A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of attending Blackberry Farm for a Southern Foodways Alliance event. You can see from the photos what a spectacular setting.

The event in simple terms was a bunch of food lovers, artisan food producers and wonderful others gathering together to talk, eat, experience food and cheer on the Southern Foodways Alliance! What a life changing experience! If you haven’t heard of the Southern Foodways Alliance, definitely check out the website to learn more. It is an amazing organization.

The weekend was truly inspirational and if I die tomorrow, that’s what I hope my heaven is like! At any rate, I have been cooking every night since I’ve been home and trying to get my family to eat all sorts of wonderful and different things.

Which brings me to bacon – not just any bacon Bentons Hams Bacon. I met Allan Benton and his wife at Blackberry Farm and he offered to send me samples of his delicious bacon and country ham. It arrived last Friday evening as I was planning my date night with my husband (a quiet night at home). Our standard night in revolves around a thick cut steak and wine from one of our favorite local spots, Ted’s Butcherblock. Brussel sprouts were in the fridge – my children won’t eat them and my husband always groans when I cook them. However, maybe with bacon, I could change his mind! I served the Bacon Brussel Sprouts with T-bone steaks and grilled garlic bread. Try it! I promise your entire family will love it. Truly EVERYTHING is better with bacon-especially Benton’s Bacon!

Which has me day dreaming about a possible new biscuit flavor… A Benton’s Bacon/Callie’s Buttermilk Biscuit?? What do you all think? Please respond and let me know if there is interest!

Bacon Brussel Sprouts

Ingredients

  • Brussel Sprouts washed and halved
  • Chop a half of a sweet onion finely
  • 2 cloves of garlic thinly sliced
  • Parmesan cheese grated at the last minute with a micro plane/veggie peeler (In a pinch tip! – It’s quick and easy)
  • Bacon, two-three slices

Instructions

  1. Set your oven to 400 degrees
  2. Start by cooking your bacon in a pan slowly. Set aside and DO NOT drain your pan
  3. Chop up your cooked bacon
  4. Next saute on low your onion and garlic
  5. Let your onion go in for a few minutes before you put in the garlic
  6. Add your Brussel sprouts and saute for another 5 minutes or so until they begin to wilt
  7. Place entire pan in the oven for about 8 minutes
  8. Half-way through open oven and give a good shake
  9. Pull them out and add bacon and shake and then sprinkle on the freshly grated parmesan and serve
  10. Serve this as your side dish to any meat (it would also be fantastic toss with fresh pasta!)

Bacon Inspiration

Now, a little Superbowl must-have for this upcoming weekend!

These have been a family favorite for years and probably one of the first things that I made on a regular basis when I started cooking. They are easy to make and the “spread” can be made a day or two ahead to make it easier.

Superbowl Asparagus/Bacon Roll-ups

Ingredients

  • toothpicks
  • 1 loaf of white bread (cut the crusts off)
  • 1 pound of bacon
  • 1 bunch of asparagus (wash and chop the stems off)
  • half block of cream cheese
  • 1 clove of garlic minced
  • half block of Parmesan cheese, grated
  • 1 lemon (juice squeezed)
  • salt and cracked black pepper

Instructions

  1. Combine the second set of ingredients in a bowl into a spread and let sit (this can be done the night before)
  2. Cook the bacon in a pan or in the oven but do not fully cook. You want the bacon to still be limber so that you can roll it
  3. Using a rolling pin, flatten the squares of white bread
  4. Spread the “spread” onto the the squares of white bread and place 2 to 3 asparagus stems in the center diagonally
  5. Take a corner and roll the asparagus up and wrap a piece of the partially cooked bacon around and secure with a toothpick.
  6. Place all rolled asparagus wraps onto a baking sheet and bake in a 350 degree oven until crispy and brown
  7. Serve with our cocktail ham biscuits and watch them disappear!