Are You Looking To Buy Bacon? Read This Before you do...

When going to buy bacon, what do you look for? Sure, think juicy strips with nice white lines of fat are important but there is one more thing that is much more important.  When you look at the label, does it say USDA certified? It should. USDA certified means that your bacon has been treated for Trichinella. Trichinella is a parasitic worm that causes the infection trichinosis. Pork that has been labeled USDA certified is clear of all these parasites. Image via Wikipedia

Another thing to look at when buying bacon is the weight and what is in your bacon. When selecting making your selection, make s sure your buying bacon that has been smoked or dry rubbed with spices and herbs. This is important because some bacon is injected with fake smoke flavoring, or has been injected with other additives that are adding water weight. This water weight can make the bacon look full and delicious but when you cook it all of the extra added water will just cook off.  When all the water is gone, your left with just a few shriveled pieces of bacon.

Let us recap - So the next time you are at the grocery store or butcher shop, make sure you are only purchasing USDA certified meats due the treatment they receive.  Also make sure you ask your butcher about what goes in to the bacon. Make sure you aren't paying for bacon but only getting additives.  Hopefully after these tips, you'll never buy bacon the same again! 

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Have I Ever Said How Much I Love Bacon?

Have I ever told you how much I love bacon? In fact, here the list of my top 10 favorite bacon quotes! The people on this list love bacon almost as much as I do.

10. “Lisa honey, are you saying you're never going to eat any animal again? What about bacon?” - Homer Simpson

9. "Friends are like bacon bits in the salad bowel of life" - Unknown

8. "Veggie bacon?!  That sounds like a sign of the Apocalypse" - Turtle DundeeImage via Wikipedia

7." I’m never gonna get used to the 31st century... Caffeinated bacon?  Baconated grapefruit?  ADMIRAL Crunch?" - Futurama

6. “Porkchops and bacon, my two favorite animals” - Homer Simpson

5. "Mmm... unexplained bacon" - Homer Simpson

4. "Is it bacon day?" - Homer Simpson

3. "Life expectancy would grow by leaps and bounds if everything smelled as good as bacon" - Doug Larson

2.  "As soon as I learned what the smell of bacon was, I learned how to make it." - Rush Limbaugh

1. "There’s egg and bacon; egg, sausage and bacon; egg and spam; bacon and spam; egg, bacon, sausage and spam; spam, bacon, sausage and spam; spam, egg, spam, spam, bacon and spam; spam, spam, spam, egg and spam; spam, spam, spam, spam, spam, spam, baked beans, spam, spam, spam and spam; or lobster thermidor aux crevettes with a mornay sauce garnished with truffle pate’, brandy and a fried egg on top of spam." - Monty Python

H any other great bacon quotes? Feel free to submit them to me. If you love bacon as much as I love bacon - then I'm sure you enjoyed this bacon filled top 10 list!
 


You Had Me at Bacon

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This Is How To Find and Store The Best Bacon...

If you have been looking for the best bacon you're in luck. In this article we are going to tell you how to find and store all the yummy bacon you could ever want.
 
Bacon Selectin' - What Makes good bacon?
When looking for bacon on important thing to pay attention to is the fat to meat ratio. Good bacon should have thin lines of colorful meat divided by rich white streaks of fat. This fat separating the meat will help give the bacon it's tender juicy flavor when cooked. Some people don't like as much fat, but generally, the fattier the bacon, the better it will be.  Added flavoring also has something to do with the final flavor of the bacon as well. I like to go with bacon that is rubbed with spices or has not been smoked. I personally prefer thick sliced peppercorn style bacon. When cooked, it's gets crispy but retains it's great flavors because of the thick slices and great fat content.  Before buying, always make sure you check the expiration date on your bacon - no one wants a fridge full of spoiled meat.

Bacon Storin'
One important thing to know about bacon is that due to the high fat content, freezing does not help extend the shelf life too far beyond the expiration date. This happens because the salt in bacon makes the fat spoil even while in the freezer. If you buy bacon in bulk, you can easily break it down in to smaller packages and wrap them in aluminum foil. When wrapping, make sure they are especially tight to prevent freezer burn.
If you buy bacon as a slab, you could make sure you wrap it very tightly and buy it as fresh as possible if you want a longer shelf life. When it's wrapped tight, you could easily keep it a few weeks in the refrigeratImage via Wikipediaor with no problems.
Now that you know how to find and store the best bacon you should never be baconless again. 


You Had Me at Bacon

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Bacon Truly Does make everything better - Now try bacon gifts!

Some people think that everything is better with bacon - and bacon gifts are no exception. Their company has a full range of bacon styled and scented products.  These gifts are for the true bacon lover and their product line leaves nothing out.

One of the interesting products on their site was bacon bandages. These bandages are 1" x 3" and shaped like bacon down to the last detail. The funny thing is that when you see them, it's hard to tell that it's not really bacon strips!

Another great product they offered is the "Mr. Bacon's Big Adventure" board game. As you progress though the game, you are moving through funny areas like "Mustard Marsh", "Sausage Sea" and 'Wiener Wasteland".  The whole goal of the game is to make it though the trail and into the frying pan.  This is a spinner-based board game that includes 24 games cards and four game pieces.

Last but not least, what bacon enthusiast wouldn't want a bacon belt? This belt is made out of a soft vinyl that looks just like bacon. It is made to fit someone with a waist 30" - 40", which is a good size for most men.
So with all these great bacon novelty items which one are you hungry for? Whichever one it may be, there are more than enough bacon novelties to satisfy any bacon connoisseur on their website.  With dozens of options to choose from, bacongifts.com is the #1 bacon gifts supplier on the internet.


