Let’s face it, bacon is one of those magical ingredients, or stand alone foods, that makes all things right.  There are very few people I know (even my friends that are vegetarians) that do not love the taste and/or smell of bacon.  I think it might be one of those foods that the smell alone brings back happy childhood memories – for at least in our house, when the bacon is on the stove our house smells very homey and comfortable.

Beef Tenderloin Steaks with Bacon & Creamed Leeks

Of course we all (or at least those of us who eat meat) typically pair bacon with eggs for breakfast, but bacon can add so much more to your meals throughout the day.  Now, I’m not suggesting adding bacon to every meal (as I don’t think anyone’s cholesterol could handle it!), but in moderation and occasionally adding bacon to an entrée, appetizer or lunch will impart tremendous flavor and most likely transform the dish from good to spectacular.

These days you can find a lot of bacon at the grocery store that is labeled gluten-free.  The concern here would be in any added smoke flavoring that could contain gluten.  So just be sure to read the ingredients and make sure that the bacon you are purchasing is, indeed, gluten-free.

This month we’ve chosen some of our favorite recipes using bacon to flavor or add that extra special touch to the dish.

Appetizers:

BLT Pizza

Almond Stuffed Prunes Wrapped in Bacon
BBQ Bacon Wrapped Shrimp
Marinated Shrimp Wrapped in Bacon
Rumaki

Breakfast (many of these dishes could also be served as a lunch or even dinner):

Bacon & Leek Quiche
Cheese Pancakes with Apples, Bacon & Maple Syrup
Corn Pancakes with Pear & Bacon Filling
Shrimp & Bacon Frittata

Lunch (to include salads & soups):

Roast Pork Loin Wrapped in Bacon & Rosemary

Sweet Corn & Bacon Soup with Jalapeno Cream
Potato & Bacon Soup
BLT Pizza
Frisee Salad with Bacon & Poached Egg
Grilled Cheeseburgers with Onions, Jalapenos & Bacon
Lentil Soup with Bacon & Carrots
Mixed Greens with Apples, Pears, Bacon & Feta
Open Faced Bacon & Avocado Foccacia Sandwich

Dinner:

Caramelized Cauliflower with Bacon & Spinach

Bacon Wrapped Hens with Peach Glaze
Beef Tenderloin Steaks with Bacon & Creamed Leeks
Fettuccine with Bacon & Sun-Dried Tomatoes
Filet of Beef Wrapped in Bacon with Wild Mushroom-Rosemary Sauce
Grilled Bacon Wrapped Chicken
Roast Pork Loin Wrapped in Bacon & Rosemary

Sides:

Braised Green Beans with Bacon
Caramelized Cauliflower with Bacon & Spinach

Enjoy!

- Chef Jessica

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