Summer of Bacon: July 2014

John Kernick

Everything's better with bacon. From drinks to dinner to desserts, bacon makes a great addition to almost any recipe.

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Chipotle-Bacon Mac and Cheese

Photo: Jennifer Davick; Prop Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Boxed mac and cheese has nothing on this outstanding recipe. Whether you serve it as a side dish or a main course, this one's sure to be a winner with kids and adults alike. Bottom line is: good things happen when bacon, cheese and chipotle come together.

Chipotle-Bacon Mac and Cheese Recipe

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Smoky, Buttery Crab Claws

Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Linda Hirst

It's got bacon and butter? We're in. Tender, meaty crab claws are perfect for dipping into this silky sauce. Be sure to reserve a hunk of crusty bread for sopping up the leftovers.

Smoky, Buttery Crab Claws Recipe

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Bacon-Cheese Dip

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas; Styling: Scott Martin

Crumbled bacon is the crowing glory of this creamy cheese dip that features cream cheese, blue cheese and sour cream. You're guaranteed not to have any leftovers when you bring this dip to a party.

Bacon-Cheese Dip Recipe

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Bacon-Wrapped Barbecue Burgers

Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Lisa Powell Bailey

It's no secret--Americans love burgers. We also love wrapping things in bacon. If you're looking for a patriotic dish this Fourth of July, look no further. This dressed-up bacon burger is a true crowd-pleaser, making it the perfect choice for your Independence Day cook-out.

Bacon-Wrapped Barbecue Burgers Recipe

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Seven Layer Salad

This classic layered salad is always popular at potluck suppers with its colorful layers of lettuce, bacon, tomato, olives, green peas, carrot and hard-boiled eggs.

Seven Layer Salad Recipe

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Bacon, Onion, and Cheddar Corn Muffins

Photo: Johnny Autry; Styling: Mary Clayton Carl

Cornbread muffins work well alongside any type of barbecue. Mix in flavor boosters like bacon, sauteed onions and sharp Cheddar cheese to take ordinary corn muffins to new heights.

Bacon, Onion, and Cheddar Corn Muffins Recipe

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Fettuccine Alfredo with Bacon

Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Leigh Ann Ross

Treat yourself to a comfort-food favorite tonight. This lightened version of the rich Italian pasta dish is indulgent and satisfying, yet weighs in at less than 350 calories. And yes--you still get to keep the bacon.

Fettuccine Alfredo with Bacon Recipe

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Sweet and Peppery Bacon

Wake up your household (and possibly your neighbors, too) with the aroma of crispy, sugar-and-spice bacon. Enjoy them alongside scrambled eggs, French toast, or just about anything else.

Sweet and Peppery Bacon Recipe

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Loaded Chicken-Bacon Pot Pie

Photo: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Deli-roasted chicken and puff pastry cut down on cooking time, while bacon, white wine, and mustard give the gravy and vegetables savory punch.

Loaded Chicken-Bacon Pot Pie Recipe

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Trout with Crispy Smoked Bacon

Ocean Trout with Coleslaw and Crispy Smoked Bacon

Photo: William Meppem; Styling: Lynsey Fryers

Tired of grilling steak and chicken? Try fresh seafood! Skin-on fish holds together better on the grill--plus the skin gets deliciously crisp and lightly charred. Paired with a delightful cabbage slaw and grilled Canadian bacon, this meal is one for the books.

Trout with Crispy Smoked Bacon Recipe

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Summer Squash and Corn Chowder

Photo: John Autry; Styling: Mindi Shapiro

Enjoy soup in the summertime by making this satisfying chowder with the season's produce. Top with cheese and bacon for kid appeal.

Summer Squash and Corn Chowder Recipe

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Black Bean Tacos with Feta Slaw

Photo: Jason Wallis; Styling: Cindy Barr

This recipe could easily be made vegetarian, as it only uses one slice of bacon. Pre-seasoned canned beans, along with a few other pantry staples, help bring these tacos together in a flash.

