Summer Of Bacon: August 2014

Chicken and waffles just got a whole lot better. Savory bacon-infused waffles serve as the base for crispy, pecan-crusted chicken tenders. Drizzled with maple syrup, this dynamic duo is delicious for brunch, dinner, or anytime in between.

Heirloom tomatoes are the star ingredient in this update on an Italian summer staple. Thick, crumbled bacon adds a rich, salty bite, while the warm bacon dressing ties everything together.

Bacon and blue cheese must be good friends. Sharing both rich and bold flavor notes, these "guy food" favorites pair so well in so many dishes, including these tangy deviled eggs.

Homemade pizza crust is topped with bacon, sautéed onions and mushrooms, a mix of fresh white cheeses, and arugula. This pleasing pie is classy enough to serve at a party, yet casual enough for a quiet dinner at home.

The classic sandwich embraces its lighter side in this sunny salad. When broken, silky egg yolks form the dressing for crunchy romaine, on-the-vine tomatoes, smoky bacon, and homemade croutons.

Bacon and stout beer make an unexpected pairing in these spicy-sweet muffins. Topped with a bacon-oat streusel, these sinful sweets would make a great gift for the guy in your life.

A positively Southern combination, bacon-and-bourbon flavored fare is making headlines in the foodie world. The idea of a bacon-bourbon cocktail was born at a bar named PDT in—of all places—New York City. Here's Mr. Benton's version.

Peppery arugula is the merely the starting point for this dinner salad. Next, sautéed chicken breasts add substance. Applewood-smoked bacon, the salad's crowning glory, plays a double role with ease. Crumbled, it serves as a crunchy topping, while its drippings form the base for a warm vinaigrette.

Quiche is great to make over the weekend and keep in the fridge for easy grab-and-go breakfasts throughout the week. This version, loaded with bacon, leeks, and Gruyère cheese, might just disappear before Friday arrives.

Sweet and simple, these bite-sized appetizers utilize seasonal figs at their plump, garden-fresh best. 5 ingredients and 20 minutes are all you'll need to take these bacon-wrapped beauties from kitchen to table.

Protein-rich edamame replaces lima beans in this take on the colorful Southern side dish. Applewood-smoked bacon adds depth of flavor, making this healthy recipe palatable to even the most stringent veggie naysayers in your family.

Here's a saucy, creamy pasta dish without a lick of cream or milk and only a wee bit of cheese. The trick is to cook the pasta like risotto, which releases starch into the liquid that becomes the sauce. Adding bacon doesn't hurt either.

This silky, late summer soup offers a colorful starter or light weeknight supper. Top with slivers of roasted corn and crispy bacon, sprinkle with smoked paprika, and savor every last drop.

The classic Wedge salad gets a contemporary makeover. Lettuce, blue cheese, and diced bacon are still the main components, but they are presented on bamboo skewers for a creative spin on the original recipe. This sensational salad would be perfect for serving alongside grilled meat at your next outdoor party.

This version of shrimp and grits comes with bacon, which adds a smoky meatiness to the entire dish. Polenta, a type of course cornmeal, is very similar to grits and makes a tasty substitute.

We can't get enough of the super popular bacon-and-bourbon combo! Here, a recipe for Southern collard greens gets buzzed with the addition of two types of booze: beer and bourbon. Don't worry, though; the alcohol evaporates during the cooking process, leaving behind nothing but good flavor.

Maple syrup and chopped applewood-smoked bacon slices are stirred into melted marshmallows for an amazingly tasty dessert treat. It's like an updated version of everyone's favorite crispy rice bars, elevated with the addicting smoky-sweet nuances of flavor we all crave.

Don't be fooled; this grilled cheese only looks decadent. Stuffed with two types of cheese, bacon, and both baby spinach and arugula, you'd never guess that this satisfying sandwich weighs in at just 300 calories.

Looking to ward off the midday muchies? This salad, loaded with healthy fats from the avocado, is the perfect solution to curb your cravings. Crunchy bacon brings out the smokiness of a good, ripe avocado, while the sharp vinaigrette helps cut its richness.

In this riff on corn chowder, corn, potatoes and bacon are tossed with cider vinegar. Because the corn is barely cooked, it's best to use the freshest, juiciest kernels you can find. This salad just screams summer, so hurry and get it on your table before the season ends!

Ultra-lean steak medallions are wrapped in bacon, and then served with a luxurious Madeira wine-mushroom sauce. The only words we can find to describe this dish: umami explosion.

Bacon and eggs, those American breakfast staples, go Italian in this quick pizza. Be careful not to overcook the eggs; you'll want to sop up the golden yolk with your crust.

Classic potato salad ingredients get a kick from bacon and green beans. This mayo-free version pairs perfectly with grilled steak or chicken, as part of a celebratory end-of-summer feast.

This healthy breakfast egg sandwich, featuring turkey bacon and jalapeño peppers, is a tasty and nutritious way to fuel up in the morning. You'll love the energy boost you get from the whole-grain English muffin and protein-rich organic egg.

Dress up classic macaroni and cheese with applewood-smoked bacon, chicken, and Ranch dressing-inspired seasonings for a delicious twist on this classic dish.

Bacon, onion, garlic, and coconut vinegar add tremendous flavor to this nutritious kale side dish. Feel free to experiment with other greens as well, such as collards, spinach or Swiss chard.

These flavorful mini frittatas feature crumbled bacon, sweet onion, chopped potatoes, chives, and fresh Parmesan cheese. Garnish these petite appetizers with a dollop of sour cream and a sprinkling of fresh chives.

Refreshingly simple, this bright pasta salad is sure to please adults and kids alike. Little ones will love the ear-shaped orecchiette pasta, while grown-ups will swoon over the savory combination of bacon, corn, grape tomatoes and basil.

This patty melt-style burger is topped with smoked Gouda, sweet homemade barbecue sauce, hot sauce-spiked onions and, of course, bacon. Sandwich it all between buttered toast and you've got yourself a winner.

Crispy, sweet and salty, this 3-ingredient snack is the ultimate cocktail party hors d'oeuvre. The recipe can easily be doubled, and that's a good thing because they will quickly disappear.

Cat-head biscuits are delightfully huge, crispy-on-the-outside, fluffy-on-the-inside homemade biscuits. Their size and crunch make them ideal to serve with a thick, hearty gravy. If you don’t have bacon drippings on hand, cook a pound of bacon before you start this recipe, reserve the drippings, and serve the bacon with the biscuits and gravy.