Bacon, Bacon, Bacon

Ok, who doesn't like bacon? Well maybe the people super health conscious, but there is something about it that almost everyone would agree the is so awesome. You use it in so many different ways...for breakfast, on a baked potato, in baked beans, in green beans, on a sandwich, in a salad. Some people use just the grease to flavor stuff--like they store it in a ceramic crock to add to certain dishes. One of my husbands friends won't eat green beans unless there is bacon in them for flavoring! I even met the wife of the man who organizes the BaconFest in Chicago...a whole event around how many ways you can use bacon (ice cream, bacon whiskey). That's a little much for my liking but just saying.
Well if you wanted to know more about the process of making bacon, my little brother works for an Oscar Meyer plant. He can tell you about slicing and the seasonings and yeah just lots. Sometimes he even gets a special deal on a big box, which for the Thrifty Chick in me, that's perfect. I got to take home some of the new "Naturals" line that is supposed to be better for you with sea salt. It does taste good for you, but I'm pretty sure it is still not on a list of healthy foods.
So how do you cook bacon? The traditional way is with a frying pan. I personally hate that method. Grease flys everywhere, there's a huge, hard to clean mess. I have used one of those George clamshell grills. Drains the grease off which is nice, but I tend to get distracted and then get it almost too crispy. My new favorite method is with the Pampered Chef ridged baker. You can simply put the bacon in the over and the grease goes down in the grooves and you have tender, juicy bacon. After it is cooked and cooled if you have leftovers, simply put in between sheets of paper towel and put in the fridge. Boom, easy protein for breakfast the next morning. Easy to crumble on a salad. Super versatile. Ok that's my Bacon ad for the day. LOL! Sorry if you gained a few pounds reading this!