Jacob’s Cattle Beans with Bacon & Sage
Smoky and savory, this is a bowlful of comfort on a fall day!
Ingredients:
½ pound dried Jacob’s Cattle beans, soaked
3 pieces (about 5 ounces) thick-cut bacon
1 small onion, chopped
2 celery stalks, chopped
1 medium carrot, chopped
4-5 small cloves garlic, minced
4 heaping teaspoons crumbled sage, divided
1 teaspoon sea salt
Fresh ground black pepper, to taste
A splash of wine or vinegar, for deglazing
Olive oil, for garnish
Method:
1. Transfer beans and their soaking liquid to a medium saucepan. Add water to cover by at least 1 inch, if necessary, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to low and simmer gently, covered, until beans just begin to soften, about 30 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, in a large skillet over medium heat, cook bacon until crisp. Remove bacon to a clean plate. Pour off all but 1 tablespoon of bacon grease. Deglaze pan with a splash of wine or vinegar and scrape up all of the browned bits. Add onions, celery, carrot, and garlic to the skillet. Crumble in 2 teaspoons of sage and sprinkle with salt. Sauté over low heat, very slowly, until vegetables are very soft and slightly caramelized, about 20 minutes.
3. Add vegetables and salt to the beans. Simmer, partially covered, until beans are tender and cooking liquid has thickened, about 1 hour 15 minutes. During the final 5 minutes of cooking, add the remaining sage and freshly ground black pepper: taste and adjust seasonings. Serve hot, drizzled with olive oil and topped with crumbled bacon.
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Duck Egg Carbonara with Bacon
Creamy and indulgent, simple and satisfying, this classic-style carbonara dish gets an added boost from this week’s silky duck eggs.
Ingredients:
6 ounces thick-cut bacon, about 4-6 slices
1 pound bucatini
4 duck egg yolks, plus 1 duck egg
½ cup Parmesan cheese, shredded
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Cut the bacon into ½ inch pieces. Cook slowly on low heat in a medium skillet until the fat has rendered and the bacon is crisp, but not crumbling. Drain the bacon from the fat and reserve the drippings to use later. Let the bacon cool.
2. Meanwhile, cook the pasta in a large pot of well-salted boiling water. While pasta is boiling, whisk together the egg and egg yolks in a large mixing bowl. Add a pinch of salt, a couple twists of fresh ground black pepper, and the bacon.
3. When the pasta has finished cooking, drain and reserve about ½ cup of the cooking water. Transfer the pasta right away to the bowl of egg mixture. Use a pair of tongs to mix the pasta noodles in with the sauce, turning and scraping the sides of the bowl often. Add 2 tablespoons of the reserved pasta water and 2 tablespoons of the reserved bacon fat and continue to mix.
4. Gradually add in the grated parmesan cheese, mixing well before adding more, until you have used the entire ½ cup amount. Continue adding pasta water as needed until the sauce is creamy and emulsified, just a tablespoon at a time. (If you add too much water, the sauce will become thin and start to pool at the bottom of the bowl. Adding a little bit at a time will help you achieve that perfect luscious sauce without accidentally overdoing it.) Serve while hot. Garnish with a final grating of cheese and twist of black pepper.
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Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Onions
This fragrant recipe, also from The Art of Simple Food by Alice Waters, balances the natural pairing of Brussels sprouts and bacon with fresh onion and thyme.
Ingredients:
1 pound Brussels sprouts
2 slices of bacon, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 small onion, diced
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 sprigs of thyme
Sea salt
Lemon juice (optional)
Method:
1. Trim away any damaged outer leaves and cut stems from the Brussels sprouts. If the sprouts are very small, cut the sprouts in half; for medium-sized ones, cut into quarters. Cook the sprouts until tender in salted boiling water. Drain well.
2. Heat a heavy sauté pan over high heat and add olive oil and bacon. Cook bacon until rendered and brown, but not crisp. Remove with a slotted spoon.
3. Add onion and thyme to the fat in the pan. Cook until onion is soft, but not browned. Season with salt and a squeeze of lemon (optional).
3. Turn heat down to medium-high, add the drained sprouts and cook, tossing occasionally, until sprouts are warmed through and starting to brown. Add bacon and toss. Season to taste as needed.
Variations: For a vegetarian option, this dish is also delicious sans bacon, or tossed with chopped fresh thyme. It can also be prepared with Brussels sprout leaves: Cut stem from sprouts and separate the leaves. Thinly slice the compact centers. Do not boil leaves, instead add to onion after it has been cooked and salted. Cook for 2 minutes. Pour in a splash of chicken broth to a depth of about ¼ inch, cover and cook until leaves are tender, about 10-15 minutes.
