Bacon Jam Bruschetta

Ingredients for Bacon Jam

• 1 pound bacon, cut into 1 inch pieces
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 1 Cup strong brewed coffee
• 1/4 Cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 Cup maple syrup
• 3 Tablespoons brown sugar
• Tabasco sauce to taste

Preparation

1. In a large, heavy bottomed pan, fry the bacon in batches. Remove the bacon from the pan, and pour off all but 1 Tablespoon of the bacon fat. 

 

2. Turn the pan heat to medium high. Add the onion to the pan and fry until translucent. Add the minced garlic, frying until fragrant.

 

3. Return the bacon to the pan, along with the rest of the ingredients. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 2 hours. Stir occasionally, and add 1/4 cup of water every 25 minutes or so.

 

4. Once cooked down, puree the jam in a food processor until it reaches your desired consistency.

Bruschetta Ingredients

• Bacon Jam
• Baguette, sliced
• Cream cheese or goat cheese
• Salad greens
• Olive oil
• Lemon juice
• Fresh salsa topping (fresh tomato, onion and cilantro chopped fine)

Bruschetta Assembly

1. Spread the cream cheese on the baguette slices. Top with bacon jam.

2. Dress the greens with olive oil, lemon juice and salt and pepper to taste and fresh salsa.

3. Place a small amount on the bread.

 

  

Bacon cooked in the oven

Preheat oven to 400

Line a sheet pan with foil and lay slice of bacon on foil. Cook from 10 to 20 minutes until crispy.

Stay close to the kitchen when cooking bacon in the oven. I leave the oven light on and check the bacon every 5 minutes or so. The exact cooking time will depend on the thickness of the bacon slices, and also on how quickly your oven reaches the target temperature. Last night mine took less than 10 minutes and was perfect. The bacon shrinks less and does not curl up. Remove from oven and lay bacon on paper towel lined platter to absorb more grease. I love to cook an entire package this way. I then put it in a zip lock bag and keep it in the refrigerator. If you cook a second batch remember that it will cook even faster. The cleanup is easy. Either pour off bacon grease into a container to use for later use and toss aluminum foil or allow the bacon grease to get cold then remove solidified grease by lifting foil out of pan and throwing in the garbage.
Try sprinkling your bacon with brown sugar or cracked pepper before baking. Yum : )