Year of Bacon: March 2015

Making the bacon is a three-step process: Cure, smoke, and roast. For serious bacon lovers, this project recipe is well worth the time and effort.

If the Breakfast Sandwich Hall of Fame existed, this one would be in it. Thick slices of BBQ Bacon take it over the top.

Breakfast casseroles are ideal for overnight guests. Assemble it the night before, and bake in the morning.

Use a miniature muffin pan to bake these little bites of heaven. Bacon and Parmesan cheese make these party snacks simple irresistible.

Endive leaves, being naturally scooped and crunchy, make a refreshing alternative to potato chips.

The crunchy cornmeal and brown sugar coating take regular bacon strips to new, salty-sweet heights.

Rosemary and bacon may seem like an odd combination, but toss in pecans and brown sugar and you've got a buzz-worthy breakfast dish.

Brown sugar and spices act like a BBQ "dry rub" for thick slices of bacon. Baked in the oven until crisp, this savory bacon will make any morning feel special.

Choose this dish as a healthy side to complete your meal. Swiss chard is softened by a sprinkling of warmed bacon vinaigrette.

Dicing bacon before tossing it into a pan allows for quicker cooking and even browning. Remove crisped bits with a slotted spoon to keep all of the tasty drippings in the pan.

This easy breakfast dish is great for using up little leftover bits in the fridge. Replace the mushrooms and bell peppers with any veggies you have on hand.

Grits in the waffle iron: Madness or Genius? We say anything with bacon is worth trying.

Change up your sandwich routine by marinating and grilling a slab of tofu and sliding it into a ciabatta roll along with vegetables and bacon. Sriracha and a drizzle of the ginger-soy marinade add even more complex flavor.

Serve this addictive onion dip with a sliced baguette or apples, or thick-cut potato chips.

A new twist on a Cobb salad, this recipe features blue cheese dressing made with Greek yogurt, avocado, and of course, crispy bacon bits.

A warm bacon vinaigrette lightly dresses tender baby potatoes and spinach for a tasty--and fast--side dish.

Imagine the perfect Southern brunch dish, complete with baked grits, shrimp cooked in bacon drippings, feta cheese, and plenty of cooked bacon on top. This is it.

You can make a lot with muffin cups, including these cute little egg tarts. Green onions add color and flavor, but they're optional. Omit them, if you prefer.

All grilled cheese loves a companion! Dip these sandwiches in a simple tomato soup, so the bold flavors still shine through.

This recipe calls for Chinese sausage, but crispy bacon makes a great substitution. It pairs well with the sweet cucumbers and peanut dressing.

Put a Southern spin on the homey French country dish cassoulet by replacing the usual duck or goose confit with three varieties of pork.

Although this recipe doesn't call for bacon, it uses bacon drippings to cook the grits cakes. Cook up a batch of your favorite bacon to eat on the side, and save the drippings to use here.

It's a well-known fact that adding bacon to any dish automatically improves the end result. Serve this 5-ingredient dish for dinner and receive rave reviews.

This easy, heart-warming pasta recipe has minimal ingredients and maximum flavor. Enjoy it for dinner tonight.

This is a delicious partner for grilled fish. Don't forget fresh crusty bread to soak up every bit of the warm vinaigrette.

Made hearty with shredded chicken, these easy sandwiches can be endlessly adapted to suit any taste.

When you add a wedge of blue cheese and crispy, crumbled bacon to classic buttermilk mashed potatoes, the results are an outstanding potato bake. These savory potatoes are a great accompaniment to grilled steak.

We like to toss this salad together for a casual presentation, but if you want to dress it up for a dinner party, keep the endive leaves whole, arrange them on a platter, fill them with the avocado-bacon-gorgonzola mixture, and drizzle with vinaigrette.

Top baked potatoes with bacon, peas, and cheddar cheese for an easy, comforting supper.

These little tea sandwiches are simple, yet wonderful. They can be assembled up to two hours ahead. Simply cover with a damp paper towel to keep bread from drying out.

Feed four people for around $7 with this easy frittata recipe. Zucchini, tomatoes, bacon, and Swiss make up the delicious filling.