Appetizer Idea for Homemade Bacon?

Killit_and_Grillit

I really should have done this a long time ago. @bgebrent helped get me started on some Rosemary garlic bacon. I just pulled it off and man I have been cheating myself. The complexity of flavor in this is incredible. 

I have a party on Friday night and I need to do an app, so I figured I could incorporate this. It's way too intense for a simple ABT, poppers, or bacon wrapped shrimp. Honestly the flavor is too strong. 

All ideas are welcome. 

Please excuse the burnt piece. My toddler only likes crunchy bacon. And now she is drinking a gallon of water. 

Killit_and_Grillit

So far the app to beat is a polenta cake with a goat cheese/cream cheese mix with a 1/4 piece of medium sliced bacon with blackberry sauce. 

blind99

Bacon wrapped dates, stuffed with a bit of cheese - easy to prep a bunch ahead of time and easy to cook

pig candy is also on my list - never made it but that might be good

fishlessman

smoke a stick of cream cheese at 250 for 2 hours with your favorite rub, smear it on wheat crackers with some bacon bits on top. some like the cream cheese still warm, im liking it back at room temp

chadpsualum

@Killit_and_Grillit  (or @bgebrent)...do you have that rosemary/garlic recipe handy anywhere?  For the first time my Costco was carrying full bellies so I picked up a 10# to give it a go.  I was going to cut it into thirds and try 3 recipes.  I was going to a Salt/Pepper/Brown Sugar and a Maple/Jalapeno.  This Rosemary/Garlic will be a good departure from these.

Thanks!

Focker

Dice into lardons/bits for any app or side dish really.  Pizza would be a great start, helping to cut the cure with the other ingredients.  

Stoogie

fishlessman said:

smoke a stick of cream cheese at 250 for 2 hours with your favorite rub, smear it on wheat crackers with some bacon bits on top. some like the cream cheese still warm, im liking it back at room temp

I'd love to try this, but I have questions about the smoking of the cream cheese.  Wouldn't it melt at 250?  

fishlessman

have done several now, best was just bad byrons butt rub. have made some sweet, some savory, savory seems to be the winner. all your out is a block of cream cheese. used blueberry wood on these

Stoogie

Thanks for the picture and info!  Good point about being out just a block of cheese, I was concerned about the potential mess but your picture clarifies everything.  Thanks!

bgebrent

Nice work brother!  I'm glad you like it as much as I do!  I like all the ideas above.  You could also have little bacon and chicken bites.  Simple but tasty.

@chadpsualum I'll pm you later with details and the method I shared with brother Killit_and_Grillit.

Killit_and_Grillit

blind99 said:

Bacon wrapped dates, stuffed with a bit of cheese - easy to prep a bunch ahead of time and easy to cook

pig candy is also on my list - never made it but that might be good

Uhhh. Yeah one of my favorites. I may add this to the lineup. I may just do bacon extravaganza. 

tarheelmatt

Since the pieces of bacon are much wider, why not use the bacon as your bottom layer, similar to a chip, cracker, etc.  Have some shrimp to top with some of Fish's smoked cream cheese.  

Would be as per the below: 

1 - Bottom - Bacon square
2 - On top of Bacon square - Smoked cream cheese
3 - On top of cream cheese - Your shrimp
4 - On top of shrimp - Sauce of sort
5 - On top of sauce - chives for garnish.  

Acn

The Thirsty Monk in Asheville, NC has an appetitizer called 'Pint of Bacon' on its menu.  It is a pint glass, filled with cooked strips of bacon.

Don't overthink things. 

Legume

If you haven't sliced it all, slice some thick and cook slowly in the oven.  Love Matt's idea of using it as a cracker.

Phatchris

Acn said:

The Thirsty Monk in Asheville, NC has an appetitizer called 'Pint of Bacon' on its menu.  It is a pint glass, filled with cooked strips of bacon.

Don't overthink things. 

Morton's has a similar cup O' bacon... Although it's beef bacon and delicious.

northGAcock

Bacon wrapped Brussels Sprouts, Try Ito before knocking it. .Remove stem and soak in a salt brine. Remove, wrap with bacon and grill on high heat.

Killit_and_Grillit

northGAcock said:

Bacon wrapped Brussels Sprouts, Try Ito before knocking it. .Remove stem and soak in a salt brine. Remove, wrap with bacon and grill on high heat.

  Oh no knocking it here. We do brussels with a balsamic reduction and crumbled bacon.  

Killit_and_Grillit

Legume said:

If you haven't sliced it all, slice some thick and cook slowly in the oven.  Love Matt's idea of using it as a cracker.

I kept most of it in tact to give a couple options and let it hold a little better. I think I'll try the cracker just to see how it does. My sister (the chef with a culinary degree) is coming over Friday to work on some options. 

bgebrent

You must post up the creations brother!

Killit_and_Grillit

bgebrent said:

You must post up the creations brother!

I owe you that much. The main course bailed so my sister is gonna come over and help me prep. We will do some extra apps but the theme is blackberry 3 ways. In the app, on the main dish, and blackberry/peach cobbler for dessert. Part of me wants to do bacon in all dishes as well

Jameson19

Wrap meatballs in bacon. Cook indirect until fat rendered and/or somewhat crispy bacon. Add few drop of BBQ sauce and a cube of cheddar cheese. 

Did these once and I could feel the cholesterol rising

Legume

Blackberry x3.  Bacon x3.  I think you also need Bourbon x3, you know, just to keep it even.

nolaegghead

Make some carbonara.  I used some of my homemade bacon to make some a few weeks back and it was fantastic.  It's not all that common in the US unless you go to a very authentic Italian restaurant (or it's a hack job).