Saturday, July 26, 2014

Candied Bacon ~ In the Oven!

Not too long ago I came across a recipe for cooking bacon in the oven.  Much less messy than on the stove top or in the microwave!  Then I started experimenting with different ways of flavoring and seasoning the bacon.  Just the aroma of this from the oven gets everyone excited!  "Candied Bacon!" is what I hear when each one walks through the kitchen.  Unfortunately, I could eat way too much of this!  Nom Nom!  Below is the family tested result!  

First of all, DO NOT pre-heat your oven!!  You will want to prepare the bacon first, then set the pan into a cold oven.


Line a pan with foil.  One package of bacon, light brown sugar, garlic powder, cayenne pepper.

Lay bacon in the pan.  Some will be overlapping.

I wish I had measurements, but this part is really done to taste.
Take several spoonfuls of brown sugar and sprinkle over bacon.  Use your hands to spread evenly and thinly cover the bacon.  Sprinkle evenly with garlic powder.
Add a few shakes of cayenne pepper.

Place into a COLD oven.  Set temperature to 400 degrees and set timer for 20 minutes.

This is what mine looked like at 20 minutes.  I added a few extra minutes to the timer.

I took it out at 24 minutes. Because of the sugar, you will see the areas that will start getting dark.  You don't want it to start smoking or burning!

Place cooked bacon on a plate.  This bacon is not melt-in-your-mouth crispy.  Because of the sugar, it will appear a bit limp when removing from the pan.  It will "crisp up" a bit as it sits.

And it goes great with waffles!  I'll have that family favorite recipe next time!

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Oatmeal Mornings

Some mornings are just made for hot oatmeal.  Odds are that's most mornings here in North Dakota!  I'm very fortunate that six out of my seven youngest ones will eat it.  I think oatmeal has to be one of the cheapest, healthiest, and quickest of breakfast foods!  We've even been known to make it as a snack later on in the day!

Here's our quick and easy recipe!

1/2 Serving of Oatmeal

  • 1/4 cup of quick oats in a microwavable bowl (I use a large cereal bowl)
  • 1 tsp. brown sugar
  • 1/8 tsp. cinnamon
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/4 tsp. real vanilla **

Whole Serving of Oatmeal

  • 1/2 cup of quick oats in a microwavable bowl
  • 2 tsp. brown sugar
  • 1/8 tsp. cinnamon
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/2 tsp. real vanilla **
Combine first four ingredients in bowl.  Microwave 1/2 serving for about 1 min. 20 secs.; whole serving for about 1 min. 50 secs.  **Keep an eye on it....microwave times may vary.  Remove from microwave and stir in vanilla.  You may also stir in additional water or milk as desired. These can even be made up ahead of time and stored in little baggies...ready to go for whenever you need it!

Clare asks for her oatmeal every morning!


**Watkins makes a great Pure Vanilla and Cinnamon!  You can go to my Watkins webpage here.

Eve Mercer is owner of Modest Handmaidens.com and
a Watkins Independent Consultant #489754