Summer Of Bacon: May 2015

Sweet and sticky, balsamic-molasses bacon makes a gorgeous addition to any brunch table. The bacon is skewered for easy grilling and basted with fresh rosemary sprigs for an elegant, aromatic touch.

Grilled Balsamic-Molasses Bacon Recipe

Spinach holds up well against bold flavors like sweet figs, tangy blue cheese and warm bacon vinaigrette. Bacon plays three roles in this recipe: it flavors the dressing, crisps the chickpeas, and crumbles over the salad as a topping.

Spinach Salad with Figs and Warm Bacon Vinaigrette Recipe

This company-worthy dish is all about the interplay of rich and fresh flavors. And there's almost no more delicious way to eat snap peas than sautéed in crème fraîche.
Salmon with Snap Peas, Bacon, and Mint Recipe

Start with fried green tomatoes from your favorite meat 'n' three restaurant. Then, assemble these adorable (yet manly) mini-burgers, topping with crunchy veggies, spicy mayonnaise and of course, bacon.

Fried Green Tomato Sliders Recipe

Serve this hearty chowder as either a light first course for six, or a filling main course for four. The sweetness of fresh summer corn pairs nicely with the meaty flavors of bacon and shrimp.

Bacon-Corn Chowder with Shrimp Recipe

Brussels sprouts are the new kale. That's good news (if you like Brussels sprouts). Even better news? Brussels and bacon make a perfect pair! Top them both with a poached egg and you're practically in paradise.

Brussels Sprout and Bacon Hash Recipe

Adding a tortilla transforms this American salad into a fun, portable meal. Choose a pungent blue cheese, like Roquefort, for a strong hit of flavor, or go with milder Gorgonzola for just a touch.
Cobb Salad Tacos Recipe

Welcome to the Southerner’s perfect cocktail:  bacon-flavored bourbon.  All you need is a bottle of your favorite bourbon and some warm bacon grease.
Bacon-Infused Bourbon Recipe

Try these savory cupcakes as a perfect companion to yesterday's bacon booze. Test Kitchen Specialist Marian Cooper Cairns likes to use a combination of parsley, thyme, and oregano, but sage, rosemary, basil, and chives will work just as well.

Bacon-Herb Cupcakes Recipe

Fill this homemade pie crust with a mixture of summer squash, bacon and creamy mozzarella. It is hard to believe this decadent quiche recipe has less than 300 calories.

Summer Squash, Bacon, and Mozzarella Quiche Recipe

Think of this as an upscale version of shrimp and grits. Buttery scallops and bacon play nicely with edamame, tomatoes and fresh basil atop of bed of creamy grits. We're drooling.

Scallop Skillet with Bacon, Edamame, Basil, and Creamy Grits Recipe

Poultry burgers have a reputation for being dry and bland, but jazzed up with sharp cheddar, parmesan, and garlic—and then topped with crisp bacon, juicy tomatoes, and lettuce—they're boldness in a bun.
BLT Chicken Burgers Recipe

This showstopping dish just screams, "Welcome, summer!" If you haven't broken out the grill yet, you'll want to do so for this fantastic recipe. Wrap the pork tightly with bacon, then grill to give it smoky flavor and a crispy crust.

Pork Tenderloins with Balsamic Strawberries Recipe

Hugh Acheson's Southern Mac and Cheese combines 2-year-old aged Cheddar cheese with Gruyere cheese, diced bacon, and  leeks. The results are a deliciously baked Southern classic that's finished with a drizzle of heavy cream and toasted breadcrumbs.

Hugh's Southern Mac and Cheese Recipe

Smoky bacon pairs deliciously with salmon in this fresh take on a comfort food classic. Paper-thin phyllo sheets create a light, airy crust. Bake until browned and crispy, then say hello to your new favorite seafood casserole!

Crisp Phyllo-topped Salmon Pot Pie Recipe

This veggie-centric recipe from Cooking Light is easy on the waistline (and the wallet)! Substitute escarole or another hearty green like collards if you don't like kale. Serve with torn baguette bread to soak up all the tasty juices.