You Had Me at Bacon

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5 Unique Bacon Products for Bacon Lovers

If you are looking for bacon products - the internet is the place to be. Here, you can find a wide variety of things form bacon of the month clubs to bacon shaped Band-Aids. Without further delay, here is my top 5 list!
Image via Wikipedia
1. Mr Bacon's big adventure - This board game involves taking your bacon character through a zany meat world to reach the frying pan.

2. Man Bait (Bacon and Maple Syrup Lollipop) - This lollipop contains real smoked bacon flavor and maple syrup for people who need their bacon fix on the go.

3. Bacon Scented Soy Candle - The aroma of this delicious bacon scented candle is enough drive any bacon lover crazy. Light it up and your house will be filled with the scent of fresh cooked bacon for hours.

4. iBacon - This iPhone app is a must have for any bacon lover. In this app you get to cook raw bacon and hear it sizzling in the pan. Be careful though - you have to make sure to turn the bacon with your imaginary tongs or it will burn. When your bacon is done cooking, you simply press the "eat bacon" button. Ahhh... If everything in life only had an "eat bacon" button.


5. Bacon throw pillows - Do you dream of bacon? Once you get a hold of these stylish bacon throw pillows, we are sure you will. This modern looking pillow is made from red and white fleece and measures approximately 13″ x 23″.  Additionally, the outer cover has a zipper so you can wash the pillow and cover.

So, if you're looking for some great bacon products, this top 5 list is sure to satisfy.




You Had Me at Bacon

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The Best Club in the World - the Bacon Club!

You have heard of a book of the month club, a fruit of the month club, but what about the bacon club? For all us bacon lovers out there, there are clubs that will send you tons of delicious bacon every month. If you are someone who is intoxicated by the scent of bacon cooking in a skillet then listen up.

Quality Bacon Delivered to Your Door
Image via WikipediaBacon of the month clubs don't deliver the same old "plain Jane" bacon your find in the supermarkets. The difference here is most clubs deliver bacon that is not filled with brine and other flavorings like the stuff in the supermarkets. These clubs like to deliver bacon that is dry rubbed or naturally smoked - not filled with extra water weight. They know that all those extra fluids only cause the bacon to shrivel up after the water weight is cooked off.

These clubs also offer a lot of convenience to their members as well. With fresh, high quality bacon delivered to your door you will never buy bacon the same way again. Never again will you spend time checking expiration dates, ingredients and looking at the fat content. A club will hand pick all of your bacon for you every month so you don't have to.

Not For The Average Bacon Eater
Bacon clubs offer a wide satiety of packages and selections to satisfy even the most discerning connoisseur. However, if you like your bacon to shrivel up, then a bacon club might not be for you.

You Had Me at Bacon

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The Best Bacon: Canadian Bacon!

The absolute best bacon I have ever tasted has got to be Canadian bacon. Now I know we may poke fun at our Canadian neighbors, what with the maple syrup, ice, and hockey jokes, but they have really got one thing right.. Canadian bacon!Cover of Canadian Bacon

Canadian bacon goes on everything. You can put it onto a sandwich, hamburger, hotdog, or even a pizza. It can be put into pastas, salads, and goes nicely even on kabobs. As a matter of fact, it's so good that there is even an ode to it.
An Ode to Canadian Bacon
“It tastes great on the barbecue, oven roasted, or fried. When you taste your first bite you will think you have gone to heaven and died. Try it with bean dip and sour cream on top, add in hot peppers, and make your friends eyeballs pop.
It's great for breakfast served with some eggs, or maybe for diner, with a side of frog legs.   
It's awesome for lunch with steamy French fries, or put it on top of some warm apple pies.
Cover it with cheese, slap on some thyme, put it on bread and you're having a good time! 
While bacon is good that much is true, you need to know more, so let me tell you. Canadian Bacon is the best; trust me my friend I do not jest. Head to the store as quick as you can, make yourself a sandwich and head to the den!”
I implore you, if you are looking for the best bacon you've ever tasted, then go out right now and grab yourself some Grade A Canadian Bacon! I guarantee you will not be disappointed.
You Had Me at Bacon

How to Buy Bacon

When you are heading to the store to buy bacon, it is extremely important to keep the following two things in mind:
Price
In these tough economic times we are always looking for a way to save money. One should not apply this rule to bacon though. If you head out and purchase the cheapest bacon out there you will likely get sick, as cheap bacon is mostly fat. Yes, believe it or not, it is possible to buy bacon which has more fat in it than normal! While you won't want to go out and purchase the most expensive bacon either, you do need to remember you will get what you pay for.
Color
When you are looking around at the different packages of bacon you will want to choose a package where you can see the bacon clearly. You want to be able to see the bacon, so that you can properly judge its color. Bacon is usually that nice pinky-red color, and if it deviates at all from that, you don't want to buy it.  If your package of bacon is mostly white, it clearly has more fat then meat, and won't be providing good value for your money. You will still be paying for it because it is part of the overall weight, but it is not the most nutritious. So, always be sure to check the color of the bacon before heading to the checkout.
If you keep the two things above in mind when you head out to buy bacon, you will be sure to make the right purchase. All that is left to do once you have gotten the bacon back home is to fry it up, and enjoy.
You Had Me at Bacon

