Tag Archives: recipes

Chocolate-Covered Bacon

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Yesterday one of my friends was having a little dinner party at her house, so I made one of my favorite hors d’oeuvres to bring, plus something new that I’d never made before – chocolate-covered bacon.  I’d tried it for the first time on my birthday and really liked it, and I thought it would be something fun and unique to take to a party.  I’d say it was a hit!  People really got a kick out of it, and most everyone seemed to like the sweet-and-salty combination.

For the tempering of the chocolate, I basically followed the directions from the chocolate issue of Food Network Magazine, and I just kinda “winged” the rest of it, but it turned out pretty good.  Here’s how to make it:

Open a package of thick-cut bacon and thread each strip on a small bamboo skewer.  Cover a jelly-roll pan with aluminum foil, and place a metal rack on top of it.  Lay out the bacon skewers on the rack, and bake at 400° F for 20-25 minutes or until crisp.  Let cool completely.

Finely chop 8 oz. semisweet chocolate.  Combine three-quarters of the chocolate plus 1 teaspoon shortening in a microwaveable bowl, and microwave for 30 seconds.  Stir, then continue to microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring, until the chocolate is melted and the temperature is 100°.  Remove the bowl and place it in a larger bowl of cold water; stir in the remaining chocolate until melted (the temperature should drop to about 82°).  Remove the bowl from the water and microwave in 10-second intervals until chocolate is at 90°.

Use a spoon to cover the bacon in chocolate and let set a room temperature.  Rewarm chocolate to 90° if it cools and become too thick for dipping.  Store bacon in refrigerator.

{I wish I’d gotten some better quality photos of the finished product, but I only had time to snap one quick picture before heading to the party.}

Enjoy!

happy things

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a few happy things about this week:

1. this yummy (and healthy!) corn, bacon, and potato chowder – recipe here.  it tasted even better on the second day because the flavors had a chance to meld.  i used frozen corn instead of fresh corn cut off the cob only because i needed something quick, but i know it would be soo tasty with fresh corn in summer.

2. the rain and storms i woke up to on wednesday.  it made walking to my classes a bit…interesting (there was a tornado warning before and during my 8am, but OF COURSE class was not cancelled), and wind blew my umbrella inside-out and broke it (i’ve owned four umbrellas since i’ve been in college and the crazy west campus wind has managed to break every one of them). but then my afternoon class was cancelled and i got to go home and be lazy and enjoy the rain in bed with a book and a cup of tea.  nothing gets better than that.

3. my glittery Sperry Top-Siders.  college has made me a Sperry addict, mostly because of how perfect they are for walking all over campus – they’re comfortable, and my feet don’t feel dirty when i get home like they do when i wear sandals to class.  the company has gotten a lot more creative with their boat shoes, which is especially nice for people like me who don’t do plain!  i own a metallic silver pair, a metallic gold pair, a hot pink patent leather pair, and these charcoal-gray ones, which might be my favorite!  they have a little patent leather, velvety laces, and lots of glitter.  obsessed.

4. the photography class that i’m taking!  i love my professor and i’m learning so much.  it’s like a whole new world i never knew about.  i also discovered www.cambridgeincolour.com, which gives info, tutorials, and tips on all different aspects of photography and is a really helpful reference.  i have my first project due monday, so this weekend i’ll be going on a photo “excursion” to downtown bryan with my friend kyle who’s also in my photography class, and then i have a photo shoot scheduled with another friend, thomas, who will be modeling in my photos.  i’m excited to get started and anxious to see how they turn out.

5. this plastic cup that my mom gave me for christmas.  she got it from a little place called Dixie’s in arlington, although this style of cup is so popular right now that you can find them almost anywhere.  i love it even more than i thought i would, because it works wonders at getting me to drink more water.  the straw makes it so easy to sip on and i empty the cup before i even know i’ve drank any water at all!  and the cupcakes and confetti make me feel like every day is a party. :)

hope everyone has a fabulous weekend! xoxo

Praline Pecan Crunch

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This sweet, easy-to-munch-on mix makes a perfect after-school snack, yummy roadtrip sustenance, or even a great thank you gift if presented in a tin or a cellophane bag tied with a bow.  The combination of textures of the cereal and pecans give it a nice crunch, and we like to add some M&M’s to the mix afterward to give it some color.  Watch out though: this stuff has addictive qualities.  Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

PRALINE PECAN CRUNCH

8 cups Quaker Oat Square cereal (1 16-ox. box)

2 cups pecan pieces

1/2 cup Karo light syrup

1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1/4 cup margarine

1 tsp. vanilla

1/2 tsp. baking soda

M&M’s (optional)

Preheat oven to 275 degrees Fahrenheit.  Combine cereal and pecans in a 9×13-inch pan.  Set aside.  Combine corn syrup, brown sugar, and margarine in a 2-cup microwaveable bowl.  Microwave 90 seconds and stir.  Microwave 30 to 90 seconds more until boiling.  Stir in vanilla and baking soda; pour over cereal mix.  Stir to coat evenly.  Bake one hour and 20 minutes, stirring every 20 minutes.  Spread on baking sheet to cool.  Break into pieces and add M&M’s if desired.