Never once, in all my years of eating bacon, had I considered even once that it could be improved upon.
Nothing on the planet is better than bacon! Butter and chipotle come close, or maybe a flourless chocolate cake with fresh raspberries. Perfectly cooked kobe beef and a garlicky escargot with lots of bread to soak it all up is right up there, too. But of all these delicious dishes, bacon is the only one that I can eat right after rolling out of my toasty warm bed first thing in the morning, and the only thing that I can enjoy just as it is, in it’s perfectly delicious fatty state. Baking bacon, frying bacon, Kevin Bacon, wrapping something with bacon and then baking bacon…it really doesn’t matter. It’s bacon.
Until now, I’ve never given much thought to bacon other than I prefer it thickly-sliced and crispy. So I did some poking around and found a few fun bacon-related things you might enjoy:
Here’s a fun list from Bacon Magazine:
- 3 million pounds of Bacon would be worth 3 million dollars if Bacon was worth a dollar a pound.
- Bacon is formerly known as the artist Prince.
- In 1992, Newfoundland scientists discovered that Bacon was made from pigs.
- Bacon has been known to give people psychic powers. Usually the only future they can see is their own demise, from consuming mass amounts of Bacon.
- It is scientifically proven* that consuming mass amounts of Bacon lowers your risk of death. (* Not scientifically proven)
- 99% of pigs believe Bacon is made from cows.
- 1% of pigs believe Bacon is made from werewolves.
- When mixed with TNT, Bacon makes a powerful explosive.
- When mixed with eggs, Bacon makes a powerful breakfast.
What about this article on Bacon Vodka?
Or how about some Bacon Bandages?
My really awesome cousin Britt, who knows all about my love affair with all things chipotle, emailed me a couple of months ago with a recipe for chipotle bacon. I don’t remember all of the ingredients – there were a few – but the one I do remember was, of course, chipotle. I tried to find the recipe over the weekend but had apparently inadvertently deleted it, soooo…I decided to try it anyway but keep it super simple with just the chipotle and a little brown sugar.
It…was…heavenly!! Seriously, I ADORE bacon, but this simple mixture of brown sugar and adobo sauce put it over the top!
It’s easy to do – just mix a bit of brown sugar with some of the adobo sauce from a can of chipotle peppers inside a large plastic bag, add bacon and “smoosh” (<—-real word) it around until all the bacon is coated. I used approximately equal parts of both, although you can adjust this depending if you prefer your bacon sweeter or spicier – I like it a little bit of both!
And this is where it gets really twisted (HA!). Hold each end of the bacon and twist in opposite directions until twisted as much as you’d like. Place on a broiler pan and cook at 400-ish until the bacon is nice and crispy. No flipping or turning, just pop it in the oven until it’s done! It will retain the “twist” and you’ll have yourself some twisted bacon. Or spiraled bacon. Or curly q bacon. Whatever. Call it what you will, but it will be bacon that’s better!
Tip: The thicker your bacon, the harder it will be to both twist it and have it retain the twist. You may want to use metal skewers threaded just through the ends of the bacon to help it to hold its shape.
lisa says
This bacon looks awesome! I love that cool twist and can't wait to try it. We have a brunch in two weeks and I'm going to make this. The spice mix sounds good, too, but I'll skip it for the brunch. Maybe that will be for Father's day!
the wicked noodle says
Thanks, Lisa! You'll have to let me know how your brunch turns out!
Terecita says
That bacon looks so cool! I never would have thought of doing that! Very creative!
Eric says
I never knew there was a bacon magazine. I shouldn't be surprised considering there is a bacon vodka, mayonnaise, and just about everything else is bacon these days. I'll have to give those bacon twists a try one day, I'm sure they'll be awesome!
Eric
Kelly says
This is a very fun and clever collection of bacon trivia. Thanks for the smile (and the involuntary slobber too). :)
Caitlin calls her version of the sweet and spicy breakfast treat, with honey and cayenne, "Better Bacon." It absolutely is one of our most watched videos ). Now we know how to make it the BEST bacon with a twist! Thanks.
jenn says
LOL. Bacon makes the world go round. I'm going to try twisting my bacon from now on . lol. Makes breakfast even cooler.
the wicked noodle says
Thanks, Terecita! Glad you like it!
Eric – I was as surprised as you to discover Bacon Magazine. Too funny!
Kelly – I checked out the video – nice! I'll have to try the honey/cayenne version if someone can pry the can of chipotle from me ;-)
Thanks, Jenn! I always enjoy reading your comments!
Ashley says
Just when I thought life couldn't get any better….twisted bacon.
I can die happy now. =)
the wicked noodle says
Ashley—>laughing!! A girl after my own heart! ;-)
Morta Di Fame says
Those bacon twists are gorgeous!
the wicked noodle says
Thanks, Morta! :-)
Natasha - 5 Star Foo says
Neat bacon twists! I will have to check out that bacon flavored vodka.
the wicked noodle says
Thanks, Natasha! If you try the vodka please let me know how it is!
Barbara says
This reminds me of a favorite snack; bacon twisted around a pretzel, covered in brown sugar and cayenne and baked; oh my!
Love the trivia; seems there is a bacon thing going on lately.
I realize now I do not have it on my site; that needs to happen, but first I need to get that new camera…today!
cateler says
love the twist – so very cool.
For more awesome bacon snacks – try the bourbon bacon caramel corn from saltedcaramel.net. Fat and Happy. mmmm
the wicked noodle says
Ohhhhhhh….cateler, that sounds sinful!! Definitely must try it :-)
Sarah says
Bacon is considered a food group by my oldest daughter. She is always trying to get me to incorporate bacon into all my recipes.
I am going to have to try this recipe!
Amy says
Bacon is THE reason I stopped being a Vegetarian after 10+ years. The smell and taste put me into a frenzy.
Heather in SF @Heath says
Oh how I love bacon too! What a fun post, it was a pleasure to discover you via my pals on Twitter! I am going to try your chipotle trick.
Tom says
great post as usual!
K2 incense says
Yum! I'll have to twist my bacon next time. Fab idea, thanks!
annie says
I had just a little bit of trouble with the bacon twists. They kept breaking, and looked more like porcupines when finished because of all the toothpicks used to keep them together. They were eaten up all the same. I guess presentation is not everything after all :)
the wicked noodle says
Annie, I wouldn’t recommend using toothpicks. Skewers work well because you can thread each end onto the same skewer; toothpicks just wouldn’t do the job. I hope you’ll give it another shot!
Barb says
My grandmother used wooden dials covered with aluminum foil to bake her miniature lady locks which I inherited when she passed away. I would think the dials would work here.
the wicked noodle says
How lovely, Barb! Please let me know if you try it. I’d love to hear about it!
Marie says
I really want this to work, but I have tried three times, using three different types of bacon and they all uncurl some what and burn in some parts . . . Plu when I take them ot they a limp, kinda thought the would cool and stand in a cup like a pretzel. Can you help guide me as to what I may be doing wrong?
Kristy Bernardo says
Hi Marie, it’s hard to say since I don’t have much info to go on. I would say to be sure to wind them tight enough from the start. If they’re very crispy they’d likely stand up (just like regular bacon). Could possibly the type of bacon, too?