[ The Best Green Beans ]

Made this for Kevin's family Christmas potluck ... it was SO GOOD

For approximately 14 people 

Ingredients:

7 handfuls - green beans
2 - shallots 
3 - rashers of bacon
1/4 cup - dried cranberries 
block of goat cheese

Directions:

1. pan fry the bacon til crispy, remove.

2. add shallots to bacon grease, til clear

3. boil green beans in a 2inch deep pan for 5-8min

4.  add cooked beans to shallot pan, add crispy bacon and toss.

5.  add cranberries (if desired)

6.  place in serving dish, sprinkle with crumbled goat cheese to garnish.

[ Creamy Bacon Chicken ]

                                                   

This was a HIT.   Served with mashed potatoes + steamed broccoli.

Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 4

Ingredients 

6 strips bacon cut into small pieces
2 large chicken breasts cut in half lengthwise
Flour for dredging
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
Pepper to taste
1/2 cup chicken broth
1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon butter
1 cup heavy/whipping cream


Instructions  

1. Cut the bacon up and add it to a skillet. Fry it over medium-high heat until crispy (about 10 mins). Once the bacon is done, take it out of the pan and set it aside. Leave about 2 tablespoons of the bacon fat in the pan.

2. Meanwhile, prep your chicken.  Sprinkle them with the garlic powder and pepper and then coat them in the flour. 

3. Add the chicken to the skillet and cook it in the remaining bacon fat over medium-high heat for 4-5 minutes/side or until it's golden. If it starts to splatter a lot, reduce the heat. Once the chicken is browned, take it out of the pan and set it aside.

4. Add the chicken broth, lemon juice, and butter to the pan. Let it bubble until it's reduced by half (about 3-4 minutes).

5. Stir in the cream and once it starts to bubble, add the chicken and bacon back into the pan. Cook for another 5 minutes or so until the chicken is fully cooked through and the sauce has reduced to your liking.

[Bacon Fritata]

BACON FRITATA
350F for 30 minutes

This recipe is my own adaptation of one of Sophie Gray's - her cookbooks are amazing.

4 strips of bacon, cut with scissors into 1/4" pieces
1/2 large onion, chopped
1/2 large red pepper, chopped

3 eggs
1cup milk
1/2 tbsp seasoning (whatever you like, I use Mrs. Dash)
1/2 cup self raising flour (OR 1/2 cup flour + 3/4 tsp baking powder)
1 cup grated cheese

Directions:

Cook bacon & onions until browned. Add peppers, cook until soft. Set aside.
In another bowl mix eggs and milk.
In another bowl mix seasoning with flour (or flour mixture with baking soda..)
Pour egg mixture into flour mixture.
Add bacon saute to flour mixture.
Add cheese to flour mixture.
Pour into a WELL GREASED 9x9 glass baking dish.
Cook uncovered for 30 minutes.
Let sit for 5 minutes before serving.

[Pureed Cayenne Corn & Bacon Chowder]

This is my sis-in-law, Mar's, recipe.  The first time I had it, I thought she was the most incredible chef ever.  I still think that ... 

Pureed Cayenne Corn & Bacon Chowder
I have altered this recipe from the original one given to me by my sister-in-law. I had it at her house when my hubby and I were dating. SO great ... 

1/2 onion, finely chopped
5 strips of bacon, cut into small pieces
1/4 cup chopped celery
1 med carrot, shredded (or grated)
2 tbsp flour
3 cups corn (canned or frozen)
2.5 cups milk
1 cup whipping cream
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cayenne pepper

Directions:

- saute onion, bacon. add celery until clear.
- add carrots & flour. Cook 3 minutes.
- gradually add corn. stir in milk gradually.
- for a SMOOTH soup (which is what I do), puree in blender at this point - before adding whipping cream as it will get frothy instead of smooth.
- return to pot
- cook on low heat, add whipping cream.
- add cayenne pepper and salt/pepper to taste.

Note: Sometimes I add more milk, depending on the final consistency. Just remember that it dilutes the "corn" taste when too much milk is added. Also - the cayenne pepper isn't everyone's liking ... add as little or as much as you like.

[Broccoli Salad]

I think this comes from Company's Coming.  My mom made it every summer with BBQ ...

Broccoli Salad - serves 8

5 cups fresh chopped broccoli

1/2 cup raisins

1/4 cup chopped red onion

1/2 cup sugar *which is PROBABLY why I think this sounds yummy *grin**

3 tbsp vinegar

1 cup mayonnaise

10 slices of bacon, cooked and crumbled

1 cup sunflower seeds

Directions:

- combine first 3 ingredients in a large bowl.

- combine next 3 ingredients in a small bowl.

- toss together in large bowl. Refrigerate.

- just before serving, add bacon and seeds.