Saturday Is International Bacon Day

Bacon is wonderful and Saturday is International Bacon Day! Here are a few recipes and ideas to have fun with bacon.

Bacon is delicious, but it can stink up the house. There are a few different ways to prepare bacon so it doesn't make the house reek. Bacon on the grill is fantastical because it absorbs that wonderful smoky taste and as the fat renders out, it drips into the catch.

Baking it in the oven is good, too. Line a baking sheet with foil and arrange bacon on the sheet. Place sheet on the center rack of a cold oven and set to 400 degrees. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes depending on how crispy you like it. Once bacon is finished cooking, remove baking sheet from the oven and transfer bacon strips onto another baking sheet lined with paper towel. The paper towel will absorb the excess fat.

Broiler bacon is another great and more healthy way to cook bacon. Move the racks in the oven until they're three to four inches away from the heat. Turn on the broiler. Lay the strips of bacon on the broiler pan rack and put it back in the broiler. Cook two minutes. Remove the bacon from the broiler and flip the strips using a fork or tongs. Stick bacon back in the broiler and cook for one additional minute. Remove and allow bacon to cool before serving.

Bacon Rice Krispies:

3 tablespoons butter, 4 cups mini marshmallows, 6 cups Rice Krispies, 4 strips of crispy bacon.

Cook bacon according to package directions and blot excess grease off. Allow bacon to cool and crumble into small pieces. Melt butter, stir in marshmallows and keep stirring until marshmallows are melted. Add rice krispies and stir until well coated. Add bacon and stir until bacony goodness is blended in. Grease a 13X9 pan and press mixture into pan. Cool, cut and serve!

Bacon Popcorn:

1/2 cup bacon grease, 3/4 cup unpopped popcorn, 3 tablespoons of bacon bits, 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese.

Place bacon grease into a large pot add one or two tester kernels and heat over medium. When grease has reached temperature and the testers have popped, add remaining unpopped popcorn. As corn is popping, keep shaking the pot so the unpopped kernels go to the bottom. When popping slows down, remove from heat and wait until popping stops. Add bacon bits and cheddar cheese. Shake until well mixed. Empty into a large bowl and enjoy!

Chocolate Covered Bacon:

1 block of candy making chocolate, 1 package of bacon and cracked pepper.

Cook bacon according to package directions. Blot excess grease off of bacon and allow it to cool.  Melt chocolate in a double boiler. Once chocolate is melted, dip bacon in the chocolate, or, lay waxed paper down on the counter and place a cooling rack on top of it. Slowly pour chocolate over the bacon. Before chocolate cures, sprinkle with pepper.

These bacon recipes and more always go well with your favorite Bacon movie!