Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon Dressing

Have you missed me?  I missed you very much and I hope to be back on a regular schedule of sharing recipes and updates a little more frequently than I have this past year.

I have been a little busy with Finnley and family.  Our little bundle of joy arrived 3 weeks early and she is such a joy to have in our lives.  With each child I always wonder if I will have enough... enough love and time, to share with one more little person.  I am amazed at how the universe seems to make room in your life for both--time and love--to be shared in abundance.

I had been on bed rest for the prior two weeks due to pre-eclampsia.  I was ready to have Finnley with our family at home in our arms.  On Thursday (9-19) I went to the doctor and with my current high blood pressure symptoms they told me I needed to be back at the hospital at 5pm--we were having a baby!

I thought I was ready--and I was--but then I felt not ready...LOL For a brief moment I was scared, nervous and excited all at the same time. I just wanted to hold her in my arms and kiss her sweet cheeks. I wanted to know that everything was okay. I needed to hear her cry and feel her next to me.

14 hours later she came into the world and we were all thrilled. She weighed 6lbs. 2 oz. and measured 18 inches long. Her little legs never stopped kicking--just like when she was inside of me. The nurses all joked that she might be a soccer player or dancer.

I stayed in the hospital for two days and came home full of energy. With the help of my hubby and older kids we have managed to get plenty of sleep and rest. I am anxious to get back to a schedule and start exercising again.

I gained 23 pounds during this pregnancy and have lost most of it...I am down to the final 8 pounds.  I have to think that my gluten free diet helped with the weight gain and also with the weight loss after she was born.  My other pregnancies I gained 50 pounds and it took me a long time to drop the weight.

One thing that I have been better about this time around is drinking lots of water. I have also increased the amount of vegetables and protein that I am eating.  I still indulge in a gluten free snack or treat once in a while but only on rare occasions.

My Mom makes a wonderful warm spinach salad with bacon dressing that I remember as a young adult. She still makes this for special occasions. Well, I think this is a special occasion and I made it this past week. I added a few of my own additions, like the apple pieces and toasted almond slivers, but that is because I wanted to add some crunch and a bit of sweetness to the tart dressing.

I want to say thank you to everyone that has continued to support this blog and follow along the past two years.  It has been a joy to share recipes, memories and photographs with each of you.  I will do my best to keep posting but my number one priority is and will always be my family.  This precious time I have with my new baby will go by so fast that I want to cherish each moment, each smell, every kiss and sweet smile that she choses to share with me.  

Recipe:  Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon Dressing

1 Large container of spinach
3 hard boiled eggs, diced small or sliced
6 slices of bacon, diced and fried
1/4 cup of red onion, chopped small
1 small red apple, chopped small
1/4 cup toasted almonds or pecans

Dressing:

grease of fried bacon
2 teaspoons red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons of honey
salt and pepper to taste

Have bacon fried and eggs boiled.

In a large skillet with the bacon grease and heat turned off, add the dressing ingredients. With a whisk, blend well.  If the bacon grease has become solid, then warm until just melted.  When the grease gets too hot it will wilt your spinach.  The flavor will be the same but presentation may not be appealing.

 You want the dressing warm, not hot.

Right before you are ready to serve, toss the spinach with the warm dressing. It takes just a minute for the dressing and bacon dressing to be tossed together.  Do not turn the heat on for this or you will end up sautéing your salad.

Add the remaining ingredients to your salad and serve immediately.

Bacon Potato Pancake with Toasted Corn Salsa

Imagine my excitement when I received a huge box delivered to my doorstep.  It was like Christmas all over again.  I opened it up to discover that I had been sent some pretty amazing things: an assortment of potatoes from Potatoes Goodness Unearthed and supplies from OXO to help me with my amazing potato appetizer.

At the end of this month I will be attending my first conference in Philadelphia, Eat Write Retreat. As part of the participants we have a variety of opportunities before the conference to get involved.  This was one such event: a mystery ingredient used to create an amazing appetizer recipe.

It took me about two weeks to finalize what I would be making.  I had a few ideas but kept coming back to a potato pancake.  I wanted to make something that I would want for an appetizer and this is something that I love.  I have topped my bacon potato pancake with a creamy avocado sauce and toasted corn salsa.

All I can say is that my family thought it was pretty amazing!

The bacon and potato paired together is always a home run in my book.  I love avocados and thought the green highlighted the corn relish and was an excellent sauce for the pancake.  The corn salsa offers a bit of crunch and texture to the appetizer.

When I make mashed potatoes at home, my kids always want corn to go along with them.  They enjoy the combination of corn and potatoes together and in some way, this was how the dish came together.