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Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
Sautéed in chicken broth and tossed with garlic and shallots, these Brussels sprouts pair beautifully with bacon.
Ingredients:
1 pound (about 4-5 cups) Brussels sprouts, trimmed and cut in half
2 cups Skagit River Ranch bacon ends, chopped into bite-size pieces (as necessary)
1 large shallot, peeled and minced
4 garlic cloves, peeled and minced
¾ cup chicken stock
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add bacon, and sauté for 5-8 minutes or until bacon begins to brown. Remove pan from heat. Remove the bacon from pan with a slotted spoon, reserving 1 tablespoon drippings in pan (discard any remaining drippings).
2. Return pan to medium-high heat, and stir in bacon, shallot, and Brussels sprouts; sauté 4 minutes. Add garlic, and sauté for 4 minutes or until garlic begins to brown, stirring frequently. Add the chicken broth, and bring to a boil. Cook for 2 minutes or until the broth mostly evaporates and the sprouts are crisp-tender, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat; stir in salt and pepper.
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Caramelized Bacon
This incredibly simple recipe always gets rave reviews from our guests!
Ingredients:
1½ cups packed brown sugar
1 pound bacon
Method:
1. Preheat oven to 375°. Place sugar in a shallow pan. Add strips of bacon to pan and coat completely with sugar, shaking off excess to even coat.
2. Transfer bacon to a broiler pan or rack set over baking sheet lined with aluminum foil. Bake bacon until dark golden brown, turning once, about 10-15 minutes per side. Using tongs, transfer to rack to cool. Serve warm.
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Dublin Coddle
Combining sausage, potatoes, onions and bacon, this slow-cooked, one-pot dish is pure comfort food.
Ingredients:
10 slices of bacon, cut into 1-inch pieces*
1 pound Double D Meats Irish sausages
4 small yellow onions, sliced into rings
3½ pound potatoes, roughly peeled
2-3 tablespoons fresh parsley, minced
2 cups chicken broth or water
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Preheat oven to 300°. Place bacon into a 5-quart Dutch oven and heat over medium heat until cooked and crispy, about 8-10 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the bacon to a paper towel lined plate, leaving excess bacon grease in the pot.
2. Sear sausages for 3-4 minutes on both sides. Transfer to a cutting board and slice into thirds.
3. Remove the pot from the burner and layer the onions, bacon, sausage pieces and potatoes in the Dutch oven, sprinkling with healthy pinches of salt and pepper and the chopped parsley.
4. Pour chicken broth over top, cover and place back onto burner. Bring liquids to a boil before transferring pot to preheated oven for 1 hour and 30 minutes, or until the potatoes are fork tender. Remove and ladle into bowls; serve immediately with soda bread for sopping up the flavorful gravy.
*If you would prefer to omit the bacon, sear sausages in 1-2 tablespoons olive oil instead.
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Smoky Potato Salad with Bacon and Barbecue Sauce
The mayonnaise dressing for this potato salad gets a hit of smoky-sweet flavor courtesy of crispy bacon and barbecue sauce.
Ingredients:
4 pounds fingerling potatoes
½ pound bacon
1¼ cups mayonnaise
2 tablespoons barbecue sauce
2 tablespoons spicy mustard
2 tablespoons sherry vinegar
2 celery ribs, diced
1 small red onion, diced
¼ cup chopped parsley
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. In a large pot, cover the potatoes with cold salted water and bring to a boil over moderately high heat. Cook until the potatoes are tender, about 35 minutes. Drain the potatoes and, when they are cool enough to handle, slice them in half.
2. Meanwhile, in a medium skillet, cook the bacon slices over moderate heat until crisp, about 6 minutes. Drain on paper towels and coarsely crumble.
3. In a large bowl, mix the mayonnaise with the barbecue sauce, mustard and sherry vinegar. Fold the potatoes into the dressing while they are still warm. Let the potato salad stand, stirring a few times, until the potatoes have cooled and absorbed most of the dressing, about 20 minutes.
4. Add the celery, red onion and parsley to the potatoes and season with salt and pepper. Let stand for an additional 20 minutes, stirring a few times. Garnish with the bacon and then serve at room temperature.
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Smoky Bacon, Sweet Onion & Chanterelle Mushroom Crostata
The show-stopping crostata makes for a delicious entrée; just serve with a side salad of summer greens.
