2008 - 21:15 — Dad (not verified)mom and I are concerned about your addiction
Bacon
December 14, 2008 - 18:52 — Visitor Joanna Pruess (not verified)I, too, am addicted to bacon. In fact, In 2006 I published a book entitled "SEDUCED BY BACON: Recipes & Lore About America's Favorite Indulgence." Try the Pecan-Brown Sugar and Bacon Ice Cream. Several journalists, TV anchors and friends went crazy for it.
Anyone who knows me knows
March 2, 2009 - 18:18 — Rhys (not verified)Anyone who knows me knows that I eat relatively healthy. I'm a salad and vegetable girl. In fact, my mostly vegetarian streak is still going strong (save for the vat of Bolognese I made last week). However, my kryptonite isn't chocolate or ice cream.
It's pig. Sausages. Prosciutto. B a c o n.
I was introduced a week or so ago to a product that, well, makes my heart flutter a little bit. I was a skeptic. I really was. Real tasting artificial bacon flavoring!? Yes. There is some product called Bacon Salt. It has the same flavor as bacon.
Bacon Extreme
April 14, 2009 - 16:46 — Mens Underwear (not verified)Well, I certainly love to eat bacon, especially in the morning for my breakfast. But I don't really worry to much about it affecting my health, I limit myself.
Bacon Lovers 4 life
May 28, 2009 - 14:02 — Erica & Gabe (not verified)Every morning me and my co worker, share a ton of bacon, I mean pieces galore. We have to have it or all hell will brake loose. We have to make it last forever, you really dont understand. Not until today did we realize that others have the same addiction as us. This is great we are glad we are not alone.
Bacon Lovers for life......
Bacon...My love...My life
May 28, 2009 - 14:06 — Baconator (not verified)A pan is sizzles somewhere in the distance, and I know heaven awaits. My name is Gerald and I'm addicted to bacon. Morning noon and night...I crave it. Sometimes I walk down the street and the feeling rushes over me like a tidal wave....BACON!!! I must have it. Sweet salty bacon that nurtures the soul. A hobby has turned into a habit and after reading this blog, I know now that I am not alone. Bacon addicts UNITE and as one we can come together and make the world a Bacon Utopia. A place where we need not be ashamed for our one true love. If bacon is wrong...I don't want to be right.
Bacon Extreme.....Not so much
May 28, 2009 - 14:22 — Canadian Bacon (not verified)Hey Bacon Extreme...you need to come correct. What's all this about limiting yur bacon intake. That's chicken sh*t. You think this is a game punk. Real recognizes real...and you ain't nuthin but a bacon faker. I see the kind all the time. Bacon wannabees that act like their in it to win it..but when they wake up they make that turkey imposter B.S. bacon. All talk and no sizzle. It's sad. You're BACON should be Taken. So next time you even think about getting serious with a pan and a slab of pig--why don't you save the bacon and stick yur face on the stove-top sucka...
Are you pickin up what I'm puttin down Bacon Extreme???
punk
May 28, 2009 - 15:15 — Jive Turkey (not verified)what a chump.....who limits bacon??
what are you...some kind of bacon nazi?
Breakup
July 13, 2009 - 12:19 — White Vans Are Watching (not verified)My friend recently broke up with her longtime bo and I can't deal with the stress of it all. I've been sleep walking at night feinding for a crispy delicious strip of bacon and end up waking up on my kitchen floor covered in grease. Does this happen to anybody else and is there a cure? Against doctors discretion, I've been taking heavy doses of NyQuil but nothing works. I'm praying to that big pig in the sky that someone will save me from my affliction.
White Vans are Watching
July 13, 2009 - 14:30 — Bacon to the Rescue (not verified)The creep above forgot to mention he was drunk and fell that is the reason he ended up in bacon grease.
Bacon to the Rescue is a Hater
August 11, 2009 - 15:34 — Sizzle Sizzle Morning Grizzle (not verified)Listen here folks....there ain't nuthin wrong with bacon or getting drunk. In fact, eating bacon with a beer in the morning is what I call heaven. Breakfast of Champions my fellow pork fat friends. Throw some liquor on it...add some forty water...whatever's clever.
Just don't hate on a man who has had a few too many...that just ain't right
Hey Uh Slow, umh umh umh,
August 11, 2009 - 15:55 — Bacon Over Alcohol (not verified)Hey Uh Slow, umh umh umh, this is a bacon blog, not a liquor blog, please dont change the subject. Stay Hate Free when it comes to bacon, I would agree bacon and a brewski, is all so wonderful, but who needs alcohol when you have bacon... I'm just saying though..
You know bacon is a multi
November 17, 2009 - 23:25 — Bryan Liman (not verified)You know bacon is a multi purpose food. It can be a pick me up in the morning, a nice way to brunch with a friend, a side dish for lunch, baked with pastries for tea, rolled over chicken for dinner and a nice hit the sack bite for supper. Omg! I’m making my mouth salivate. I have decided bacon goes with everything, although it’s the best ingredient for breakfast and supper but if you wanted you can mix bacon with anything you’re having and you would inevitably enhance its flavor. Kudos to the person who discovered bacon! A more versatile food there never was and there never will be.
Here’s a new recipe I discovered the other day. I was having ramen noodles substituting for chicken soup as I was coming down with flu and fever. I had some fried strips of bacon in the fridge from supper the previous night. As I was cooking, I just slipped some of the bacon bits into the soup. I swear my fever went away as I was eating the noodle. It was absolutely delicious.
I’m thinking given my extraordinary culinary skills with bacon, I might actually open a Bacon joint like the waffles place, where everything on the menu will have some form of bacon in it. I’m glad I came upon this blog; at least I know I will have an endless line of customers from you bacon lovers.
Hi Bryan
December 23, 2009 - 10:34 — Bacon to the Rescue (not verified)Bryan,
Man I think I'm going to have to try the Ramen with crispy bacon. I feel ya, just me thinking about the taste of bacon cures my illness. Please keep us informed as to when & where you will open you Bacon Station........It's Bacon 4 Life....
Viva La Bacon Bryan!
December 23, 2009 - 12:17 — Bacon.com (not verified)I'm so glad I found you Bryan. I am the president of Bacon.com and we want to feature you in an upcoming article. We feel that you and your bacon venture is essential to fill the need currently vacant in our economy and food industry. A menu that features bacon within every dish at a restuarant is such a bold....nay....inspired idea that we want to help promote your restuarant on our website. Please email me at bacondaddy@gmail.com and we discuss further. God speed and let all bacon lovers unite!!!
Re
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