Bakin’ With Bacon and King Teddy

Greetings Fellow Baconians!

It’s Saturday – time for me to give you a recipe that has our favorite ingredient in it – BACON!    There is an endless number of recipes that include this wonderful item and I do hope you aren’t getting bored with bacon.    Seems like it would be impossible to me but – well – maybe I’m out of touch with my adoring public!

Anyway, here’s another one – this one is extra delish and my Royal Mom has made it a few times for the Royal Dad and it was APPROVED and given the “DELICIOUS STUFF” award by my parents.     That’s a pretty good recommendation in my book.

Caprese Chicken with Bacon

INGREDIENTS

• 8 bacon strips
• 4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves (6 ounces each)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 2 plum tomatoes, sliced
• 6 fresh basil leaves, thinly sliced
• 4 slices part-skim mozzarella cheese

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 400°. Place bacon in an ungreased 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Bake until partially cooked but not crisp, 8-10 minutes. Remove to paper towels to drain.
2. Place chicken in an ungreased 13×9 inch baking pan; brush with oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Top with tomatoes and basil. Wrap each in 2 bacon strips, arranging bacon in a crisscross.
3. Bake, uncovered, until a thermometer reads 165°, 15-20 minutes. Top with cheese; bake until melted, 1 minute longer.

 

Oh boy – now doesn’t that sound fabulous?   Fit for a King I’d say!     By the way, that photo of the finished dish above looks JUST LIKE it did on the plate when the Royal Mom made it!   MMMMMMMMMMM good.

See you next Saturday?   It’s a date!

The King…..

Bakin’ With Bacon and The King

An Early Valentine’s Day Greeting (and Recipe) From The King!

Yes we know it’s not QUITE “The Big Day” but it’s close – close enough that I thought I’d give you a recipe for something SWEET for your SWEETHEART.    A very tasty treat that is guaranteed to bring a smile to someone you love and who loves yummy things.     It’s not “heart-shaped” but it’s made with love and something HE or SHE will remember you made just for them!

Maple Bourbon Bacon Tarts

 

INGREDIENTS

• 1 pie crust pastry, chilled
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1/2 cup maple syrup
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1 tablespoon bourbon (or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract instead of booze!!)
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup pecans, chopped (optional but extremely tasty)
• 6 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled (optional but if you can eat bacon and want to eat it – it’s a FABULOUS addition)

DIRECTIONS

1. Roll the pastry out to 1/8 inch thick and cut out 12 4-5 inch circles, pressing them into the holes in a muffin baking pan (greased or no-stick).
2. Chill the muffin pan in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, mix the egg, brown sugar, maple syrup, butter, vanilla extract, salt, pecans and bacon and pour the mixture into the tarts.
4. Bake in a preheated 350F/180C oven and bake until set, about 15-25 minutes.

Option: Remove or replace the pecans and bacon with your favorite ingredients.
Note: Only fill the tarts about 3/4 full as the filling will expand when baking and if the filling goes over the edges the tarts will be difficult to remove from the pan.

Everyone deserves a Valentine’s day treat!!

Love, King Teddy

Bakin’ With Bacon and King Teddy

Castle Baconia Kitchen Is Open For Business!

And as the business owner (aka King) I feel it is my duty to provide my kingdom with a wonderful recipe every single Saturday that includes bacon.    I will say that the Royal Mom had a bit to do with this one – why?  Because she is a “Potato Princess” – she loves potatoes…..french fries, baked potatoes, mashed potatoes, potato pancakes, twice baked potatoes – she’s never met a potato she didn’t like.    She particularly loves Potatoes Au Gratin but this recipe kicks it up a notch…………..it includes bacon and a couple of other things that aren’t in our “regular” potatoes au gratin recipe.   SO LET’S DO THIS!

Easy Creamy Potatoes Au Gratin With Bacon

INGREDIENTS

• 8 Ounces bacon
• 1 Cup whole milk
• ½ Cup butter
• 3 Garlic cloves smashed
• 6 Large russet potatoes
• ½ Cup onion sliced
• ¾ + ¾ Teaspoon salt
• ¾ + ¾ Teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ + ½ Teaspoon black pepper
• 1 + 1 Cups shredded cheddar cheese
• ¼ Cup grated parmesan cheese
• 1 Teaspoon dried parsley

