Flotsam & Jetsam

I love bacon.  Who doesn’t?  Recently I’ve been playing around with making candy when, of course, the idea of bacon candy came up.  After a little searching, I came across a couple of interesting sounding recipes.  When I have some extra time I’m gonna try and make some of these:

Bacon Brittle #1

MAKES ABOUT 1 POUND

1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/2 cup water
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2-3/4 tsp. salt
3/4 cup chopped pecans
1 cup cooked bacon bits (about 12 ounces uncooked bacon)

Grease or butter a large nonstick baking sheet (or use a silpat).

In a medium heavy saucepan, combine the sugar, corn syrup and water over medium heat. Stir until the sugar dissolves and the syrup comes to a boil. Attach a candy thermometer to the pan, increase the heat to high, and cook, without stirring, until the mixture reaches 290 degrees. Immediately remove from the heat.

Stir in the butter, vanilla, baking soda, salt pecans and bacon bits. Watch out, the mixture will foam. When the foam subsides, pour the hot mixture onto the prepared baking sheet as thinly as possible. Use a silicone spatula to spread.

Cool at least 10 minutes before breaking into pieces. Store in a covered container.