Baconwrappedcheddarandchiveduchesspotatoessp5 Recipes

BACON WRAPPED CHEDDAR AND CHIVE DUCHESS POTATOES #SP5

Steps:

• Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Line 2 large jelly-roll pans (approximately 17.25 x 11.5-inches in size) with parchment paper. Place the 24, half strips of bacon on prepared pans in a single layer. Bake 5-7 minutes, or until bacon has rendered some of the fat and just starting to brown on the edges, but still flexible. Drain on paper towels; pat to remove excess grease.
• Using a 24-cup, non-stick mini muffin pan, line bottom and sides of each mini muffin cup with a half strip of the par-cooked bacon in a circular fashion, making a well in the center, folding or creasing if needed to fit.
• In a large mixing bowl, beat potatoes, eggs, and 1/2 cup of the cheese with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until smooth and fluffy.
• Transfer potato mixture to a large pastry bag fitted with a large star tip. Pipe potato filling evenly into bacon-lined muffin cups in a spiral fashion (cups will be full and potato spirals will extend beyond the height of muffin cups). Sprinkle tops with remaining 1/4 cup cheese. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until tops are golden brown. Let rest 5 minutes. Run knife around edges to remove from pan. Place on serving platter and garnish with chives. Serve warm. Makes 24.
• Note: A plastic freezer bag can be used in place of a pastry bag and decorator's tip. Fill freezer bag with potato mixture and seal. Using kitchen scissors, cut off a small corner of the bag, about 1/2 inch, and pipe potato mixture into mini muffin cups as directed.

SPINACH SALAD WITH WARM BACON DRESSING

Steps:

• Cook the bacon in a medium skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until crisp, 9 to 11 minutes. Remove to paper towels; reserve the drippings in the skillet.
• Whisk the vinegar, sugar, mustard and 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper into the drippings. Slowly whisk in the olive oil until emulsified.
• Place the spinach in a large bowl and pour the warm dressing on top; add the grapes, blue cheese and the reserved bacon and toss. Season with salt and pepper. Top with croutons.

BACON WRAPPED DATES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Cut a slit in each date. Place almonds inside slits. Press together the dates to close slits. Wrap each date with a piece of bacon.
• Line a shallow baking pan with Reynolds Wrap® Aluminum Foil. Add a roasting rack; place the dates on rack. Roast for 15 to 20 minutes or until bacon is crisp. Serve immediately with toothpicks. Dates will be hot inside.

BACON, CHEDDAR AND SPINACH STRATA

Steps:

• Oil bottom and sides of a 9x13-inch baking dish with about a tablespoon of bacon fat.
• Place bread cubes in a large mixing bowl.
• Crack eggs into a separate mixing bowl. Season with salt, pepper, cayenne, and nutmeg. Add cream and whisk mixture thoroughly.
• Pour egg/cream mixture over the bread cubes and mix to distribute ingredients evenly. Allow bread mixture to sit about 15 minutes to absorb the liquid.
• Transfer half of the bread mixture to the baking pan; spread evenly over the bottom and press mixture down a bit. Top with half of the grated Cheddar cheese. Add cooked bacon pieces in an even layer over the cheese. Place the cooked spinach over the bacon; top with half of the remaining cheese. Finish with the rest of the soaked bread cubes, spread evenly and pressed down slightly. Sprinkle with the rest of the grated cheese. Cover and let strata sit at room temperature for 1 hour before baking.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Bake strata in preheated oven until set, about 45 minutes. Optionally, you can broil the strata for a minute or two to brown the top.