Michael Symons Bacon Noodle Surprise Recipes

HOMEMADE BACON

Steps:

• Rinse the pork belly and pat dry. Transfer to a resealable 2-gallon plastic bag. To make the spice rub, mix the kosher salt, pink salt, brown sugar, honey, red pepper flakes, paprika and cumin in a bowl. Coat the pork belly all over with the mixture.
• Close the bag and refrigerate 7 to 10 days, flipping once a day, until the pork belly feels firm. It should take 7 days for a thin belly that is about 11/2 inches thick, longer for a belly that's 2 to 3 inches thick.
• Remove the pork belly from the bag, rinse thoroughly and pat dry. Refrigerate the belly on a rack, uncovered, 48 hours.
• Set up your smoker according to the manufacturer's instructions using applewood chips, and set to 200 degrees F. Smoke the pork belly 3 hours, or until the bacon reaches an internal temperature of 150 degrees F.
• Remove the rind (optional), then slice and cook as desired. To store, wrap the bacon in plastic wrap and refrigerate up to 1 week or freeze up to 2 months.
• Pink curing salt is a mix of salt and sodium nitrite. It keeps the meat pink and protects it from bacteria. You can find it at specialty food stores or online.

MICHAEL SYMON'S BACON NOODLE SURPRISE

Steps:

• In large pot add olive oil and bacon, cook until well done.
• In large saute' pan add butter, cabbage and onion. Cook until tender. Add a drizzle of olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
• Transfer cabbage and onions to pot with bacon. Add parsley.
• Cook noodles according to package.
• Once noodles are cooked add pasta to cabbage pot. Add sour cream and stir to combine. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately.

BEER-AND-BACON TOFFEE SUNDAES

Steps:

• Put the bacon in a medium saucepan over medium heat and cook, stirring, until very crisp, about 10 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels, reserving the fat in the pan.
• Add the brown sugar, corn syrup, beer, butter, heavy cream and a pinch each of kosher salt and pepper to the pan. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium low and simmer until slightly thickened, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and refrigerate until ready to serve.
• Scoop the ice cream into bowls and spoon the toffee sauce on top. Garnish with the crispy bacon bits, toasted pecans and sea salt.

BALTIMORE STYLE GRILLED CORN

Steps:

• Whisk together the buttermilk and seafood seasoning in a large bowl. Submerge the corn in the seasoned buttermilk and allow to soak at room temperature for 15 minutes or up to 3 hours.
• Set up a grill for cooking with direct and indirect heat. If using a charcoal grill, build the coals on one side only. If using a gas grill, heat one side only.
• Remove the corn from the buttermilk and allow the excess liquid to drain off. Place on the direct heat side of the grill and char on all sides, about 1 minute per side. Move to the indirect heat side of the grill, then close the lid and cook until cooked through, 5 to 10 minutes. Remove from the grill and serve!

MICHAEL SYMON'S GRILLED FLANK STEAK WITH BACON ROSEMARY CORN

Steps:

• Season steak with salt, pepper and olive oil, then add to grill. Cook for 5 minutes per side, until meat reaches internal 130 degrees. Remove steak from grill and allow to rest.
• Crisp bacon in saute pan with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Next add sliced mushrooms, then corn. Add rosemary and chile flake. Deglaze pan with water. Add vinegar and olive oil. Slice steak against the grain and top with corn to serve.

CABBAGE AND NOODLES

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
• Place a large saute pan over medium-high heat. When the pan is hot, add a film of oil along with the onions and a pinch of salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions begin to soften and caramelize, 2 to 3 minutes. Move the onions to one side of the pan, and then add the butter, cabbage and a pinch of salt. Cook until everything is caramelized and softened, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the chicken stock. Simmer this mixture until the cabbage is cooked through and the liquid has reduced, about 5 minutes.
• In the meantime, drop your pasta. Cook at a gentle boil for 2 minutes less than the package directions. Then drain and add to the cabbage mixture. Gently fold in the parsley and sour cream and serve immediately, adding black pepper and a drizzle of oil.

MICHAEL SYMON'S BRAISED POT ROAST

Steps:

• Season the roast liberally with salt, about 2 tablespoons, and refrigerate overnight.
• Pull the meat out an hour before cooking to take the chill off of it. In a large Dutch oven, render the bacon until slightly crispy. Remove the bacon and reserve. Dry off the meat with a paper towel and begin to brown it in that same pan for 2 minutes per side - remove and set aside.
• Add the carrots, shallot, and garlic with a pinch of salt and sweat for 4 minutes, or until you get a slight caramelization and the vegetables start to release their aromas. Add the coriander and bay leaves, and continue to sweat for 1 minute.
• Deglaze the pan with the cider, scraping the bottom with a wooden spoon. Add the beer, and thyme and bring to a simmer. Add the beef back in, along with the bacon and enough of the stock to cover the roast, approximately 8 Celsius Top with a lid, and place it in a 350 degree oven. Cook for 3-4 hours or until tender. Remove from the oven and skim any excess fat.
• Gently remove the meat to a platter. Spoon the vegetables on top and garnish with the torn mint, and lemon zest.

MACARONI SURPRISE

Steps:

• Prepare Sauce: Brown (85% lean) ground beef in a deep skillet and then crumble. This does not usually have enough fat to bother draining.
• Add to the skillet: the can of drained diced tomatoes, can or jar of spaghetti sauce, Italian seasoning, and salt & pepper to taste. (I use "Hunt's Four Cheese" Spaghetti sauce).
• Cover and simmer the sauce on medium-low heat for approximately 25 minutes.
• While the sauce is simmering, prepare the box of macaroni and cheese according to the directions on the box. (Hint: It is best to use only just enough milk so that the powdered cheese will dissolve.).
• Pour the spaghetti sauce into a 13 X 9 glass baking dish.
• Carefully add the macaroni and cheese as a layer on top of the sauce. Do not stir.
• In even intervals about 2-3 inches apart, stick a spoon straight down into the dish so that some of the sauce will mix with the macaroni and cheese. Do this going across the pan lengthwise in two rows. Do not stir the entire dish.
• Sprinkle the grated cheddar cheese evenly over the top.
• Sprinkle Italian bread crumbs over the cheese in a very thin layer.
• Sprinkle a pinch of Italian seasoning or Oregano over the bread crumbs.
• Bake for 15 minutes or until cheese is melted in a 350 degree oven.
• Let stand for 5 minutes and then cut and serve like lasagna squares.

ITALIAN BREAKFAST SANDWICH

Steps:

• In a skillet over low heat, fry sopressata until lightly crisp and fat is rendered, about 2 minutes per side. Remove and set aside.
• In the same skillet, fry egg sunny-side up. Remove and set aside.
• On one piece of bread, layer sopressata, prosciutto, mozzarella and drained red onion; close with remaining slice.
• Place in same skillet, pressing down on te sandwich with the palm of your hand, and lightly toast on both sides.
• Remove and open sandwich and layer egg and basil on bottom half.
• Close, slice on the diagonal and serve.