While no one is recommending a steady diet of bacon here, really, who doesn’t enjoy the smoky, savory taste from time to time? Unless you’re on a vegetarian/vegan regimen, bacon brings a flavor burst to more than just our morning breakfasts. With Labor Day cookouts and picnics around the corner, here are a few ways to bring home the bacon in bite-size fashion.
BLT cups are likely to fly off the serving tray. There’s the expected tomato and romaine, but that’s not all. Add avocado, a hint of lemon juice, Greek yogurt and chives, all ensconced in a bacon “cup.”
Another good pick-up food is bacon burger bites, bacon-wrapped meatballs topped with melted cheese and, if you like, pickled jalapeno. Speaking of pickles, someone must try the bacon-wrapped pickles recipe from delish.com on 8B and let us know how it turns out — scooped out dill pickles stuffed with cream cheese and cheddar, wrapped in bacon and baked.
Here are a couple of additional bacony appetizer ideas from foodnetwork.com. For bacon-wrapped pineapple, wrap pineapple cubes with bacon (secure with a short oven-worthy skewer), and broil, flipping halfway, until crisp, about 8 minutes. Bacon-stuffed cherry tomatoes call for a 1/2 cup of crumbled blue cheese, 2 tablespoons of cream cheese, 2 tablespoons of milk and 3 chopped cooked bacon slices mixed together. Stuff the mixture into a 1-pint hollowed-out cherry tomato.
It surely comes as no surprise to hear anyone say America has a bacon fixation. A 2015 piece titled “Absurdly Wonderful Bacon Flavored Products” on entrepreneur.com turned up an eye-opening list of products that deliver a bacon fix — bacon-flavored soda, lollipops, toothpaste, lip balm, coffee and vodka. Yes, vodka. Someone somewhere even came up with bacon-scented pillowcases and envelopes. And when a fragrance company comes out with scents called “Bacon Classic” and “Bacon Gold,” you know we’re in obsession territory.
I’ll just enjoy my bacon on a plate, thank you. And hopefully I’ll be somewhere soon where someone is serving a bacon-centric appetizer. Whatever your Labor Day menu includes, though, have a tasty time.
BLT CUPS
12 slices bacon
1/2 cup Greek yogurt
2 teaspoon lemon juice
2 tablespoons chopped chives, plus more for garnish
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
2 cups halved cherry tomatoes
1 head of romaine lettuce, chopped
1 avocado, chopped
(Source: delish.com)
BACON BURGER BITES
1 pound ground beef
1/2 cup bread crumbs
1 large egg, beaten
1 tablespoon barbecue sauce
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
8 slices bacon, halved
6 slices mozzarella cheese, cut into small squares
Pickled jalapenos, for serving
Ranch dressing, for serving
(Source: delish.com)
BACON WRAPPED PICKLES
12 mini dill pickles
1 block cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 cup shredded Cheddar
1 clove garlic, chopped
12 slices bacon, halved
Serve immediately.
(Source: delish.com)
Jan Swoope is the Lifestyles Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 43 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.