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Best Bacon Products

    If you like Bacon, then you will love these two sizzling bacon products. They are a fun gift for any bacon lover.
Bacon Dome Lunch Box
If you are a true bacon enthusiast, then you will not want to miss the opportunity to own one of these fabulous lunch boxes. They are crafted of the finest materials and look exactly like they are made out of bacon. They are a normal sized lunch box and can fit in a decent sized lunch.
This makes an excellent gift, and with a price tag of only $16.99 plus S+H you really can't afford to NOT get one for that special bacon aficionado or become the envy of all your friends at school or work, and show off this stylish Bacon Dome Lunch Box!
Bacon Salt
This has got to be the best invention since sliced bread! Do you hate it when you have to eat some boring old boiled broccoli the wife has put in front of you? Well worry no more! Now, with amazing bacon salt, you can make that nasty, dull broccoli taste exactly like bacon. While it certainly won't do anything about the texture of the vile stuff, it will make the broccoli taste like something good for a change, and you will be able to eat a whole plate of it.
Bacon Salt is also a good thing to take along when you go to fast food places when the quality of their ketchup is awful. Simply sprinkle some Bacon salt onto those ordinary French fries, and presto! They become Bacon Fries!
These two bacon products were voted “bacon products of the year” and are the top bacon gift picks for the upcoming holiday season.
You Had Me at Bacon

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The Many Faces of the Bacon Club

 One of my favorite sandwiches in the world has got to be a turkey and bacon club. The mouth watering appeal of juicy turkey topped with crispy, salty, bacon is something to marvel at. It is an ingenious little sandwich all on its own, but add in these tasty alternatives for a bit of a change.
Add a Bit of Mayo
Mayo and a Bacon Club go together like no other combo out there. This is a true classic; mixing the crunchy bacon texture with the creaminess of the mayonnaise.  This is most definitely one of my all time favorites.
Avocado and Brie
Want to give your club a bit of a west coast twist? Try adding some fresh avocado and Brie cheese atop it. The creamy coolness of the avocado and the yummy bite of the Brie make this a tasty California flair.
Lettuce, Tomato, and Ranch
The old BLT! Add some fresh crispy lettuce and ripe juicy tomatoes, then, drizzle just a bit of ranch dressing across the top. Pile it high or just keep it short, either way this delicious all time favorite is sure to please.
Heat It Up
The great thing about turkey and bacon is they just about go with anything you put on them. If you like your sandwiches with a little kick, you can add some sliced jalapeño and Monterey Jack cheese. Top it all off with some sour cream and dill dressing to cool the heat just a bit.
No matter your taste, there is sure to be a combo here that will work for you. Give one a try or try them all. They will surely give your turkey and bacon club a yummy new twist.
You Had Me at Bacon

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Unique Gifts for the Holidays

Image via WikipediaThe holidays are fast approaching, and what better way to celebrate than with some unique bacon gifts. Sure it may sound a little weird, but believe me; your family will really appreciate these unusual gifts this year.

It is hard to come up with a truly unique gift for the holidays. Everyone is tired of getting the same old cards, socks, and sweaters. I know for a fact we all have enough black socks. So, why not give a gift which is not only unique, but one which will keep on giving as well?

If your kids don't like to eat their vegetables, give them some bacon salt for Christmas. Now all their vegetables become crunchy bacon! They will always clear their plates, and mom will never be happier. Twofer!

I'm sure you've heard the expression “Wake up and smell the bacon”. Well, now you can wake up to the smell of bacon every day with your very own Bacon Air Freshener. This great gadget makes the perfect gift for dad on those long trips into work.

And, what about for Mom? We certainly haven't forgotten her. It can sometimes be a pain to carry around all that loose change when shopping, but with a Sizzling Bacon Coin Purse, mom will never need to worry about finding her loose change again!

As you can see, bacon gifts are useful, unique, and fun! There are always new ones coming out, so you will never run out of unique gift ideas. Whether you are looking for a Bacon Tie, Bacon Salt, or even a Bacon Watch, your friends and family will appreciate the thought and effort you put into their gifts this holiday season.

You Had Me at Bacon

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The New BLA: “Help me! I Love Bacon!”

There are many people who are not even sure what the purpose of the group is, and who can blame them? A name like Bacon Lovers Anonymous can easily be misunderstood. It is not for the lovers of bacon to get together and share their love of bacon. No. It is for those in the world which are truly addicted to bacon, and need help to quit their habit.
No one is really sure as to who is behind the new BLA, and are not sure whether to take their announcements seriously. The group was founded by a Mr. Ba Kon from South Korea. Mr. Ba Kon created the BLA so that he could find other bacon lovers, who suffered from their love of bacon, much like he himself does.
“It's horrible,” Mr. Ba Kon explained, “My neighbors always complain about the smell of bacon in the morning, and I'm upset they don't share my love of bacon.”  He added that he realized he was burdening the neighborhood with his habit, and is actively seeking out others, so that they may help each other curb their desires for the tasty breakfast food.
Well, I love bacon, but I don't really see it as a big problem. But then again, I only eat bacon once in a blue moon, so it really isn't a problem for me. It's good to see that there is a group out there for you, if you feel that you cannot control your achin' for bacon.

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Find a Club for Your Bacon Passion

If you enjoy your bacon, one way to make sure you get to try all of the different varieties available is to join a bacon club.  There are many different kinds of clubs for bacon enthusiasts.  Finding one that fits your likes and desires may not be as hard as it seems.  Even if you cannot find a club, I am sure that you know enough people that love bacon, that you may even be able to start one of your own.

