|
| | Bacon is such a wonderful ingredient to use in a variety of dishes. Anybody who has ever fried bacon on the stove knows how good it smells and how there is nothing quite like it. Well, bacon is a wonder food of sorts  that is remarkably flavorful and can lift even the blandest dish to unexpected heights.
Of course bacon is great on its own: stove fried, oven baked or microwave fried. For a complete breakfast or brunch, you really can't go without it. Whether you cook it plain or season it with sugar and black pepper for a real candy like treat, it's a nice addition next to any breakfast like food such as eggs, hash browns, quiche etc...
Bacon however, isn't just for breakfast. It's also a great ingredient to use in vegetable dishes in small quantities. Try to fry a few slices chopped up until crispy, then add the onions and build the base of your soup. If for instance you were making a lentil soup or minestrone soup, it will suddenly take on much more depth and flavor (make sure however that your guests aren't vegetarian!)
Another nice use of bacon is to cook it and crumble on top of dishes such as macaroni and cheese, potato gratin, thick soups etc...
A great budget tip is to buy a pound of good quality bacon and then wrap three or four slices individually, first in plastic wrap and then in aluminum foil. Put in resealable plastic bags, date and keep in the freezer. That way you always have a few slices handy to use in recipes without having to open up a whole package. This is very practical, however it's also great if you're on a budget and you're trying to make your money stretch a long way.
| |
