Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Onions

Brussels sprouts are one of my favorite veggies.  They get such a bad rap, but I think that's because most of us grew up eating them boiled until they turned gray and mushy.  Thankfully we've discovered much more appetizing ways to prepare them these days.  This version is so good, it just might end up on my Thanksgiving table.

Start by cooking some thick bacon until it's nice and crispy.

Remove the bacon from the pan and saute the onions in the bacon drippings.  Oh my!

When the onions turn translucent, add halved Brussels sprouts.

Cook, stirring every now and then, until the Brussels sprouts begin to caramelize and soften.

During the cooking process, a delicious brown "fond" will form in the bottom of your saute pan.  Add a tablespoon of rice vinegar to loosen that wonderful brown flavor into the dish.

Mmm, almost done!

When the sprouts are "crisp tender", stir in the reserved bacon.  Taste carefully and season with salt and pepper before serving.

Enjoy!

Items used to make this recipe:

(affiliate links)

• 3-quart braiser https://amzn.to/3G8I5PD

• large saute pan https://amzn.to/32P4lAI

• my favorite nakiri knife https://amzn.to/3uirfvH

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Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Onions

makes 4-6 servings

Printable Recipe

Ingredients

• 4 slices thick bacon, cut crosswise into 1/4-inch wide pieces

• 1 large onion, minced

• 1 pound fresh Brussels sprouts, trimmed and cut in half lengthwise

• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar

• salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1. In a large saute pan (or braiser) over medium heat, cook bacon until crisp; remove bacon from pan, but reserve bacon drippings.

2. Still over medium heat, saute onions in bacon drippings until soft and translucent.

3. Add Brussels sprouts and toss frequently until they start to caramelize a bit and become "crisp tender".

4. Add rice vinegar to deglaze pan and stir in reserved bacon.

5. Season with salt and pepper.

Bacon and Ginger Pork Loin

Hi Everyone.  It's time for this month's Secret Recipe Club, where each month, a group of bloggers are assigned a blog, and we get to choose a recipe from that blog to feature on our own blogs, then we all reveal our assigned blogs on the same day.   

This month I was assigned the blog:  WildFlour's Cottage Kitchen by Kelly.  Oh my, did I have a hard time picking a recipe to feature from Kelly's wonderful blog.  There were so many yummy things to choose from.  Pork Tenderloin with Chipotle Peach BBQ Sauce (I love all things chipotle), Cheesy BBQ Pulled Pork Party Ring (did someone say CHEESE?), Authentic Pork Egg Rolls (If I had had more time...), but in the end, I chose Bacon Wrapped Gingersnap Pork Loin (has anyone picked up on a theme here?).   

The roast was delicious, and it looks so pretty.  I'd say company worthy for sure.  Thanks, Kelly!

To begin, lay down a large piece of foil (I used nonstick foil - it's awesome!).  Add two rows of bacon, shingling the pieces top to bottom, and overlapping slightly in the middle.

Center the pork roast on the bacon, now read the recipe instructions and realize you were supposed to flip the roast over to coat the bottom first.

So roll the roast over and coat it liberally with mustard, followed by a half of the crumb mixture that I forgot to get a photo of.  Also, I missed the next couple photos because my hands were covered in mustard and crumbs.....

...but after both sides of the roast are coated in mustard and crumbs, wash your hands and wrap the bacon roast, criss-crossing the pieces as you go.  When you're done, place the whole thing on a roasting rack sitting in a large roasting pan.

The foil is pulled up over the roast without being sealed (so steam can escape during cooking).

When 45 minutes have passed, the foil is opened up so the bacon can crisp while the roast continues cooking for 35-45 minutes (internal temp should reach 155F, then rest until it rises to 160F before slicing).  

Items used to make this recipe:

(affiliate links)

• nonstick foil https://amzn.to/3usuReH

• turkey roasting pan with rack https://amzn.to/3GdH88M

• oven probe thermometer https://amzn.to/3ANAx42

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Bacon and Ginger Pork Loin

Printable Recipe

Ingredients

• 3 1/2 pound pork loin roast

• 12 gingersnap cookies, broken

• 1/3 cup dark brown sugar

• 2 tablespoons spicy brown mustard

• 1 pound high quality thick-cut bacon

• freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375F.

2. Lay a 20-inch wide strip of nonstick foil on a work surface.

3. On top of the foil, line up two rows of bacon, shingling each row and overlapping slightly in the middle where the two rows meet.

4. In a food processor, process the gingersnaps to fine crumbs; add dark brown sugar and pulse until well mixed.

5. Coat bottom (side without the fat cap) of roast with 1 tablespoon mustard, followed by half of the crumb mixture; place bottom side down over the center seam of the two rows of bacon.

6. Repeat the mustard and crumb/mixture on the top of the roast (the side with the fat cap).

7. Start wrapping the bacon over the roast, one slice at a time, criss-crossing as you go until all the bacon is used.

8. Sprinkle liberally with freshly ground black pepper.

9. Place a roasting rack in a large roasting pan (I like to use a v-shaped roasting rack).

10. Lift roast by it's foil sling and transfer to the roasting rack.

11. Bring up sides of the foil and fold together to cover the bacon but don't seal them closed so excess steam can escape in the oven.

12. Bake for 45 minutes, remove from oven, open foil and continue to bake for 35-45 minutes or until an internal temperature of 155F is reached.

13. Allow roast to rest for 10-15 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 145F; slice and serve.

Notes

• I noticed the rendered bacon fat didn't drain away from my roast while it was in the oven, which resulted in soggy bottom bacon.  

• Next time I'll pierce the foil a number of times so the rendered fat can drain away during the roasting process.