One of the more popular types of clubs is the bacon of the month club.  This type of club is less about getting together with other bacon enthusiasts and more about being able to sample a wide range of bacons.  As a member of a bacon of the month club, you will receive different varieties of bacon each month.  Some you may have had, but others will be exotic blends, which use different curing methods, different smoking flavors, or just different flavors in general.  Bacon of the month clubs are a great way to expand your bacon palate.

The other popular type of club is one where people actually get together at meetings or social events to share their bacon recipes, styles, and favorites.  It may not seem like there would be many of these clubs, but you might be surprised at how many people take their bacon seriously.  If you like to experiment with different bacon techniques this may be the type of club you want to seek out.  You can gain a vast amount of knowledge concerning the intricacies of superior bacon skills by joining a group of bacon lovers.

If you get excited about the possibilities that bacon offers, or you just want to be able to try styles of bacon not available in your area, joining a bacon club is a great way to get started on your bacon educational journey.You Had Me at Bacon

I Love Bacon and There Isn’t Anything You Can Do About It

Bacon is delicious.  It almost feels like we could end this right there.  That one simple statement tells the story for millions of us.  But we cannot stop there, because there is more to it.  As a much as I love bacon I know it is not the most healthy thing for me to be eating.  It is hard to admit, but it is true.  In fact, I have actually cut back on my bacon consumption.  It was not easy, but it was something we all have to do sometimes, that or we end up paying the piper.  In this case, the piper would be the cardiologist.  So what can you do to still enjoy bacon and minimize the risks of poor health?

First, we should get something clear I am not going to tell you to eat turkey bacon, or low sodium bacon, or any of those other fake bacons.  What I am talking about is straight from the pig, high fat, bad for you bacon.  It is the only kind a self respecting bacon lover will eat.  So, here is how I enjoy my daily dose of bacon, and still keep my doctors at bay.  First, if you are going to eat the bacon that you love so much, you need to do it in moderation.  It is easy to sit down and eat the whole pound, but you have to stop doing that or you will be flat on your back clutching your chest before you turn 50.  Next, you need to cut out some of the other unhealthy foods in your diet.  Bacon takes away an awful lot of your cheating points.  Enjoying your bacon means making sacrifices everywhere else.  Finally get out and get some exercise.  Make sure to keep that ticker, tickin’.  You know what bacon grease looks like after it has been sitting in a pan for an hour; well that is what it is doing inside you too.  The only way to keep those arteries unclogged and still enjoy delicious bacon, is to get out there and get your heart rate up, and no your heart racing right before the bacon hits your lips does not count.

I love bacon, and I should not have to deprive myself of something that has been a staple of our diet, and our parent’s diet, and their parent’s diet just because a few doctors say it is not good for you.  Ok so there is more than a few.  The point is, bacon is just like everything else, if you eat it in moderation, it is not going to kill you.  Please enjoy your bacon, but do it responsibly.

You Had Me at Bacon

Give the Gift of Bacon

Did you know that there are literally thousands of bacon products available for purchase?  It almost seems unreal.  Are there really that many people who love bacon enough to want bacon flavored mayonnaise?  The answer is a resounding yes, and truth be told, I already knew that when my mouth started watering at the thought of a BLT with bacon and bacon flavored mayo.  So, what exactly can you get that is bacon, but isn’t really bacon?

We cannot list everything here, because that would take days, and an awful lot of space.  Not to mention you would quit reading it at some point anyway.  But here are some of the more unique faux bacon products we found.

Did you know that you could get band-aids shaped and detailed like bacon?  Well, you can.  So the next time you cut yourself in the kitchen, you can wrap that wound up with a bacon aid.  Just stay away from the dog, or that cut might turn into a missing finger in a hurry.

Another product we found that was both highly amusing, and would be appreciated by a true bacon lover, was bacon-flavored mints.  I cannot vouch for the taste of these mints, but even if they were horrible, they would make a great gag gift for the bacon lover in your life.

If you have been looking for bacon-inspired gifts for the person in you life that cannot get enough bacon, visit us online and see the wide range of bacon gifts we have available.


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Before You Freeze That Bacon Make Sure It’s Sealed Properly

Do you buy bacon in bulk?  Many people often wonder if freezing bacon will ruin its’ true flavor.  There is no simple answer to that question.  Many variables exist when discussing maintaining the quality of frozen bacon.  However, there are steps you can take to make sure that your frozen bacon tastes as delicious after you thaw it, as it would have if you cooked it the day you bought it.

One of the biggest reasons that any meat looses its quality when frozen is due to improper freezer packaging.  You likely have some experience with freezer burn, and know the havoc it can cause on everything in your freezer.  One way to avoid the same disaster to your bacon is to make sure that you have a properly sealed package.  If you bought your bacon in a sealed package at your local grocer, you can probably throw the bacon in the freezer as is.  However, if you bought straight from the butcher or deli counter, it will serve you well to take the time to make sure that your bacon is placed in a sealed and airtight storage container prior to freezing it.  Freezer burn is the most common reason for good bacon to be ruined.

If you buy bacon in bulk, it may be a good idea to invest in an airtight food sealer.  Giving your packages an airtight vacuum seal is a great way to ensure that your bacon is safe in the freezer for months to come.  If you are interested in learning more about the storage options available to you, visit us at online.  You can find an entire selection of bacon related kitchenware, including bacon-freezing solutions.


