Bacon poetry

Seen on the facebook:

Kind of charming. It called to mind this delightful piece from McSweeney's. I used to find McSweeney's kind of obnoxious and irritating, but lately I have really enjoyed everything I've read from them. I wonder if I changed or they did.

Salami and Capers tomato sauce

I recently broke into my dwindling reserves (I'll be back in the US for the summer in just over a month now, so I can be less frugal with the pork supply) to try to recreate a pasta sauce that T* and I made way back when. Prior to that occasion, I had never tried cooking salami - it actually seemed like kind of an absurd idea to me. But that time, it turned out quite delicious. From what I could recall, it was basically sauteed salami hunks plus spicy tomato sauce and fresh parsley. But I don't especially like parsley, so I axed that part. I also used tomato paste instead of a can of tomatoes**, because I had a little jar of homemade tomato paste a family friend had made from the tomatoes in her garden that I was looking to use. So basically, I chopped up some salami and sauteed it with garlic, added the tomato paste, some crushed red pepper and oregano (or maybe it's thyme. I mean, it says it's thyme, but it really smells and tastes much more like oregano to me.) and cooked it for awhile. But then it didn't really taste all that amazig, so I added a few handfuls of capers! Capers are also something I do not think of as a thing one cooks, so it kind of made sense, category-wise.

Anyways, it was delicious. But to be honest, the salami was kind of the weakest link. This may be because of the particular salami I used, or because it is somewhat aged at this point. But the take-away lesson for me was actually that plain old tomato paste with some spices and capers is pretty delicious.

*I have decided that the 18th century convention of initials seems more dignified than calling him Better Half or my dude all the time.

**I am getting kind of paranoid about canned tomatoes. I keep hearing these rumors that they're really bad for you.

BaconCookbook for iPad

My friend Rowan sent me a link to this piece in Gizmodo about a bacon cookbook for the iPad. I haven't posted in eons, so I figured I'd pass it on. But I have no idea if it's any good or anything. =-)

duct tape jacket for iPad 2

To be honest, this is only tangentially related to bacon, but the creator has emailed me twice already (d'oh! Sorry for not doing this sooner!) and it does seem like an awesome project, so hey. He makes iPad cases, and he's got a Kickstarter project going to collect orders and money so that he can buy supplies in bulk. The cases come in different designs - of course you can get a custom one, but you can also get Basic, Pattern (the zebra print is pretty awesome looking) or... Inspired, which is where bacon comes in.

I recommend going to the Kickstarter page and reading the history section, because it's a feel-good DIY story of someone dissatisfied with a product and inspired to make a better one. The video also shows you the case, which looks rather more impressive in person, especially when you see what it can do.

Brussel Sprouts with Bacon

I broke out the reserves for Thanksgiving and made brussel sprouts with bacon. I'm actually coming to think that the best way to eat brussel sprouts is to halve them and just toss them with some olive oil, salt and pepper and roast 'em, but this way, with bacon, isn't bad either.

I used:
2 packets brussel sprouts. Um. 1/2 pound maybe?
2 slices bacon
1 chicken bullion cube
some water
salt, pepper
olive oil


Wash brussel sprouts, trim off the ends, cut the bigger ones in half. Coarsely chop the bacon. Fry it with some olive oil. When it's cooked but not browned, add the brussel sprouts and fry until they begin to brown. Add water enough to almost cover and bullion cube, as well as salt and pepper, and cook until brussel sprouts are soft but not mushy, ~8 minutes, less if you added boiling water.

I thought they were decent but not amazing - perhaps because I'm not that into brussel sprouts - but my dinner guests adored them.

Bacon T-Shirts

I just got an email from Amy at Crazy Dog T-Shirts - they have a few different bacon shirts, and would like to offer the readers of this blog a discount. Enter the secret code Pork5 at checkout for $5 off.

I can't comment on the size, comfort, and quality of the shirts, though Amy mentioned they'd be willing to send me some samples - if it works out, I'll definitely let you know.

I should maybe point out that they've also got plenty of other, non-bacon related but amusing t-shirts, if you're into that sort of thing.

Bacon lube

I guess it was only a matter of time. But yes, from the makers of bacon salt, bacon lube. It's all over the internetz (the LAist piece on it is my favorite.

Buy it here and you should probably hurry - supplies are limited.