Who Doesn’t Love Bacon!

Just the mere mention of the word “Bacon” makes me drool and even my tummy reacts and churns to tell me that I should get my bacon fix! Why do so many people love bacon? There are even Facebook fan pages dedicated to this awesome food that everybody loves. I have even seen images on Google of nude models with bacon as their clothing. I even know of people who makes really weird recipes using bacon. Ever heard of a bacon martini or a bacon ice cream? It’s insane how many people will go through these things to show their love of bacon. Well, let’s find out why.

According to my research, this insane addiction of most people to bacon is caused by a chemical reaction. Elin Roberts from the Centre for Life Education in New Castle said people are attracted to bacon because of a reaction with amino acids and reducing sugars while the bacon is cooking. Roberts explained: “The smell of sizzling bacon in a pan is enough to tempt even the staunchest of vegetarians. There’s something deeper going on inside. It’s not just the idea of a tasty snack. There is some complex chemistry going on”.  Just like how falling in love is caused by serotonin a chemical in the brain that triggers emotions. With that said, just like falling in love, it’s an involuntary reaction. You just fall in love with bacon.

So, let’s move on with the technicalities and proceed with our passion which is finding creative ways on cooking great food. Let me share with you some really new and unique recipes you can do with the world’s most loved food.

First, let’s start with a healthy salad recipe. This one is for those people who can’t get enough of bacon but is deprived of it because they are on a diet.

Grilled Bacon Salad with Arugula and Balsamic

Servings: 4 (I’d estimate 1 to 2 slices of bacon, and 1 ounce arugula leaves per person, depending on how much other food will be served)

4 ounces arugula
8 ounces of thick-cut bacon
Handful of grape tomatoes, halved or quartered (optional)
Small amount of parmesan cheese, shaved with a vegetable peeler (optional)
Aged balsamic vinegar
Drizzle of olive oil
Sea salt
Freshly ground black pepper

First, completely wash the arugula leaves. These leaves are grown in very dark soil. So it is important to clean them thoroughly. You wouldn’t want soil in your salad, right? Then spread them out in paper towels to let it dry. Next is to get your grill on fire. Layout all the bacon slices and put them under the grill. Have them brown underneath, this will take about two minutes. Flip them to cook the other side for another minute or two. Transfer them to a plate. Tear the arugula to bite pieces and scatter with tomatoes and parmesan. Drizzle very lightly with olive oil and sprinkle a few drops of balsamic vinegar. Season with salt and pepper. Serve immediately.

Now that we have managed to share a recipe for those “pseudo vegetarians”. Let’s make it more exciting for those with sweet tooth. How about making a twist on Grandma’s famous apple pie? Get your taste buds singing with this unique Bacon Apple Pie recipe!

Bacon Apple Pie

Makes a 9-inch pie

 Ingredients:

 9-inch pie shell, unbaked

3/4 cup packed light brown sugar

2 tablespoons cornstarch

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

6 cups 1/2-inch-thick sliced peeled apples (1 1/2 to 2 pounds)

8-12 slices uncooked country smoked bacon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Celsius. Place the pie shell on a solid baking paper sheet. Set aside.

In a large bowl, rub the brown sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom and cloves together with your fingertips until well blended. Add the apples and toss to coat. Put the spiced apple slices into the pie shell, including any sugar and juices that have been stored in the bowl.

Plait the uncooked bacon on top of the pie filling, starting from the center and working your way out to the edges. For a better mesh topping you should have an over-under pattern with 5 pieces going vertically and five pieces going horizontally. Trim the edges and pinch into the crust to seal. Cover pie with foil and bake in the middle of the oven for 1 hour. Remove cover. Continue baking for 15 minutes until golden brown and bacon is crisp.

 Let pie cool for 1 hour before cutting.

Bacon, bacon, bacon! Love it or leave it but you must try these mouth-watering recipes first! Indulge!

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