You Had Me at Bacon

Bacon Themed T’s Make the Perfect Gift

Bacon gifts are great for any occasion.  Well, as long as you are giving them to someone that likes bacon.  There are so many possibilities to give to the bacon lover.  The gifts I choose to give my pork loving friends tend to be something that will last a littler longer.  I know that a couple of pounds of bacon would go over well, but as soon as it is gone, that is it.  No more bacon, no more present.

Instead, I like to give bacon gifts that allow someone to show off their love of bacon, and bacon themed t-shirts are one of the best ways to do that.  There are t-shirts that will fit any bacon lover’s style.  From “got bacon” to, “I love bacon” and even funny ones like “I’d be a vegetarian if bacon grew on trees.”  T-shirts really do offer an endless supply of bacon themed slogans and sayings.  Even if you are not able to find one that suites your bacon lover, you can always have one custom made with a saying of your choosing.  Getting your bacon lover a t-shirt is a great way to not only get a good laugh out of them, but also to show them that you really did put some thought into buying a gift that matches their personality.

If you have yet to find the perfect gift for the bacon lover in your life, visit us online.  We have a vast selection of bacon gifts and products so you can show your bacon aficionado that you really do know them as well as you think you do.  

You Had Me at Bacon

What to Look for When Buying Bacon

One time I was asked what was the best bacon to buy.  I really wasn’t sure how to answer.  It really depends on what you like.  The best is the one that you find the most delicious.  There are all kinds of bacon choices available to you.  So which one should you buy?

Personally, I find one of the most important things to look for when buying bacon is the fat to meat ratio.  This really comes down to personal preference, and there is not a sticker on the packaging that says for every ounce of meat, there is a half ounce of fat. I do not care for my bacon to be too lean, but at the same time, I am also not a huge fan of buying bacon that is mostly fat.  Let’s face it, bacon has a lot of fat and it can start to get expensive.  In order to get the most value and taste for your dollar, you want to select bacon that has a good amount of meat, but a solid strip of fat running along the side.  The fat actually helps cook the bacon, and keep it from sticking to your pans; it also gives it the addicting flavor that keeps us running back for more.

If you would like to learn more about all the available types of bacon, and which is the best bacon to buy, visit us at www.bacongifts.com to find more information.  We offer a wide selection of bacon gifts including recipe books, how-to books, kitchen utensils, and any other bacon related product you could image.  If you love bacon, you will be sure to find something that catches your eye.

You Had Me at Bacon

Bacon - Corner your delectable tastes and fry up the aroma

          A number of bacon products exist in the markets today that corner your appetite for the taste and savory pieces of bacon.   If there is one food to worship on this Earth, it’s bacon.  Nothing can beat that smoky aroma in the saucepan sizzling.  Food bloggers every where are insane about bacon.  There is even a shop in Delaware that sells bacon flavored ice cream by the gallons.  I say bring it on!

Are you somebody who brings their lunch to work?  Good for you.   Why not take along your bacon rounded lunchbox? Yes, it is designed with delicious fried bacon strips.  After your lunch is over reach into your purse and continue the lingering flavor with your special pack of seasoned toothpicks.  And perk up the lunch room and pass them around to your co- workers and invite them into the world of bacon.
 
And for the mid day snack dip into your handy pack of bacon seasoned gum or mints.  Bacon products and novelties are great for house warming gifts, birthdays and for everyday use.  So introduce to your friends and family to the world of bacon, its clubs, its gifts, its fabulous taste and flavor.  And don’t forget bacon can be paired with wine, cheese, potatoes and pasta.  
  



You Had Me at Bacon

A Bacon Club – Join and Enjoy, It's International

          Considering a membership with a bacon club?  Yes, they do exist!  An assortment of clubs to choose from is at your disposal with a click of the ole mouse.  Not only do they offer many flavors of the fabulous pig you can pair some fabulous wines with your bacon choice or choose from other items that complement your love of the infamous pork.   Some clubs are exclusive and have minimal trial memberships.
 
What kind of bacon grabs you?  You might be the individual that loves the wonderful flavor of regular medium sliced bacon or one that likes to add a little spice and indulge in a variety of flavors.  Many selections are available when you join pork of the month club.  The varieties of categories are, apple wood smoked Canadian, hickory smoked maple & alder smoked, hickory smoked, jowl & shoulder, pepper and platinum.

Sweets, condiments, jams & jellies, salts & rubs, pastes, savory & sweet appetizers, and even honey are offered with the amazing aromas and taste of bacon.  I once purchased strawberry flavored bacon gum, sounds preposterous doesn’t it?  Well, you ought to have seen the faces when I offered everyone a piece and to their surprise and mine we wafted bubbles and enjoyed every last pop.
 
And don’t forget Fluffy, what dog doesn’t like the curled tail beauty?  Check out the selection, it’s simply swinalicious!
•    Bacon jerky-in shreds and looks like a genuine strip you take off the skillet.
•    Bones-are actual pig bones that go on from the country hog.
•    Miniature ham bones-made from ham stems.
•    Pork dog maxillae-ham bones that have been hickory smoldered
•    Specific t-shirts with “I love bacon”
•    Bacon and cheese bone

I myself like to spice up dishes and entrees and have the ability to try every last one with my membership to my bacon club.

   My club gives me the choice to select from a “bacon is meat candy” menu that refers bacon of the month.   Along with the bacon of the month add to your cart some pancake or waffle mixes, biscuits or jams and make breakfast an out of the pork home run. Find a bacon club today.

