Get your thinking/chef’s hats on! We are having another carnival this Thursday to share our nourishing breakfast recipes, tips and ideas. Get the details here. Hope to see you there!
The funny thing is that we don’t even have bacon that often (there is only one honey sweetened brand that Elena and I can even eat). But I just tried two unusual bacon based recipes for Easter and they were so good I had to share. Bacon Wrapped Dates, and yes, you heard right, Bacon Mayonnaise.
First, Cheeseslave shared an intriguing recipe last week for bacon wrapped dates. I knew I had to try them. And oh were they good! Savory, salty, sweet. Crunchy bacon on the outside with the sweet date tucked inside. Very good, and like she said, it’s an easy appetizer to throw together. Everyone liked them and yes, I will be making them again. (They will make a great snack too!).
The second recipe I just loved as well, Bacon Mayonnaise. (HT to Caveman Food) First, fantastic taste. Second, super easy to make and third? It’s super frugal! This mayonnaise recipe uses bacon grease for the “oil”. How unique is that? It solves the “olive oil vs. nasty canola oil” debate nicely. It originally went with a recipe for BLTs (when you would naturally have bacon grease available). We love BLTs, but I am sure you could use this mayo for a lot of different recipes.
What I did: I didn’t have any bacon grease available since I wasn’t making BLT’s, so I actually used some of my newly rendered lard. It gave a more neutral flavor and I felt it worked very well. The mayonnaise was very smooth. I also used the method that Amy shared in her guest post for making mayo, using a stick blender. That also worked very well.
I am curious as to whether other animal fats would work in this recipe for those who don’t have bacon grease or lard, or simply don’t use them. It seems like goose or duck fat would make an awesome substitution. I am not so sure about my beef tallow, but who knows! What do you think?
For a vegetarian and more traditional great tasting mayonnaise, check out Amy’s guest post here. I like to make it with Mary’s Oil Blend. OR if you want something new, check out the Bacon Mayonnaise.
What about you? Have any favorite ways to use bacon? Or do you avoid it? I would love to here your ideas and opinions as always!
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Lindsey in AL
I think that bacon mayo sounds AWESOME! I currently buy expeller-pressed sunflower oil for ours and it is pricey and I am not sure it’s all that nourishing. I imagine the bacon flavor would mask some olive oil for part of the fat (we do NOT like olive oil mayo). I wonder what bacon mayo ranch-style salad dressing might taste like…hmmmm.
My mom would probably love the dates- bacon and dates are two of her all-time favorite foods 😀
CHEESESLAVE
Bacon mayonnaise?! This is GENIUS! I’m such a huge fan of lard. I keep hearing from women who age very well (very few wrinkles) that their secret is eating lots of bacon and lard.
Lindsey and others – check out Chaffin Family Orchards olive oil.
http://www.chaffinfamilyorchards.com/
I buy it by the gallon and they ship all over the country. It is the MILDEST tasting olive oil I have ever tasted. I use it for my homemade mayonnaise and I tell you what — my husband can’t tell the difference between this mayonnaise and storebought.
I plan to post a recipe on my blog very soon — but the secret is the Chaffin Family Orchards olive oil.
CHEESESLAVE
PS: That bacon mayo would be killer in deviled eggs. I will have to make some for my husband — deviled eggs are his favorite!
Nora
A friend of ours makes the dates for parties. Sometimes they come with a little piece of chorizo inside a few of the dates. The last batch came w/ prosciutto rather than standard bacon. Very yummy!
BTW, I enjoy your recipes & stories. Thank you!
KimiHarris
Cheeseslave,
It makes awesome deviled eggs! (I made that for Easter). Coolness on the aging tip, who would have thought? 😉
Meg
I KNEW I’d seen the bacon wrapped dates somewhere, and Nora’s comment reminded me – I’ve seen them wrapped in prosciutto, and they were tasty… although I’m thinking the bacon is a MUCH more frugal way to go! 🙂
… see, you’re going to make me break kosher with all these tasty pork recipes ! 😉
Kim
How timely! I’ve been into stuffing dates with raw nut butter of blue cheese lately for snacks. Wrapping the whole thing in bacon could only help! Genius!
I’m not really a mayo fan in general, but I’ll have to try the bacon mayo just to satisfy my curiosity.
Thanks!
Molly
My mom has made bacon-wrapped dates before with a sliver of cheese inside. Possibly parmesean. So good!
sian aka gogo girl
Just say you on twitter-so hungry right now-had to check it out-wish I hadn’t -looks so good-when you get a moment check us out because once you eat it all you might need some of us
FoodRenegade
OMG. BACON MAYONNAISE!!!
I will definitely try this. I’ve been making mayo using either Mary’s Blend or just 1/2 olive, 1/2 coconut oils. It tastes great, but I can imagine so many uses for this!
And I just came home with a package of nitrate-free bacon that I can’t wait to use up.
Mmmmm….
Thanks, Kimi!
Leesie
Bacon = nourishing? Hmmm….never would have thunk that and as I read more of the comments, it is even good for wrinkles, eh? How about that artery clogging factor?!
Sarah
Mmmm . . . I love bacon. And mayonnaise. And both on sandwiches – and, I admit, frequently have more bacon grease saved up than I know what to do with. Making mayonnaise may be the perfect fit, since we normally only use it in sandwiches or in making protein-salads anyway!
Bacon mayonnaise may be the most perfect thing ever. Or, a BLT with Avocado with Bacon Mayo on sourdough. I’m not even hungry, but that sounds amazing.
Thanks!
Best,
Sarah
Alison
What do you think of turkey bacon vs. pork bacon? We tend to only buy turkey bacon in our home as it seems to produce way less fat, and I’ve been told it’s healthier. Never really looked into it though…
Tamara
OH.MY.GOODNESS!!! Why didnt *I* think of this, im a bacon fanatic!!! Inside of MAYO!!!???!?! Im trying to make this THIS WEEKEND!
*dances all around*
Oh and Leesie and Alison, you may want to watch this video, it breaks down your questions about fat pretty nicely, i think:
http://www.foodrenegade.com/good-fat-bad-fat-a-video-tutorial/
Jessica
Ironically, we were at a wedding this weekend and one of the appetizers was bacon wrapped apricots. SO tasty! Also I have had bacon wrapped prunes sprinkled with brown sugar before baking. Prunes, I know, but they were really good.
I have a question for bacon users out there (we dont eat much b/c of the nitrate factor). For those who “save” bacon grease, doesnt it go rancid or grow mold? I think of my grease jar and recoil in horror at the thought. I know that it is a common practice in the south, but I have always wondered what the shelf life of bacon grease is.
Sarah
Ooh, I am totally trying that bacon mayo recipe – looks delicious! Of course, I can be persuaded to try just about anything that has bacon in the title.
Johanna
I made the bacon wrapped dates years ago for a group of women. I stuffed the date with a pecan half, and they were really good!
Aunt Alice
I made homemade mayo for the first time this week, and wondered if it could be made with bacon grease for extra flavor. Now I know! BTW, does anyone know how long bacon grease (drippings) last in the fridge? Thanks!
Sarah Steel
My husband showed me an appetizer w/turkey bacon wrapped around an apricot recipe in a magazine while waiting in dentist’s office. There was other items but can’t find any recipe online to find the compete recipe. The idea has intrigued me and wonder if you have any source for this recipe. Look forward to any response, Thanks!