Garbanzo Beans and Greens Recipe

Bacon fat takes humble cornbread from tame to terrific! Quickly incorporate the hot bacon drippings into the batter with a fork. When you pour it back into the hot skillet, listen for the sizzle. That sound means your crust will be dark golden and crisp.

Skillet Cornbread Recipe

Jazz up your favorite egg salad with bacon, green onions and Sriracha chile sauce. Sandwich the goodness between slices of hearty whole-grain or sourdough bread and we promise, you'll never look back.

Egg Salad Sandwiches with Bacon and Sriracha Recipe

Golden raisins and honey add sweetness to this chopped broccoli salad, while bacon, onion and white balsamic vinegar add savory notes. Tote this tasty side salad along to your next company picnic, potluck or barbecue.

Crunchy Broccoli Slaw Recipe

Three kinds of beans take the classic dish from ho-hum to fun, with different shapes and pleasing textures--from the al dente bite of chickpeas to the creaminess of Great Northern beans. Did we mention there's bacon, too?

Smoky Three-Bean Bake Recipe

Bacon and eggs just got even better. Make these petite pizzas for breakfast or dinner (or lunch, for that matter). Be sure not to cook the yolk all the way through, as it makes a silky sauce for the pizzas when broken.

Individual Bacon-and-Egg Pizzas Recipe

The title of this recipe says it all, but if you need more convincing, it's also got potatoes, green beans and a splash of lemon juice to bring it all together. Plus, mussels are budget-friendly for seafood lovers. Be sure to pick up some crusty bread to sop up that amazing beer broth.

Mussels Steamed with Bacon, Beer, and Fennel Recipe

This comforting casserole has all the components of a loaded baked potato -- cheese, bacon, cream and chives -- plus a little chipotle pepper for a spicy kick. Serve alongside barbecued chicken for a scrumptious summer spread.

Chipotle Scalloped Potatoes Recipe

This gorgeous beef tenderloin is stuffed with bread crumbs, gorgonzola cheese and herbs. As if that weren't enough, it's wrapped in bacon, grilled and served alongside an incredible port wine sauce. Quick -- fire up the grill and make this winning recipe tonight!

Gorgonzola-Stuffed Beef Tenderloin with Port Wine Sauce Recipe

This tomato side salad is the ultimate summer recipe with a stack of colorful tomato slices and avocado topped wtih fresh herbs, corn, crumbled bacon, and a creamy dressing. This is the star of the meal; keep the entrée simple.
Tomato Stack Salad with Corn and Avocado Recipe

Serve this savory caramelized onion, Gruyère, and bacon spread with crackers or bread slices. If you can't find Gruyère, substitute raclette, fontina, or Swiss cheese.
Caramelized Onion, Gruyère, and Bacon Spread Recipe

Some call it crazy; others call it genius. Instead of using pimiento cheese as a sandwich filling, try using it as a filling for skillet-cooked chicken breasts. Serve with a simple side salad to contrast the richness of the pimiento cheese.

Pimiento Cheese Chicken Recipe

Learn to savor breakfast rather than skip it. Here's a good start: stuff multigrain English muffins with bacon, sauteed onions and kale, and a runny fried egg.

Bacon-and-Egg Sandwiches with Greens Recipe

Be sure to buy fresh, never-frozen fish, summer corn on the cob and in the husks, and your favorite bacon. Applewood-smoked bacon is more subtle than hickory or mesquite and won't clobber all of the other ingredients. Just a spritz of fresh lime juice brings the flavors into perfect balance.
Halibut with Bacony Corn Sauté Recipe

Your dreams have come true – candy that’s made with sweetened peanut butter and bacon and then dipped in chocolate. Oh, my. 

Bacon-Peanut Truffles Recipe

Classic tomato and mayo win a delicious bronze. Bacon, lettuce, and tomato are a strong silver. But combine bacon, lettuce, avocado, and sweet tomato, and the sandwich becomes a bona fide blue-ribbon winner.
B.L.A.S.T. Sandwich Recipe