You Had Me at Bacon

It's Bacon and I Love Bacon

          I love bacon!  And if that’s wrong, sue me!  It is frenzy right now.  Why wouldn’t it be?  It is crunchy, nourishing, mouth drenching and has a deep lingering aroma.  Seriously, bacon has been consumed around the world for centuries; it’s a worldwide enjoyment.

I’m pleased to be a pork-aholic and ya know, there are a lot of great things about bacon.  Seriously, name one other single ingredient that adds the amount of flavor, crunch and pop that bacon does.  On a sandwich, pizza, a sidebar to eggs, crumbled over a salad, think pasta carbonara without bacon – SINFUL.  There is simply no substitute. You can incorporate it into breakfast, lunch, dinner and now, my friend, oh yes, they make bacon infused vodka – soooooooooooo, lets see, is there a bacon martini with your name on it?  Because, believe me, I am sipping on one as I write this.  Simply divine.  Not sure if its healthier to drink or eat bacon, but honestly, moderation is key here.  No reason to deprive yourself of something so utterly delicious, so utterly divine --- it actually makes your taste buds dance.

If you love bacon, like I love bacon --- Go ahead, indulge a little -  after all you have excellent taste~




You Had Me at Bacon

Bacon Gifts, of course!

          Bacon gifts, why didn’t I think of this earlier?  Sometimes I find myself stuck when getting people gifts…..Of course , there is always a shirt or sweater, piece of jewelry…you get my drift.  But when seeking something a “little outside the box” without wanting to be too personal i.e. read “boss from hell” here --- or for that friend who always knows exactly what to get people that literally no one else would ever think of --- and I would like to return the favor – I am now turning to the culinary arts.  There are tons of gadgets and cookbooks and spices and seasonings and….well the list goes on and on….But I am totally hooked on giving bacon gifts.  Now, mind you, I have no vegan friends or relatives for that matter, so that makes it an easy decision.  But the world is totally screaming about bacon – with the addition of bacon vodka, bacon gum, bacon is totally the flavor of the month, every month.  This does make gift buying quite a bit easier.  Not only that, there are a plethora of bacon gifts out there.  For instance, the bacon belt, the bacon watch and bacon dental care – yep, bacon floss with some bacon flavored gum….still seeking bacon toothpaste though.

So, the next time you are stuck for a unique and original idea for a gift, go to the place that invokes fond, salivating memories, and grab some bacon gifts, the recipient will love it!


You Had Me at Bacon

Bacon - Wrap it, Drape it and Enjoy

     Enjoy the best bacon out there with it wrapped in an all beef smoky!  The crunchy bacon enfolded around the little smoky is packed with a little bit of heaven.  This gem is so simple to make, they will be a staple for all your parties and snacks.  The recipe below will serve 8 – 10 people, but beware you may want to double the recipe once they taste them, they will want more of this simple yet delicious snack that combines the taste of beef smokys and your best bacon..

Bacon Wrapped Smokies
1 lb. of sliced bacon, cut into thirds
1 Package of All Beef Smokies 
Brown sugar - three fourth cups, or to taste

Pre heat oven to 325 degrees

Cut the bacon into thirds, and wrap smokies, secure with toothpicks (you can use your bacon picks if desired!)  Sprinkle with brown sugar, and if you are out, you can drizzle with syrup.  Cook for approximately 30 – 40 minutes
Serve Hot with or without a dipping sauce

What's your best bacon recipe?




You Had Me at Bacon

Bacon – Pork up your Knowledge

     What’s the best way to buy bacon?  The basic way is to pork up your knowledge on where bacon came from, the best forms to use and the price.  Before the birth of the freezer, people would soak the fabulous pork in a brine of salt water to preserve it.  The brine delivers a defense of microorganisms avoiding the people from getting very sick if it had spoiled.  Smoking is another way to reserve the bacon.  It prolonged the life just as much as brining.  Once the brining and smoking took off, we got imaginative!

Adding a spice here and there and smoking it with a specific wood was an experiment with flavors.  The most commonly used spices and woods were:  black pepper, jalapenos, juniper, garlic, apple wood and mesquite.  We can buy bacon already spiced and cured or for the chef in your home; they can research with their own spices and develop there own flavors as well.
In purchasing bacon at a specialty meat shop, you will have a variety to choose from; pancetta (from Italy), duck bacon (thinly sliced and full bodied taste encased with a large amount of fat and cooks very fast), Irish bacon (from the loin of the pig, not as rich in fat but can still be brined and sliced thinly for frying as traditional bacon is).

Many types of entrée’s or side dishes are enhanced with bacon, whether it’s crumbled on top or wrapped with bacon.  Shrimp and scallops can be enfolded in bacon for classic hors d’oeuvres.  You will want the bacon to be crunchy, choose the best, low in fat such as the Irish bacon.  Bacon wrapped around a filet mignon is perfect because the filet is mild and very tender and the crispness enhances the flavor of the filet.  If you are roasting a turkey, use bacon ends in your stuffing.  Baking bacon on a broiling pan or cookie sheet with a rack will produce the same aroma and taste as if you were frying it on top of the stove.  But before you use it in your stuffing make sure its cooked first.  Just keep in mind when you buy bacon, the flavor and aroma will get their mouths watering for more no matter what dish you are serving.





