Sweet & Savory Bacon Bites!

THE SANDWICH: This one’s perfect—and easy!—for the bacon lovers in your life: Balsamic Glazed Bacon with Fresh Basil on Sweet Dinner Rolls.

bacon! pan de sal

THE INSPIRATION:I might do a five-day bacon cleanse.” My genius sister, Diana, said this last week over dinner at Bubby’s.

THE INGREDIENTS:

Organic uncured bacon

Balsamic glaze — I used Acetum Blaze, which I bought at Faicco’s Italian Specialties on Bleecker Street in NYC.

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Organic fresh basil

Sweet dinner rolls — Heat them in the oven before using. I baked Pan De Sal from a Filipino bakery in Jersey City to a deep golden brown. (Thanks, Mom!)

THE RECIPE: So super simple!

Preheat oven to 350˚.

Lay bacon slices on silpat-lined baking sheet (with edges, so the bacon fat doesn’t drip off). Squeeze a thick line of glaze onto each side of bacon, and spread evenly on slice using a silicone pastry brush.

Bake 10 minutes, then turn over and bake for another 5. Then transfer bacon slices to a wire rack on top off another baking sheet and bake for another 10 minutes until dark and glossy but not burnt.

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(The bacon strips won’t be crispy, but instead will be slightly candied and chewy, the way I like ’em.)

Slice the rolls, fresh from the oven, lengthwise but not all the way through, creating a V.

Remove some of the doughy insides (or not), then butter each side.

Optional: You can use the bacon and glaze drippings from the first baking sheet as a spread! Of course, I couldn’t, because I sopped all that deliciousness up with bread before the bacon was done cooking.

Cut bacon strips in half, and place 3-4 layers on bottom half of roll. Tear 1-2 basil leaves into pieces and place evenly on bacon. Serve immediately.

THE SANDWICH SURPRISEES:

My sometime poker home game, featuring Ian

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and

Adam 

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… as well as some previous Surprisees, like Chris …

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Will and Ray (in the background)

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THE VERDICT: “Even a bacon morsel is great — thanks!” said Ian, who turned out to be a big bacon fan.

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(“Now I want you to go in that bag and find my wallet.”

“Which one is it?”

“The one that says ‘Bacon, Motherfucker‘ on it.”)

Added Ray: “Even bacon-wrapped shoe would be delicious, and this was way more delicious than that.”

Sandwich Surprise loves to surprise our friends!

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