Bacon Jam

Bacon, it's my JAM!!!! And a really good addition to everything...Cheese platters, mac and cheese, quinoa salad, grilled cheese sandwiches, literally everything!

1 1/2 pounds sliced bacon, cut crosswise into 1-inch pieces 

2 medium yellow onions, diced small 
3 garlic cloves, smashed and peeled 
1/2 cup cider vinegar 
1/2 cup packed dark-brown sugar 
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
1 tbs freeze dried coffee 
3/4 cup rum

Fry the bacon until browned set aside. Pour off all but 1 tablespoon fat from pan. Add onions and garlic, and cook until onions are translucent. Add vinegar, brown sugar, maple syrup, coffee and rum. Bring to a boil, stirring and scraping up browned bits from skillet with a wooden spoon, about 2 minutes. Add bacon and stir to combine. 

Transfer mixture to a 6-quart slow cooker and cook on high, uncovered, until liquid is syrupy, 3 1/2 to 4 hours. Transfer to a food processor; pulse until coarsely chopped. Let cool, then refrigerate in airtight containers, up to 4 weeks.

Lemon Curd

Lately, a dolop of Lemon Curd has been my favorite topping on Greek Yogurt Cheesecake with a ginger crust.

1/2 cup fresh lemon juice

2 teaspoons finely grated fresh lemon zest

1/2 cup sugar

3 large eggs

3/4 stick (6 tablespoons) unsalted butter, cut into bits

Whisk together juice, zest, sugar, and eggs in a double boiler. Stir in butter and cook over moderately low heat, whisking frequently, until curd is thick enough to hold marks of whisk and first bubble appears on surface.

Transfer lemon curd to mason jars and chill.

Guacamole

One of my favorite things in the world is Guacamole. It's like crack, only better. 

This is one of those adjust "to taste" recipes. The key to making a good one isn't the proportions or type of ingredients. The secret in having it taste good is being able to keep it "fresh" the longest.  

I've learned a couple tricks to keep the avocado from browning. The avocado seed, onion and lime juice are all contributing factors; Don't skip any of them. Also, when traveling with it, keep the Avocado in larger pieces as long as possible; mashing it just before placing out to be served. You can even prep it the day before.  


3 large Haas Avocados, ripe
1/2 tsp Garlic salt
2 tsp Lime juice
1 Roma tomato, chopped
1/2 small red onion, finely diced
2 tbs cilantro, chopped
1/2 jalapeno pepper, chopped 

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mash with a fork. Leave the pit of one of the avocado's in the bowl to prevent the guacamole from browning. Serve with Tortilla Chips.

Indian Spiced Tomato Chutney

Anyone who knows me knows how much I despise Indian Food. Mostly because of my travels to India where the taste association with being sick is all too real. Plus overcooked greasy stews, No Thank You! But I've started in introduce some of the spices back into the mix, more in a fusion style. Favorite breakfast lately is sauté spinach, roasted sweet potatoes, a fried egg topped with a little bit of this tomato chutney.

3 lbs ripe tomatoes, seeded and chopped (firmer roma tomatoes hold their shape better)
1 c Granulated Sugar
2 tbs Apple Cider Vinegar
1 tbs Fresh Grated Ginger
1 tsp Cumin Seeds, toasted and ground
1 tsp Coriander Seeds, toasted and ground
1 tsp Brown Mustard Seeds, toasted
1/8 tsp Ground Cloves
1/2 Cinnamon Stick
1 tsp Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
2 tsp Kosher Salt

In a heavy pot, add all the ingredients and cook over a medium-high heat. Stir regularly until the mixture comes to a boil. Reduce heat to a medium heat and simmer, stirring often, until the mixture has developed a jam like consistency and flavors have developed, about 25 minutes. Remove from heat and discard the cinnamon stick.

Ladle into canning jars, leaving 1/2 inch at the head. Wipe the rims and cover. Boil for 10 minutes.

Apple Pie Cashew/Almond Butter

Back when I lived in Minnesota, I loved the peanut butter at Hell's Kitchen. When I moved back to California, I then started making my own in this style. Life was good until one day I was wandering the Brentwood farmer's market. There was a nut butter stand which mixed dried fruit in their nut butters, Banana & Chocolate (almost like a nutella) and my latest obsession Apple Pie!!!

2oz Apple Chips
1c Cashews, roasted
1/4c Almonds
1/2 tsp Salt
2 tbs Brown Sugar
1/2 tsp Mace
1/2 tsp Cinnamon
1/4 tsp Nutmeg
2-3 tbs Grapeseed oil

Put all ingredients in the food processor and pulse until desired even smoothness.