Black Bean Tacos with Feta Slaw Recipe

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Egg and Hash Brown Casserole

Photo: Johnny Miller; Styling: Heather Chontos

This dish is like enjoying an omelet stuffed with spinach, Swiss cheese, and mushrooms, with hearty sides of bacon and hash browns, all in one convenient package.

Egg and Hash Brown Casserole Recipe

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Bacon Cookies

Photo: Marge Perry; Treats: David Bonom and Marge Perry

The cookie every dog dreams of… Use uncured bacon and low-sodium broth to make this treat a must-have for your dog. They're okay for humans to eat, so don't worry about sneaking a bite (we won't tell).

Bacon Cookies Recipe

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Hawaiian Pizza

Photo: Kate Sears; Styling: Elizabeth Blake

Canadian bacon is not actually bacon, but a type of cured ham made from the pork loin. It makes a traditional topping for Hawaiian pizza, alongside fresh pineapple and mozzarella cheese.

Hawaiian Pizza Recipe

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Barbecued Bacon Shrimp

James Carrier

Bacon-wrapped shrimp basted in sweet and smoky barbecue sauce are a simple, crowd-pleasing appetizer. Serve with extra sauce for dipping and watch as they quickly disappear.

Barbecued Bacon Shrimp Recipe

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Sweet Onion Stacks

Photo: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Buffy Hargett

Salty strips of bacon and a tart Champagne vinaigrette play against the layered richness of sweet char-grilled onions, tomatoes and creamy goat cheese. Feel free to mix and match the stacks, maybe even slip in a sliced peach or two.

Sweet Onion Stacks Recipe

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Cowboy Hot Dogs

Photo: Erin Kunkel

With several toppings, including caramelized onions, bacon, and barbecue sauce, these can be customized for a range of diners, from those who like their dogs plain to those who want them fully loaded and hearty enough to fuel a day out on the range.

Cowboy Hot Dogs Recipe

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Twice-Baked Sweet Potatoes with Cheddar and Bacon

Photo: Julie Bidwell; Styling: Gerri Williams for James Reps

We swapped regular potatoes for sweet potatoes to bring extra vitamins to the dinner table. Load them up with classic toppings like bacon, cheese, sour cream, chives and tomatoes, and you may have just found your family's new favorite side dish.

Twice-Baked Sweet Potatoes with Cheddar and Bacon Recipe

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Bacon Pierogi Bake

Photo: John Autry; Styling: Leigh Ann Ross

Similar to Italy's ravioli, "pierogis" are Polish dumplings made from unleavened bread dough and stuffed with a filling, typically made from potatoes. In this dish, potato-and-onion pierogis are covered with a creamy sauce and cheese, then baked until bubbly and topped with bacon, green onions, and tomatoes.

Bacon Pierogi Bake Recipe

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Barbecued Chicken

Photo: Thayer Allyson Gowdy

From chef Tyler Florence, everything you could want in a piece of barbecued chicken: moist meat, crisp skin, and tangy sauce. The bacon-and-thyme-infused barbecue sauce is a work of art, and worth every last drop.

Barbecued Chicken Recipe

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BLT Benedict with Avocado-Tomato Relish

Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Lydia DeGaris Pursell

Serve up a killer brunch spread featuring these open-faced BLT benedicts. Sunny-side up or sliced boiled eggs would work just as well as poached eggs in this must-try dish.

BLT Benedict with Avocado-Tomato Relish Recipe

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Cider-Braised Mussels with Bacon

These fabulous mussels are braised in bacon-infused hard cider. Need we say more? A fresh spinach salad and chilled Porter would make nice accompaniments to this simple seafood supper.

Cider-Braised Mussels with Bacon Recipe

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Bacon and Leek Risotto

Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Cindy Barr

This risotto has all the necessary components: chicken stock, garlic, leeks, lemon juice and Parmesan cheese. Bacon is utilized twice--as a base for the risotto and crumbled over the top.

