BACON BOMB EXPLOSION!!

Hello! 

To begin with, Joanna and I had a lovely Friday evening visit with her family at Janet's roommate's wedding reception in St. Paul. Here is a picture: 

(Notice how Janet is VERY happy - even though she did not catch the bouquet. . .) (And notice how Joanna is holding her belly - probably because little Russell is trying to get out because he knows what daddy is going to cook up on Tuesday .. . . .) 

Now on to the BACON: 

So, for the last several months Joanna has had to plan the meals - because I was studying, and because only she knew what did/did not sound good to eat. But, this week Joanna told me that she was tired of planning the meals and that I could! So on Monday we had meatloaf / green beans / mashed potatoes. And Tuesday? Well, we had. . . . . 

BACON BOMB!!!!!!

You may ask yourself:   Self, what is a Bacon Bomb? 

Well, just follow along with these picture tutorials on how I made it: 

Step 1: Get some sausage and rough ground pork. I just used a food processor. Mix together, and form into a square shape.

Step 2: Put some chopped onions and bacon bits and pork-rub on it. I had to make my pork-rub using paprika, oregano, garlic+onion powders, salt, lemon-pepper, etc.

Step 3: Add some veggies: green peppers, tomatoes, etc. Also, add a generous amount of shredded CHEESE (not pictured).  Also, brush or pour some BBQ sauce over it.

Step 4: Starting with one side, roll it until it makes a log. Pinch the seem and ends.

Step 5: Lay out the bacon in strips. This should be thick-cut. You will be weaving this in a moment.

Step 6: Weave the bacon together by lifting and replacing alternating parallel strips with the perpendicular strips.

Step 7: Now you should have a nice woven bacon mat, as pictured below, and a  pork log. Put some more pork rub on the outside of the log. Put the pork log on to the side of the bacon mat, and roll it - covering the log with a cozy blanket of bacon. (Look how awesome that bacon blanket looks!)

Step 8: This is the log being rolled in the bacon. Continue rolling.

Step 9: This is what the final rolled and patted tight bacon-pork log should look like.

Step 10: Brush the whole top and sides with BBQ sauce. Put it on a rack on a pan and put it in the oven. Oven bake at 275 to 300 degrees for 2 to 3 hours - rebrushing with BBQ sauce every half hour or so. OR, just put this on the grill - away from the flame - so it receives indirect heat and smoke - to cook. . . . rebrushing it also. . . at 275 degrees or so, for 4 hours.

Step 11: When the meat is done, and the out side is a nice and carmelized (but not burnt) then take it out and let it sit for about 10 minutes.

Step 12: Cut slices and enjoy!! (When you cut into it, the insides with squeeze out like an explosion!)

This is SUPER delicious! Try it! 

To see professionals make one, watch this:   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1IiUAtoNBk

 (That is the BBQ-Pit Boys video on how to make and grill a Bacon Bomb.) 

Enjoy! 

- BEN

March: National Craft Month

I really do have some crafting things to share for this wonderful month completely dedicated to crafts, but I'd like to whine for just a little bit first.

Yesterday was decidedly spring, as is today, and as the next week looks to be.  Hallelujah! But, I can't even break out any fun spring clothes because they won't fit.  I'm too cheap to go out and buy any spring-ish maternity clothes because in 4 months I'm hoping to be in my normal clothes.  Wishful thinking, I know, but it's keeps me going through the drab wardrobe days.  Sigh.  And, since I'm still working I need two wardrobes: one for work, one for not being at work.  So many clothes, that I'm just going to have to do without.

Anyway, back to National Craft Month.  I've actually completed some projects!  That's a big deal since I haven't had enough motivation to get things done the past few months.  Here they are:

A maternity skirt.  I got the fabric from Mom's stash over the summer and then bought a little knit fabric to form a front panel.  It works for the intended purpose, and I even get a compliment on it at church the next day!

I have struggled trying to direct my crafting to boy things, but I saw a tutorial for this on line and knew that baby needed it.  His daddy is such a dinosaur fan that it works perfectly.  Plus it was easy and makes good use of this cardigan from Grandma.

 

Cadbury Creme Egg cake.  Don't judge it by its appearance because it was really really good.  We had some leftover cake in the freezer that I frosted and then had to make sure that all the Cadbury egg halves got used up. That and the fact that I had done way too much the day I made it are the only reasons I have for the lame experience.  I suggest everyone try to make it it.

 

Little bunnies.  I don't have any little pom-poms or googly eyes, so they are just embellished with the ribbons.  Plain, but still cute.