My kids are a huge influence in how I cook.  They have strong opinions about flavors and textures.  They have never been afraid to share their thoughts on any dish I have created.

My favorite part about the box I received in the mail was a nifty sheet of facts about the varieties of potatoes on the market.  I always knew that certain potatoes tasted better with certain dishes but I never went in search of this information.  I was pleasantly surprised to see a laminated sheet that gave me hints and ideas, along with a recipe, that would better assist me in finding the perfect potato to use in any recipe.

For this recipe, based on what I read, I used the YELLOWS.   They are buttery and creamy.  Two words that I definitely wanted to use in describing my Bacon Potato Pancake.

I hope that you will enjoy this appetizer as much as we did--the kids are already asking me for it again!

**Disclosure: I was provided with an assortment of potatoes to try along with a variety of OXO products.  My opinions are my own and I have willing given honest feed back to both products.

Bacon Potato Pancake with Toasted Corn Salsa

Makes 12-2inch pancakes

5 slices of bacon, cooked
1.5 lbs. of yellow potatoes, diced
1/4 cup green onions, diced
1/2 cup Gruyere cheese, grated
1 egg
1/4 cup all purpose flour (white rice flour for gluten free)
1/4 teaspoon pepper
salt to taste (1-2 teaspoons)
Avocado Cream--recipe below
Grilled Corn Salsa--recipe below

In a large pot add diced potatoes and fill with water until just above potatoes.  You do not need to peel them unless you don't want the peel on your potatoes. When potatoes are done (they can be split with a fork) DRAIN the water.  Let potatoes dry out for a minute or two.

Fry up your bacon and cut into small pieces.  Save the grease and use this for frying up the potato pancakes.  I always keep my bacon grease so I do have extra if I need more while frying up the pancakes.

In a medium size bowl, combine bacon pieces, green onion, cheese, egg, flour, salt and pepper.

Using a potato ricer, rice the potatoes into the bowl with the other ingredients.  Stir to combine. The consistency will be very thick. I used an ice cream scoop to portion my pancakes.

Using the bacon grease, add this to a new frying pan and fry your potato pancakes until they are golden brown.  Remove to a wire rack.

Top with avocado cream and grilled corn salsa.

Avocado Cream

Makes 2 cups

2 ripe avocados
1/2 lime
1/2 cup sour cream
salt to taste
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon onion powder

Combine avocado, sour cream, juice of half a lime, salt, garlic powder and onion powder into a small bowl.  Mash with fork, and then whip until smooth with wire whisk.  You can use a food processor if your kitchen has one, mine does not.

Toasted Corn Salsa

**Fresh grilled corn can be used if you prefer

1(14.5) can yellow corn, drained well
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
2 tablespoons orange bell pepper, diced small
1/4 cup red onion, diced small
1 teaspoon light olive oil
1 lime
salt to taste

To grill canned corn I used my small cast iron pan.  Heat pan until very hot.  Add corn and toast on all sides, stirring frequently so it does not burn.

Remove once it has a nice brown color.

In a medium bowl, add corn and the remaining ingredients.

Serve hot or cold.

Written by Sherron Watson

Bacon, Jalapeno and Onion Jam

A few years ago I clipped a recipe from the Martha Stewart magazine for Bacon Jam.  I have kept that recipe this whole time and drooled over it from time to time as I flip through my binders.  I have a few white binders filled with recipes that I clipped from magazines, newspapers and ads.

That sounds like such an old thing to do these days.  I rarely buy magazines anymore and the "clipping" that I did has changed to "pinning" on Pinterest.

On occasion I miss the feel of a paper magazine in my hand, the glossy pages and vibrant images; what I don't miss are the stacks and stacks of used magazines floating around in my home.

I was never one to keep a magazine for a length of time. I would take what I wanted and then share it with my neighbors and friends.

We went on a mini vacation this past weekend and I checked a book out of the library.  As I sat there reading my book, I noticed that I was one of the only ones with a real book in my hand.  Those to my left and right were using notepads or their phones.  I kind of felt old for the first time.

This recipe had me so excited the whole time I was away. I made it on Friday so that when I returned on Monday to the kitchen, I could photograph it and get started on my week with Isabella.

While she was at lunch I worked fast-I had maybe 20 minutes-to eat, I mean, photograph the jam.  I do have to add that by letting the jam sit for a few days in the fridge, it set up nicely.  The thick jam sat perfectly on each cracker.  I could taste the jalapeno in every bite and feel the chewiness of the bacon too.  Delicious is what came to mind with each bite.