Ingredients:
F&L crostata dough, rolled into a 12-inch circle, wrapped in plastic and chilled in the fridge
4 slices bacon
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
½ pound Chanterelle mushrooms, trimmed and coarsely chopped
1 large sweet onion, such as Walla Walla, thinly sliced, rinsed, and patted dry
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
3 tablespoons dry white wine
2 tablespoons heavy cream
3 tablespoons chopped walnuts
¼ cup finely grated Parmesan
Leaves from 2 thyme sprigs
Method:
1. To prepare the filling: Place bacon in a heavy skillet and cook over medium heat, turning occasionally, until crispy and golden brown on both sides. Transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate, let cool and then finely chop. Pour off all but 1 tablespoon fat from the skillet and then add the olive oil, before adding the mushrooms, onions and garlic; season lightly with salt. Cook, stirring, until vegetables are softened, about 5 minutes. Add wine and cook, stirring and scraping bottom of skillet, until it evaporates, 1 to 2 minutes. Pour in cream and cook, stirring, until mostly absorbed. Remove from heat; stir in bacon, pepper (to taste), walnuts, 2 tablespoons cheese and thyme.
2. Remove the dough from the fridge and let stand on counter for a few minutes, until it’s pliable enough to lift and fold without cracking. Preheat oven to 400° with a rack positioned in the center. Line a baking sheet with parchment and transfer the crostata dough to the sheet. Scrape filling onto dough using a spatula, spread into a 9-inch circle. Lift the border of the dough and fold over filling, crimping as you go to create a crust.
3. Bake until the crust is deeply golden and then filling is hot, 30 to 35 minutes. Transfer sheet to a wire rack and sprinkle remaining 2 tablespoons cheese over the filling, and if desired, the crust. Drizzle with oil, if desired. Let cool about 10 minutes or let cool to room temperature, then cut into wedges and serve.
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Shaved Brussels Sprouts with Apple & Bacon
Also tossed with brown sugar and apple cider vinegar, this warm side is sure to wow.
Ingredients:
1 pound Brussels sprouts, trimmed of tough ends
6 slices of bacon
1 tart apple, finely diced
2 large shallots, minced
1 tablespoon mustard seeds
½ cup apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons brown sugar
Method:
1. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the bacon until most of the fat has rendered and the meat is crisp. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate and reserve. Drain all but 3 tablespoons of the drippings from the skillet. Meanwhile, shave the trimmed Brussels sprouts using a box grater or mandoline.
2. Add the diced shallots to the skillet and cook, stirring, until translucent, about 5 minutes, then add the mustard seeds and stir to coat with the oil. Add the shaved Brussels sprouts to the pan and cook, again stirring until sprouts just begin to wilt, about 1-2 minutes. Add the apple cider vinegar and brown sugar and toss thoroughly to combine.
3. Remove from the heat and transfer to a serving platter. (Be sure to scrape up all the delicious browned bits from the bottom of the skillet when doing so!) Crumble the bacon over top and add the apple slices. Serve warm or at room temperature.
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Roasted Squash & Spinach Quiche
Dotted with balsamic vinegar caramelized onions, roasted squash and fresh spinach, this quiche is incredibly delicious, yet healthful.
Ingredients:
1 yellow onion, or 3 Cipollini onions, peeled
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1½ cups Turk’s Turban squash (or other winter squash of your choice), cut into 1-inch cubes
1 cup whole milk
5 large eggs
1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, minced
½ teaspoon fresh thyme
1 cup grated cheddar cheese
1 cup packed spinach leaves
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
1 pre-prepared pie crust
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 375°. Roll the prepared crust into a 12-inch circle (to fit a 9-inch pie pan). Prick it all over with a fork. Bake the crust for 10 minutes, then remove from the oven and set aside to cool.
2. To make the filling: Quarter the onion, and slice thinly. Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until caramelized and deep golden brown. (This will take about 20 minutes). Right before the onion finishes cooking, add balsamic vinegar to the pan and cook for a few more minutes. While the onion is caramelizing, spread the cubed squash on a baking sheet and toss it with the remaining olive oil, along with dashes of salt and pepper. Roast the squash until it starts to brown and soften, about 20 minutes as well. In a large bowl, whisk together the milk and eggs. Add the rosemary, thyme, cheese, salt, and pepper to the eggs. Place the caramelized onions, roasted squash, and baby spinach in the pie pan. Pour the egg mixture over the vegetables.
3. While the onion is caramelizing, spread the cubed squash on a baking sheet and toss it with the remaining olive oil, along with dashes of salt and pepper. Roast the squash until it starts to brown and soften, about 20 minutes as well.
4. In a large bowl, whisk together the milk and eggs. Add the rosemary, thyme, salt, and pepper. Add the caramelized onions, roasted squash, grated cheese, and baby spinach. Pour the mixture into the pie crust.
5. Bake the quiche for about 40 to 45 minutes. The edges should be golden brown and the center should feel just set. Remove the quiche from the oven and let it cool on a rack. Serve warm, or at room temperature.
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