You Had Me at Bacon

The Bacon Song

 
I think an artist named Junior Redwood says it best. He created a song about bacon and here’s how it goes:

You’re good in the morning, You’re good at night

You’re good off a fork, Or cut up with a knife

You’re good on pizza, And you’re good plain

The way you smell sometimes, Drives me insane

Mmm Bacon

I love you and need you in my life

Mmm Bacon

You make me feel alright

Some call you fat, But to me you’re lean

Just one pound of you girl, Is the best thing I’ve ever seen

You’re good with a pancake, You’re good with an egg

I need you now, Don’t make me beg

You’re in my heart, And you clog my veins

Someday you’ll cause me, Some sweet chest pains

We may die young, But we’ll die free

And if I die from you, I’ll know you died for me

Mmm Bacon

I won’t think twice

You are my life

To me, all bacon is the best bacon and should be enjoyed by all!

You Had Me at Bacon

Let's Talk Bacon

      What does it take for you to say “wow that was the best bacon ever!”  Thousands of people dedicate their precious time to rating bacon on all kinds of levels.  Let’s take a look at some.
 
•    For those who love the cookouts, hot sun, swimming and firing up the grill…there is beer battered bacon.  They say it is potently delicious.  By marinating the bacon in a beer of choice overnight and then grilling it, makes for enormous crunch and flavor.

•    Like sweet and spicy at the same time?  Try the Teriyaki and Pineapple bacon. The Teriyaki glaze is swept over the bacon strips while the Pineapple is laid across during grilling time.

•    Some like lots of spice!  If so, you’ll love the Jamaican Jerk Bacon.  It is loaded with the jerk seasoning that will most certainly give you a kick!

•    Burn baby burn…a sweet and dangerous treat is the mango-habanero bacon.  The mango glaze is drizzled on top while slices of habaneros are placed on top while baking.

•    Then there is the Sunday morning, muffin eating with a side of bacon, bacon.  This is the blueberry butter bacon.  A few squares of butter with blueberry are tossed on top while baking sure makes this go perfect with your breakfast.

•    What about dessert?  Well, you could always cook up your best lean bacon and dip it in chocolate!

Oh Yeah!



You Had Me at Bacon

I Love Bacon

You Had Me at Bacon

Have a Blast Gifting with Bacon

   Who knew that bacon gifts existed?  Not me!  I would like to share with you the amazing and unique world of bacon gifting!  We all know that bacon isn’t the best thing for us to eat…yes the real bacon.  Not turkey bacon or any other creation that some health nut comes up with.  Pure, fattening pig bacon!  Take it out of the package, lay it in the pan, sprinkle with a bit of seasoning and fry!  Flip a couple of times and you’ve got bacon that drips with fat, crispy and tasting amazing!  Some of us even save the drippings and grizzle for future skillet meals that will add a bit of the flavor, seasoning and crisp finish to your meal.
Anything you can imagine and things you can’t are used as gifts of bacon.  Sure, t-shirts are highly popular and display humorous and frank verses for all of the bacon lovers of the world.  Okay, ready to hear about gifts that are available to the common and serious lover of bacon?  Here ya go!

   - Have a boo-boo?  Cover it up with bacon and eggs band-aids!

    -After you consume the bacon, clean your teeth with bacon flavored floss and toothpicks.

    -Need to freshen up the mouth?  Use bacon mints.

    -After the sports game, your equipment bag stinks!  Use a bacon air freshener in your car.

    -Have fun playing with your kids.  Let the bacon and tofu duke it out!

    - Instead of rubbing your body with bacon in the shower to keep that ever-loving salty scent, use bacon soap.

    -During those winter months, seal your precious lips with bacon chap stick.

    -Tired of never being able to find the black wallet of yours?  Replace it with a bacon wallet.

    -If you are the tighty whitey kind of guy, you must go for the bacon undies.

I bet you didn’t know just how fun bacon could be.  It gets boring gifting people with the same things or same category of things each year.  Go for the gold in trying something new and exiting to gift with.  No matter what the style is (t-shirt, actual meat, wallet, toy, mints, band aids, underwear) you will be able to find exactly what you are looking for.  At the very least, your gift receiver will be full of humor when opening the gift!  Celebrate the pig in everyway you can and choose bacon gifts!




You Had Me at Bacon

I Love Bacon Cinnamon Rolls

 I have to admit when I heard then woman in front of me in line exclaim, “I love bacon cinnamon rolls!” I thought she must be a little bit nutty.  I mean c'mon. Bacon...and cinnamon rolls?  Who puts bacon in a cinnamon roll?  But I guess I'm a little bit behind on the times here.  I wasn't aware that everybody in America was putting bacon into every dish they cook now.  I'll have to hurry to catch up.

Apparently folks are putting bacon into everything.  I've seen recipes for bacon brownies and bacon chocolate chip cookies.  So these bacon cinnamon rolls are not that uncommon I guess.  But chocolate covered bacon?  That sounds like something only a true bacon lover could eat!

I've seen recipes for hot dogs, wrapped in bacon, deep fried, covered in cheese and sprinkled with more bacon bits.  I've seen a recipe for a Bacturduckenon – a whole chicken stuffed with bacon baked inside of a whole duck baked inside of a whole turkey and wrapped with more bacon.  I've seen bacon weaves and even Baconhenge.

I've even seen bacon gifts and T-shirts and Kevin Bacon movie memorabilia.  The whole world has going bacon crazy and I'm just now finding out about it!  There are bacon cocktails made with Bakon vodka.  There are bacon spreads and bacon salts.  There are bacon bandages and even bacon flavored lip gloss!  And I just keep remembering that woman shouting, “I love bacon cinnamon rolls!”  It must be very scary right now to be a pig!


