A bonus DIY gift post for all you bacon lovers!

   Which in my reality includes my husband, my seventeen year old son, my fifteen year old daughter, my five year old son, my nineteen year old stepson, my dad, my father, my mother's husband (yes, those are three separate entities...don't ask) and my best friend. My father in law, brothers in law,  and both of my husband's grandfathers are probably on that list as well. I think I'd better buy stock in bacon.


This comes from the very kool new-to-me blog, Snixy Kitchen. Thanks Sarah!
http://www.snixykitchen.com/2014/04/13/diy-bacon-gifts-bacon-jam-bacon-salt-and-bacon-candy/

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Bacon Jam

Author: Sarah Menanix (Slightly adapted from Martha Stewart)

Yields: 12 ounces. Fills one 8-ounce jam jar and one 4-ounce jam jar.

 

Ingredients

• ¾ pounds sliced bacon
• 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
• ¼ cup packed dark-brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
• Scant ½ cup brewed coffee
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 425ºF. Line a baking sheet with foil (for easier clean-up) and rest a wire rack on top. Lay the bacon on top of the wire rack, making sure none of the pieces overlap. Bake until crispy, about 15-20 minutes.
2. Coarsely chop the bacon and set aside.
3. Spoon one tablespoon of bacon grease from the baking sheet into a medium cast-iron skillet or pan and heat over medium heat.
4. Add the chopped and garlic and cook until the onions are translucent, about 5 minutes.
5. Add the rest of the ingredients to the pan and bring to a boil, stirring to scrape up any crispy browned bits from the pan.
6. Transfer to a slow cooker with the chopped bacon. Cook on low, covered for 6-8 hours, or until liquid is syrupy.
7. Transfer the cooked jam to a food processor and pulse a few times to chop it up a bit. Transfer to prepared jam jars and refrigerate for up to 1 month.

3.2.2708

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Bacon Salt

Author: Sarah Menanix (Inspired by Pretty Organized)

Yields: One 4-ounce jam jar

 

Ingredients

• 5 slices thick-cut bacon
• ¼ cup sea salt

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 425ºF. Line a baking sheet with foil (for easier clean-up) and rest a wire rack on top. Lay the bacon on top of the wire rack, making sure none of the pieces overlap. Bake until extra crispy, about 20-25 minutes.
2. Transfer the crispy bacon and sea salt to a food processor or blender and pulse until the bacon is finely chopped and evenly distributed throughout the salt.
3. Transfer the bacon salt to a 4-ounce jam jar and store in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.

3.2.2708

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Bacon Candy

Author: Sarah Menanix

Yields: One 4-ounce jam jar

 

Ingredients

• 5 slices thick-cut bacon
• About a cup of brown sugar (dark or light will work just fine)

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 425ºF. Line a baking sheet with foil (for easier clean-up) and rest a wire rack on top.
2. Spread the brown sugar out on a plate and press each strip of bacon into the sugar to thoroughly coat each side.
3. Place each sugared strip of bacon on the wire rack, making sure they aren’t touching one another. Sprinkle any remaining brown sugar on top of the bacon slices on the rack.
4. Bake until crispy, about 15-20 minutes.
5. Coarsely chop and transfer to a 4-ounce jam jar. Store in the refrigerator for up to 1 month...but let's get real for a second, you're going to eat this in one sitting.