This combination was so good!  If you don't want it to be spicy, then don't add the jalapeno's.  I think they are what make the jam but I understand that not everyone enjoys spicy food.

To temper the kick from the jalapeno's, I served this with a bit of cream cheese on a cracker.  In my mind I see this jam as the perfect companion to a hamburger, stuffed into meatballs or served warm on its own with a variety of crackers or veggies.

I could also see this being made as a vegetarian jam.  The flavor is sweet and spicy like a chutney and the bacon could be omitted and substituted with zucchini or carrots. Something that is firm and would add body to the jam.  I would cook the carrots and zucchini until al dente before adding to the final simmer stage.  I will make it this way soon and let everyone now how it turned out.

I can't wait to make this again, and it will be soon, and to experiment using it in a variety of ways.

Recipe: Bacon, Jalapeno and Onion Jam

9 slices of thick bacon, cut into 1/2 inch slices, cooked until brown (not crispy)
4 tablespoons of bacon grease, reserved from frying up bacon
1 large red onion, diced into 1/4 inch squares (yielded about 2.5 cups)
1 tablespoon mined garlic
dash of salt
1/4 cup diced jalapenos (this amount makes it spicy, use less if worried about the temperature)
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup pure maple syrup (don't use imitation or artificial syrups)
3/4 cup brewed coffee

NOTE:  I did not cook my bacon until it was crispy. I wanted it to be brown and chewy.  This allows the liquids in the recipe a chance to flavor and marinate the bacon.

In a medium size saute pan, add 2 Tablespoons of bacon grease.  Wait until it is hot enough to saute and add the diced onion and garlic.  Cook until the onions are clear-8 minutes- on medium heat, stirring every once in a while.  If they start to stick to the bottom of the pan, add a bit more grease.

In a medium sauce pan, add the vinegar, brown sugar, maple syrup, 2 tablespoons of bacon grease, coffee, jalapeno's and bacon.

When the onions and garlic are done, add these to the medium sauce pan too.

Bring the jam to a boil and then reduce heat to medium low--the jam should simmer for 45 minutes.  I would check the jam every 15 minutes and stir once.

You will know it is done because almost all of the liquid is gone when the jam is stirred.

Store jam in the refrigerator for one week.

I served the jam on crackers with cream cheese.

Written by Sherron Watson

Bacon and Corn Griddle Cakes, gluten free

Bacon and corn, enough said!

I am pretty sure you already know my love and passion for this combination.  If you need a gentle reminder, check out this recipe I make with corn and bacon.

The two flavors just work and make my belly super happy.

I saw this recipe from Recipe Girl for her bacon and corn griddle cakes and fell in love.  

As is usually the case with most recipes, I have to convert them to a gluten free version and so for the original please visit her site.  To get to the original recipe go HERE.  The pictures that she has shared with this recipe are enough to make you lick your screen, or maybe that was just me…LOL

Do you remember as a kid having a glass jar under the sink that was layered with all different colors and layers of grease?

No? Yes?

I sure did.  It was bacon grease. My grandmother and Mom both saved the grease after every batch of bacon they made.  They would use it for everything.  I don't remember when my Mom stopped doing this but one day the jar was gone.

I have read recently where this is coming back into fashion.  I don't know how I feel about storing bacon grease for weeks and using it often BUT I do know that for this recipe having the bacon grease readily available to cook these cakes in, makes them that much better.

I don't mind using bacon grease in moderation.  

Oh the things we remember from our childhood.  I love the memories I have with my kitchen and the food I ate way back then and the memories I am making for my kids today.  

It makes me smile. 

I cannot wait to make these again nor can my family. ENJOY

Recipe:  Bacon and Corn Griddle Cakes, gluten free

Adapted from Recipe Girl

4 slices of bacon, cooked crispy and cut into small squares

1 cup of corn kernels, drained

2 tablespoons of green onion, diced

1/4 teaspoon of salt

1/2 teaspoon of baking powder

1/2 cup of  brown rice flour

1/4 cup of corn meal

1/4 cup of tapioca starch

1/4 cup of almond meal

1/4 cup of milk

Bacon grease or oil to fry cakes 

In a medium fry pan with heat set to medium high, heat oil or bacon grease until hot.  

In a large bowl, combine all of the above ingredients and stir to combine.

I used a cookie scoop and placed 6 scoops in my pan.  Fry on both sides until golden brown.  (3-5 minutes).

Remove to a wire rack and let cool slightly.  Serve with your favorite sauce or eat as is.

See pictures below for steps to frying griddle cakes.

Written by Sherron Watson