INSTRUCTIONS

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Lay bacon on a pan sprayed baking pan and bake for 20 minutes. Chop when done and set aside. Once the bacon is out of the oven, increase the temperature to 400°F.
• While the bacon is cooking, heat a small saucepan on medium heat. Simmer the whole milk, butter and smashed garlic for 5 minutes. Remove the garlic.
• Peel and rinse the russet potatoes. Slice the potatoes very thin, about ⅛ inch thick. Also, slice the onion thinly.
• Using a pan sprayed 13×9 baking pan, cover the bottom of the pan with a layer of half of the potato slices. Then, cover the potato slices with half of the sliced onions. Cover with half of the milk and butter mixture. Season with ¾ teaspoon salt, ¾ teaspoon garlic powder and ½ teaspoon black pepper.
• Cover with 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese. Cover with the remaining potato slices and repeat the other layers. Cover the final cheddar layer with grated parmesan cheese, dried parsley and the chopped bacon. Bake for 1 hour.

OK – did I knock your socks off with this recipe?   Good!   You won’t want to serve “just plain” mashed potatoes again – this really is delicious and I’m sure you’ll love it – those of you who can’t eat bacon will be happy to know that while bacon is always better (!) it’s not necessary – these potatoes are JUST THAT GOOD that they stand on their own!

“I’m definitely standing on my own!”

We’ll be here again next Saturday with another exciting baconized recipe – so tune in won’t you?     There’s always something exciting happening in the land of bacon!

Next Week!    Your King……………..

Bakin’ With Bacon and King Teddy

Happy Saturday and welcome to the Castle Baconia kitchen!

Yes indeed another week has gone by and it’s time for me to whip up something delish in the kitchen and share the recipe with you fans of bacon.   It’s my mission to give you every possibility to include bacon in your diet.   Breakfast, lunch, dinner or a snack – I’m on the hunt for recipes to share!

This one is just BEYOND yummy……………………..WAY beyond.

Maple Bacon Magic Bars

INGREDIENTS

1 cup graham cracker crumbs
1/2 cup quick cooking rolled oats
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp maple extract (optional, but recommended)
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 cup chocolate chips
1 cup toasted pecans, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup shredded coconut, sweetened or unsweetened
1/2 cup diced bacon bits
1 14-oz can sweetened condensed milk
3 tbsp maple syrup

 

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350F and lightly grease an 8×8-inch baking pan.
In a medium bowl, stir together graham cracker crumbs, oats and salt. Stir in maple extract and melted butter. Pour into prepared pan and press into an even layer, using your fingertips or a spatula.
Sprinkle chocolate chips in a layer on the graham layer. Sprinkle pecans in a layer on the chocolate chips. Sprinkle coconut in an even layer on top of the pecans, then sprinkle bacon on in an even layer on top of the coconut.
In a small bowl, whisk together the sweetened condensed milk and maple syrup, and pour that mixture over everything.
Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until coconut is golden brown.
Cool completely before slicing.
Bars can be served at room temperature or chilled.

Makes 25 squares.

 

Need I say more??????? I think the recipe speaks for itself (bacon can talk you know!)

All Hail King Teddy of Baconia!

Bakin’ With Bacon and King Ted

 

The King Is Here…..Welcome!

It’s that time again – here in the Castle Baconia kitchen I can be found every Saturday sharing a delish bacon recipe with my loyal bacon loving friends – and today is no exception.  Today’s goodie is a delicious meal indeed especially if you are a “burger” person like the Royal Mom is.     I say whatever it is you’ll love them!

What is it?

Bacon Cheeseburger Rolls

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground beef
• 6 bacon strips, diced
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1 package (8 ounces) Velveeta, cubed  (or similar type cheese but velveeta melts so NICELY!)
• 1 tube (16.3 ounces) large refrigerated buttermilk biscuits
• 1 large egg, beaten, optional
• Sesame seeds, optional  (I didn’t use them!)
• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 1/4 cup yellow mustard

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400°. In a large skillet, cook beef, bacon and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink, breaking it into crumbles; drain. Add cheese; cook and stir until melted. Remove from heat.
2. Flatten biscuits into 5-in. circles; top each with 1/3 cup beef mixture. Fold sides and end over filling, and roll up. Place seam side down on a greased baking/cookie sheet.  If desired, brush with egg and sprinkle with sesame seeds.
3. Bake until golden brown, 18-20 minutes. In a small bowl, combine ketchup and mustard; serve with roll-ups.

 

Yep – no doubt about it – delish.   An easy to eat meal in a roll.

 

Happy Weekend from the land of bacon!   King Teddy