You Had Me at Bacon

FoodNetwork's The Best Thing I Ever Ate.....with Bacon

So, the other night - flipping thru the channels, and low and behold the Food Network has a show that each week features a different food, and then interviews all of its top chefs regarding that food. This week it was all about bacon.  I gotta tell ya, there were a LOT of chefs who LOVE BACON.  I especially dig Guy Fieri anyway, and he gives his take on this place in San Diego, called Hodad's -- they apparently have a "big, greasy, run down your arm burger" that Guy states is "burgerlicious".........Then Adam Gertler tells about a place in LA called Father's Office, that has the "Office Burger".  Now this one is a bit different, and Adam literally was drooling all over himself.  This burger is made with Gruyere and blue cheese, bacon, onion compote on a dry aged beef patty.  This is one Chef'd out burger.  Then comes Tyler Florence, he completely raves about this place called Boccalone Salumeria --- Boccalone means "Big Mouth" for all of you non-Italians out there.  Now, this is super cool, this place serves you different types of bacon (your choice of course) in a paper cylinder, similiar to an ice cream cone.  Then you just munch away.  Now, lets discuss dessert, of course Duff Goldman, the Ace of Cakes guy, gives an outstanding review to a place called Animal, again in LA.  They serve this Chocolate Bacon Crunch Bar -  that, doesn't really sound appealing, but damn it looked good - and he swears that "Nothing should taste this good".

I gotta say tho, what is up with all these Cali restaurants serving the Bacon, like I thought they only ate green stuff out there.  I was totally disappointed and shocked that the Midwest was not represented.  I mean, c'mon, what's up with that? 

You can check out all the places and reviews at http://www.foodnetwork.com/bestthing

Stay Hungry My Friends,
You Had Me at Bacon

Food Ink

I love the commitment involved with branding.  And there truly is no better self expression art form than the tattoo.  But for those who are shy of the needle, or fear  of becoming a vegan is something in their future, Mark Pahlow and his creative crew of Accoutrements created temporary tattos made with the foodie in mind. Here's some more from Pahlow:


 "The advent of the celebrity chef has finally done away with the idea that food is made by effete snobs in ivory towers -- ivory kitchens? -- who only enjoy `fancy food,'" Pahlow says. One of his favorite foodies is that cig-smoking, cookbook- and memoir-writing, foul-mouthed hunk of beefcake Anthony Bourdain. Pahlow says his inspiration for the book-o-tats came after watching Bourdain get a real tattoo in a Malaysian jungle in one of his TV-show episodes. "When he travels to foreign lands to eat fantastic roasted pork as he sits cross-legged in a dirty hut, he reveals the true spirit of the foodie," says Pahlow. "Food lovers are adventurous and passionate people, so the idea of tattoos for them is a natural fit."



The food-lover's faux-tattoo book is "perfect for those who love food or are in the food business, yet don't have the nerve to face a real tattoo needle and live with the result the rest of their lives," Pahlow says.
I'll ink to that :)

Bacon Vodka - Quench Your Thirst

Now, the day wouldn't be complete without a satisying bacony cocktail to end the day.  As the bacon cult has grown, so has the list of cocktails that contain bacon.  Surprised?  Don't be.  Many mixologists recognize the versatility, flavor and intrinsic taste value of bacon, why not indulge their clientele?  So, we now have the Bacon Martini, the Bacon Bloody Mary, even Baconcello - the list goes on and on for carvivorous cocktailers.  And, for our adventuous vegan consumers, you will not be ignored! Bakon Vodka, now available in most recognized establishments  and stocked on many shelves, actually contains no bacon at all. And for those who are experimenting with their own mixology techniques, I share with you a special recipe:

Homemade Bacon Vodka (makes one pint)
Fry up three strips of bacon.

Add cooked bacon to a clean pint sized mason jar. Trim the ends of the bacon if they are too tall to fit in the jar. Or you could go hog wild and just pile in a bunch of fried up bacon scraps. Optional: add crushed black peppercorns.

Fill the jar up with vodka. Cap and place in a dark cupboard for at least three weeks. That’s right- I didn’t refrigerate it.

At the end of the three week resting period, place the bacon vodka in the freezer to solidify the fats. Strain out the fats through a coffee filter to yield a clear filtered pale yellow bacon vodka.

Decant into decorative bottles and enjoy.

The bacontainer

Now for all of you on the Atkins Diet, this is a scrumptious way to stay on track, however, even if you are not on a high protein, no carb diet, this is still a scrumptious way to feast.  Now, don't be fooled, no reason to allow only veggies in the bacontainer, open your mind and your pantry -  a little scrambled eggs, possibly some mac and cheese or mashed potatoes.....Yummmmm!   To learn how to make these bacon baskets navigate over to Not Martha.  Stay hungry my friends.

For the Love of Bacon

And to think, it all started with a pig………  One of the least respected, disdained animals in the world.  Think about it, how many times have you heard someone say, “you dirty rotten pig”, or “your room is a pig sty” and at one time in history a certain law enforcement group was commonly referred to as “pigs”.  You get the idea.  However, when I think of pigs, I could get down on my knees ala Wayne and Garth chanting “I’m not worthy”.  Why is this?  Bacon.  Simple, delicious, yummy bacon.  And, I am not alone.  There is definitely a bacon cult.  There are those who eat, breathe, wear bacon.  Each day of their life.  And thank God, there are bacon purveyors that understand the need for bacon gifts in our lives.  What is so cool, is that one can easily incorporate bacon into their everyday lives.  Hence: this blog.  Here is my space to share with you some of my fave bacon products, and I invite you to share yours with me!

You had me at Bacon