Friday, June 4, 2010

Bacon News!

Has it REALLY been this long since I've blogged??? Have you missed my quick and easy recipes?? Well, guess what? I've not been cooking as much as usual! Now, don't faint, but we've traveled to Italy (as most of you already knew) and since returning have been on the go... retirement is busier than our working years! AND I've found I'd rather paint (water color) than cook some days!!! Notice, I didn't say I'd rather paint than EAT, just than cook!!! LOL!

Here is the latest quick and easy flash! Thanks to Ina Garten, The Barefoot Contessa, I tried BAKING bacon in the oven and it works like a gem! Place bacon strips (preferably nice thick slices from our Corner Butcher in Hayesville, NC) on a cooling rack that is placed across a 9x13-inch baking pan lined with foil. Place the pan in a 400 degree oven and bake for 20 -30 minutes, depending on how crisp you like your bacon! Viola! You're done! The clean up is a snap - simply fold the foil and discard the greasy mess!!!! How much simpler could it be? This method even beats microwave bacon!!!! Doesn't matter how much you need to cook... just use a larger pan and add another cooling rack- the time is the same! Paula Deen would cover the bacon with a layer of brown sugar before baking... its up to you.... BUT you MUST try this!!!