We are away on vacation until July 12th.  Until then, please enjoy these selected “Best Of” posts.  This was originally published on 8/18/2009 and for close to a year and a half was the highest viewed post on the site.

With the recent “heat-wave” in Michigan, I thought a nice cool treat would help us all get through August.

Presenting…The Maple Bacon Milkshake (no photo available – writer’s artistic rendition)

Ingredients:

• 2 slices bacon (about 2 ounces), cut into thin strips
• 6 tablespoons cold whole or low-fat milk (about 3 ounces)
• 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup, preferably grade B (about 1 ounce)
• Pinch of salt
• 8 medium scoops French vanilla ice cream (about 1 quart), softened until just melty at the edges.

I have ALL these ingredients in my fridge right now…I think a TEST KITCHEN is in order!

Directions:

1. Fry the bacon in a small skillet set over medium heat, stirring frequently, until rendered and crisp, about 5 minutes. With a slotted spoon, remove the cooked bacon to paper towels to drain, and nibble on it or reserve it for another use. Off the heat, briefly cool the fat in the skillet.
2. Place the milk, maple syrup, 1 tablespoon of cooled bacon fat (if there is any more, you can discard it), salt and ice cream in a blender and pulse several times to begin breaking up the ice cream.
3. With the blender motor off, use a flexible spatula to mash the mixture down onto the blender blades. Continue pulsing, stopping and mashing until the mixture is well blended, thick and moves easily in the blender jar, roughly 30 to 90 seconds. Pour into a chilled glass or glasses, and serve at once.

Makes about 3 1/2 cups

Nutritional analysis per 1/2 -cup serving: 219 calories, 13 grams fat, 22 grams carbohydrates, 6 grams protein, 41 milligrams cholesterol, 216 milligrams sodium, no dietary fiber, 50 percent of calories from fat.

–From “Thoroughly Modern Milkshakes” by Adam Ried (W.W. Norton, $24.95)

Hells Yeah!

Don’t let it’s looks fool you, this is a much more complicated dish than it appears…but it’s worth it!

Click on over to howsweetitis.com for the recipe and more photos.

We’ll end this just as the recipe’s author ended her post…

“Bacon for Life!”

photo via howsweetitis.com

That’s a lot going on…but I have some experience with the bacon chocolate chip cookie and got to believe throwin’ some peanut butter in the mix is ONLY goin’ to make it better…

photo via RBerteig / Flickr…recipe after the jump… [Read more →]

Burgers with bacon, on the surface nothing that is that new or exciting in culinary terms…

I felt exactly the same way until I ran across this recipe for Big Fat Bacon Sliders from The Pioneer Woman.  Her photographic step-by-step directions are just awesome.  It’s all about technique kids and some of the things she does make so much sense that you end up smacking your head saying, “that’s EXACTLY how it should be done”.

So HUZZAH to The Pioneer Woman!  I’ll keep poppin’ in if you keep making yummy things with bacon

photo via The Pioneer Woman

Yeah, the headline says it all people.

This sandwich is a killer…killer GOOD!

Recipe after the jump. [Read more →]

Did you know that the “National Cornbread Festival” is this weekend in South Pittsburg, TN?

Me neither…but my life now seems a little bit fuller.

Turns out last year’s winner,  Lori Stephens, is making the media rounds throughout the Tennessee Valley showcasing last year’s WINNING recipe…her Bacon and Gorgonzola Corn Bread Sliders.

Look at that.  That is a blue ribbon cornbread!

Wanna make them yourself?  You can find the recipe over at WDEF.com.

Photo via The Tennessean.

I think this is just going to be an all “Better with Bacon” week.  Everywhere I look, a tasty new bacon treat is there to great me.

Like this wonderful item passed along by FoTDB Tiffany (SHOUT OUT)…

Seriously, mouthwatering! [Read more →]

There is no need to attempt to be witty with a headline when what you are talkin’ about is quite simply AWESOME!! No need to bury the lead…

This incredible invention was the brain child of eye.heart.art over on Craftster.org. Hit the link for the recipe… [Read more →]

Bacon Pizza Bites

recipe adapted from Pillsbury by Joelen’s Culinary Adventures.

It’s been a while since we’ve actually had a recipe on here.  So long in fact, I forgot what I called these segments…

I think this is a good one for us to get back into the groove.  Simple, easy, tasty!  I think I will convience Better Half that we need for these at the party she’s throwin’.

Baked Jalapeno Bacon Poppers [Read more →]