I've been joking that I'm becoming a homesteader since we moved to Vermont. That is an (unintentional) insult to homesteaders everywhere. Preserving things during the...
Read MorePear and Bacon Bites
http://www.MelJoulwan.com/2011/02/27/smoky-pear-bites/
I can’t tell you how desperately I wished this morning that I could just order a pizza for us to nosh on while we watch the Academy Awards tonight. But I didn’t do it!
Instead, as I lounge on the couch in my ridiculously cute leopard-and-pink-rose print pajamas (with ruffles on the sleeve and pant cuffs, no less), we’ll be enjoying delicious dino-chow snacks.
On our menu:
Applegate Farms Organic Beef Hot Dogs – sliced into coins and served on fancy toothpicks with jalapenos and banana peppers
Cucumber, jicama, snap peas, and celery – served with homemade onion dip (homemade mayo + shallot salt + chives + paprika)
Pear and Bacon Bites – This recipe sounds crazy, but I’m telling you: It’s CRAZY-GOOD! Can be made with or without the bacon. Made up of contrasts – sweet & salty, cool & hot, crisp & chewy – these little tidbits make flavor explosions!
Pear and Bacon Bites
Serves 2-4 | Prep 5 minutes | Cook 5 minutes | Whole30 compliant
Ingredients:
4 slices sugar-free, nitrate-free bacon
2 just-ripe pears
paprika
ground cinnamon
salt
Directions:
1
Preheat oven to 375F. Cover a large, rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil.
2
Cut bacon strips into 1-inch pieces and place on the baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes, or until just crisp. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the bacon to a plate lined with paper towels to drain excess fat.
3
Cut each pear into 1/2-inch slices, then into 1-inch pieces. Lay them out on a cutting board and sprinkle VERY lightly with paprika, cinnamon, and salt. So pretty!
4
Top each piece of pear with a square of bacon and spear with a toothpick. Pop into your mouth. Enjoy.
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I eat bacon almost daily so it's a holiday at my house everyday! 😉
Mmmmm mmmm! Those smoky pear bites look tasty. I love eating food with contrasting textures, temps, and tastes. The fact that they're bite-sized makes them even better!
These sound incredibly awesome! I love how you are able to make fun, "snack" food for special occasions – I really enjoyed that around the holidays also! A bunch of birthdays are coming up in my life; I'm looking at some of these fun but not totally off-plan things to make! Thanks!
Emily –> You're welcome! I've been really trying hard to find snacks for special occasions that aren't those "borderline" things built around almond flour, etc. I'm glad to know they're helping you, too. I definitely believe there's a place in my life for "real treats," but I'm trying to make sure they're very few and far between — 'cause, frankly, there are just too many "regular" days when I want to celebrate 🙂
Those look amazing! I probably should cut back on my bacon consumption, but I keep finding cool recipes! What's a girl to do?!
Amy –> Do we need to have a bacon intervention?!
The pears with salt, cinnamon, and paprika are SO good. I totally recommend the pears without the bacon, too.
Probably! I actually made the Bacon Bourbon Brownies last week, and nearly died of happiness. I will try the pears with just the spices, though – I'm intrigued by that flavor combo!
OMG. I only made those brownies once, but the delicious memories linger.
I'm doing Whole 30 and most bacon I've found has sugar in the ingredients. But, I finally just bit the bullet and bought some of the all natural stuff from trader joe's. There is sugar in the ingredients but the final product has 0g of sugar. I hope this is considered ok…because it was amazing!
Whole foods Peterson bacon is delicious with no added sugar no nitrates
Thanks for the tip!
SnazzyGina –> I think technically even trace sugar isn't allowed during the Whole30, but I wouldn't think you need to start over on Day 1 for that… unless you're being a 1000% purist. Post-Whole30, trace sugar is one of those things you just have to determine a philosophy for. I don't worry about the sugar in my Penzeys pizza seasoning, for example, but I don't eat any other added sugar on a daily basis. Glad you like the bacon+pear combo.
Try bacon from your local butcher. Amazing and ours is local and naturally raised pork. Fortunate enough to know the local farmers.
First of all – I keep wanting to read this as Smokey Bear Bites, and it makes me giggle. Secondly, is there an alternative whenever recipes call for using foil? I avoid aluminum because of its association with alzhiemers which already runs in my family. So is it always necessary, or is there a substitute?
Now I want to call them Smokey Bear Bites, too! You can totally skip the foil. I just use it because it’s easier to clean up the bacon grease that way. But it’s not required for the recipe at all. You might try baking parchment to help with clean up.
Oh man… was trying to find ideas for a Paleo picnic and came across this page as I Googled. Made them this morning – they are AWESOME! Thank you!! 🙂
Cool! I’m glad you found me, and I’m really glad you liked them. Thanks for letting me know!
Wow! These look really good! Will definitely be giving them a try for the holidays!
These are very good. I have discovered that making bacon is really astoundingly simple; if I make it I have complete control over what is in it and it’s cheap. I strongly suggest trying it yourself. Bring on the bacon recipes….
This dish was inedible! I followed the recipe to the letter, and had to toss it a half hour before the dinner party. The cinnamon and paprika were either too light to taste, or so thick they were chalky. The fresh crisp pear killed the bacon, and vice versa. It was like grease and salt on fruit (and I cooked the very high quality bacon until there was no fat on it). Someone else made this with dates and bacon and it was very yummy. Maybe the pears need to be baked with the spices for a while.
It’s too bad this wasn’t to your liking. I’ve made it several times, and it’s always been a hit. If you think you’d like it more with cooked pears, by all means, try it that way… or just move on. Not every recipe is for every person.
Dates are very high in sugar, so unless I’m having a “treat,” I only eat them on special occasions — and yes, dates wrapped in bacon are awesome.
Made these for a non-Paleo party and everyone LOVED them! Didn’t use the extra salt bc the bacon I get tends to be a little too salty sometimes. SO good. Thanks!
Huge hit at my dinner party last night! So simple and SOOOO good. Your recipes never fail me 🙂
Glad everyone liked them — thanks for letting me know!
I’ve recently found your site and am spending waaay too much time browsing (and drooling!) For these, what kind of pear do you use?
Any type works! I usually just pick whatever looks best at the store.