Bacon and Leek Risotto Recipe

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Grilled Peach, Onion and Bacon Salad with Buttermilk Dressing

Photo: John Kernick

The secret to this salad is using big, juicy sweet onions like Vidalias, which get nicely charred on the grill. Sweet peaches, smoky bacon and a tangy buttermilk dressing make this salad an easy summer favorite.

Grilled Peach, Onion and Bacon Salad with Buttermilk Dressing Recipe

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Pimiento Cheese-Stuffed Squash Blossoms

Photo: Squire Fox; Styling: Mary Clayton Carl

Fresh squash blossoms are a lovely seasonal treat. Enjoy the contrast of crisp, fresh flowers with rich, creamy cheese spread. Be sure to use the best bacon you can find--brands that smoke with real wood offer the best flavor.

Pimiento Cheese-Stuffed Squash Blossoms Recipe

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Maple Bacon Cupcakes

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Jan Gautro

This cupcake is without a doubt most men's favorite. You can see the smile as soon as they spot that crisp bacon strip resting on top of the maple frosting. It's the wonderful combination of salty and sweet together, reminiscent of the flavor you get when bacon mingles with syrup while eating pancakes.

Maple Bacon Cupcakes Recipe

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Whiskey and Triple Pork Black Bean Chili

Photo: Annabelle Breakey

Why make the same old thing when you can cook up a chili rich and smoky with bacon and Spanish chorizo, mellowed by whiskey, and fired up with chipotles? Serve with a slice of cornbread and savor the layers of flavor.

Whiskey and Triple Pork Black Bean Chili Recipe

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Shrimp Cobb Salad

Photo: Francesco Tonelli; Styling: Angharad Bailey

Typical Cobb salads include chicken and hard-cooked eggs; this riff uses shrimp and corn. Don't worry--it doesn't omit the bacon!

Shrimp Cobb Salad Recipe

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Bacon-Grits Fritters

Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Lydia DeGaris Pursell

Grits are treasured like gold in the South. These fritters are the perfect Southern delicacy to introduce to your family and friends. Serve warm with your choice of sauce, such as barbecue or spicy tomato.

Bacon-Grits Fritters Recipe

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Three-Egg Omelets with Whisky Bacon

John Kernick

Think of this as the perfect hangover breakfast. Three-egg omelets stuffed with cheese, cherry tomatoes and fresh basil are accompanied by caramelized brown sugar-and-whisky bacon. It's both simply wonderful and seriously delicious!

Three-Egg Omelets with Whisky Bacon Recipe

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Summer Of Bacon: July 2014

1 of 31

Chipotle-Bacon Mac and Cheese

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Smoky, Buttery Crab Claws

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Bacon-Cheese Dip

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Bacon-Wrapped Barbecue Burgers

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Seven Layer Salad

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Bacon, Onion, and Cheddar Corn Muffins

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Fettuccine Alfredo with Bacon

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Sweet and Peppery Bacon

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Loaded Chicken-Bacon Pot Pie

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Trout with Crispy Smoked Bacon

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Summer Squash and Corn Chowder

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Black Bean Tacos with Feta Slaw

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Egg and Hash Brown Casserole

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Bacon Cookies

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Hawaiian Pizza

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Barbecued Bacon Shrimp

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Sweet Onion Stacks

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Cowboy Hot Dogs

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Twice-Baked Sweet Potatoes with Cheddar and Bacon

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Bacon Pierogi Bake

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Barbecued Chicken

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BLT Benedict with Avocado-Tomato Relish

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Cider-Braised Mussels with Bacon

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Bacon and Leek Risotto

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Grilled Peach, Onion and Bacon Salad with Buttermilk Dressing

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Pimiento Cheese-Stuffed Squash Blossoms

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