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International Bacon Day 2015
This year, Bacon Day landed on September 5th.
My cousin Stephen and brother Jimmy rented a house again for their stay this Bacon Day and was nice enough to let us have the event there. This was very much needed because as with every year the guest arrival seems to grow.
We had an awesome guest list: Me, Ric, my cousin Stephen, Wendy, Stephen’s new pups Shasta and Alice, my brother Jimmy, sister in law Robin, niece Cameron, niece Morgan, My pops (Gerald) and mom (Sandra), Aunt Linda, cousin Tommy, cousin Travis, Charlie, Rebecca, Brook, Evan, Matt, Stephen H, Laura, Jeff, Lynnette, and Alex.
Everyone showed up with various bacon goodies, packages of bacon, booze, and other supplies. Once again we were so overwhelmed with the generosity from all of our family and friends. The infamous Bacon Explosion did not make it into the festivities this year. I know! It’s a staple to the event, but we had so many wonderful things brought by guests to enjoy! The generosity of our guests was amazing and the table was always full!
Here is the menu from Bacon Day 2015:
(Breakfast)
* Bacon Sweet Rolls (Cinnamon Rolls), By: Elle
* Maple Bacon Donuts and Chocolate Bacon Donuts, from The Donut King, Brought by: Evan and Brook
* Bacon-Wrapped Beef Filet Biscuit Sandwiches, By: Stephen
(Snacks/Appetizers)
* Jalapeno Poppers, By: Stephen and Wendy
* Smoked Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers, By: Jimmy
* Hickory Smoked Jalapeno Bacon, By: Jimmy
* Whiskey Bacon Jam/Spread, By: Jimmy
* Kona Bacon, By: Robin
* Crab and Bacon Dip, By: Linda
* Sriracha Honey Bacon, By: Matt
(Lunch/Dinner)
* Fancy Ass B.L.T., By: Ric
* Smoked Bacon-Wrapped Burnt Ends, By: Jimmy
* Bacon-Wrapped Scallops, By: Linda
* Bacon-Wrapped Butternut Squash, By: Evan and Brook
* Rouladen, By: Lynnette
* Bacon Jalapeno Cornbread Mini Muffins, By: Stephen H and Laura
(Desserts)
* Pecan Bacon Bars, By: Linda
* Bourbon Bacon Monkey Bread, By: Charlie
* Bacon and Chocolate-Covered Pretzel Sticks, By: Rebecca
* Bacon Carmelitas, By: Rebecca
* Bacon Maple Cake Balls, By: Rebecca
(Drinks/Booze)
* Breakfast Shots, By: Elle – Enjoyed first thing in the morning and then all day!
* Bourbon Whiskey – used with the Breakfast Bacon Shots, Brought by: Matt
* Bacon Pudding Shots, By: Elle – FAILED ATTEMPT
We also video-taped an important reading about Heart Attack symptoms to watch for on Bacon Day, read by: Charlie:
Unfortunately, due to the off/on rain on Bacon Day and just being overwhelmed with other events, we did not get to smash over the Bacon Pinata I had made for this year. I will be saving it for next year.
After thoughts of Elle:
Bacon Day was a blast! The day was all about full bellies, drinks in hand, swimming in the pool while it rained, and bacon stickers on our faces as if Bacon Warriors! The idea of creating a day-long event all about bacon bringing so many people together is astonishing. Being able to bring so many family members and friends together always surprises me.
Some things I want to make sure to keep in mind for next year:
1.) Find a larger place to gather (My goal is to have a PUBLIC festival one day).
2.) Organize a “Sign-In” notebook to gather who brought what. I don’t want to miss mentioning someone’s bacon treat on the write-up.
3.) Have more fun things to do and make sure to do them (i.e. Bacon Pinata).
4.) Don’t forget bacon decorations (I forgot the tablecloth and bacon runner this year).
5.) More pictures of everyone (i.e. Bacon ‘stashes).
6.) Continue the bacon strip stickers (maybe even bring makeup for face painting).
– Elle.
BACON FAIL: Decorating Your Christmas Tree with Real Bacon
Bacon Today posted a “how-to” on making “Holiday Chocolate Covered Bacon Strip Ornaments” for your Christmas Tree. They look delicious and the recipe is easy to follow. But, I’m just going to repeat myself from my post “What NOT to do with Bacon This Christmas” that I posted in 2011: “Please. Please don’t decorate your Christmas Tree with REAL bacon. …..if you have pets, little kids, or just concerned about inviting some bugs in your home, then maybe it’s not a good idea.” I want to further push the issue about your pets, if you have any. Chocolate and your furry pets don’t mix well. Yes, yes, it can vary depending on if it’s dark or milk chocolate and the amount and how big your pet it. But do you want to chance it? Do you really want to tease your pets? And bring about a horrific mess to clean up?
If you refuse to listen to the above: Just think about the simple fact that chocolate melts and you more than likely have warm Christmas lights on that tree and nicely wrapped presents sitting directly under it all.
I do encourage everyone to follow through with the recipe and enjoy some festive bacon treats this holiday season. But please don’t put it on your Christmas Tree. Simply enjoy them as treats and not ornaments. I respect Bacon Today for all they do, but I just don’t believe real bacon should be used in decorating or sculpting unless you plan on actually eating it. And if you put it on your Christmas Tree, I can’t imagine it being very sanitary or (pending the time frame) even edible. And the risk to your pets is not worth it.
If you are looking to stock up on some Bacon Ornaments, check out: “Ornaments for the Bacon Nerd in Your Life“.
– Elle.
No-Grill S’mores with Chocolate and Peanut Butter-Covered Bacon
INGREDIENTS:
* 2-4 strips of fully cooked bacon for each smore
* semi sweet chocolate chips; Reese’s Peanut Butter Chips, melted as directed on bag
* graham crackers
* Kraft Jet Puffed Marshmallow Creme
* wax paper lined or non-stick baking sheet
STEP 1:
* Time to cover your bacon with that yummy chocolate.
* Spread your bacon strips out onto a baking sheet that is non-stick or lined with wax paper.
* NOTE: Best to cook your bacon in the oven or drain well. Too much grease on your bacon will not hold chocolate.
* NOTE: Bacon should be fully cooled. Chocolate will not hold onto bacon strips and firm up if bacon is still warm.
* This step is pretty easy. Spread your melted chocolate/peanut butter chips onto one side of each strip of bacon. And let set.
*NOTE: This is where you want to add any sprinkles or chopped nuts to the chocolate/peanut putter surface as it sets*
* After it has set, flip each strip carefully and repeat the last step.
STEP 2:
* After your bacon strips have set, it’s time to build your creation (It’s quite simple):
* Marshmallow crème on graham crackers.
* Bacon pieces on marshmallow crème.
* Top with second graham cracker.
* Squish together.
* Enjoy!
NOTES ON THE RECIPE:
* You have many opportunities to make adjustments to this recipe. You can chose to use any flavor of bacon, use cookies instead of graham crackers, or even add ingredients (maybe a thin slice of apple?).
* It’s best to use crispy bacon but not burnt.
* If you want to make this into a grilling experience, simply make your bacon on the grill, use marshmallows cooked over a flame, and maybe even toast your graham crackers lightly on the grill. But you would need to add chocolate separately.
* This was my first attempt at this recipe and I am open to any suggestions or ideas on how to improve it.
– Elle.
bacon in the oven 