December 15, 2012

Bacon Jam


It sounds weird right?  Have you ever tried it?  OH.MY.GOODNESS.  I think I have found a new obsession!!!  Where has this stuff been all my life?  Sweet, salty, deliciousness.  What more can you ask for?!?!  The last couple of years I've gotten sick of making the same old holiday baking giveaways, so I decided this year I wanted to give something different.  I tried this jam at some country store this fall as a sample, and I knew right then that I had found something special.  I found a recipe and after I fooled with it a little I decided this is the homemade item I am giving away at Christmas.  More people need to have this goodie in their life.

The possibilities for what this incredible jam could be used on are endless.  Lots of people serve it on bread or crackers as an appetizer, but I've tried it on grilled cheese & meatloaf and both were amazing.  Next I want to try it on pizza and on a burger....my mouth is watering at the thought!  



Bacon Jam (adapted from Martha Stewart)

3 lbs applewood smoked bacon
4 onions, diced
6 cloves garlic, peeled & smashed with the side of your knife
1/3 cup maple syrup
1 cup cider vinegar
1 cup brown sugar
2 tsp dry mustard
1 1/2 cups brewed coffee
1 tsp Tabasco 

Cut bacon into 1 inch pieces and cook in a large skillet until it's lightly browned and fat is rendered off.  Remove with a slotted spoon and place on a plate lined with paper towels and set aside.  Remove all but 2 tbsp of bacon fat from the pan, add the onions and garlic and cook for about 10 minutes or until onions are translucent.  Add the maple syrup, vinegar, sugar, coffee, dry mustard and Tabasco and bring to a boil while stirring for about 2 minutes.  Add the bacon back to the pan and stir to combine.

Transfer mixture to the bowl of your slow cooker and cook on high, uncovered, for about 4-5 hours or until liquid becomes syrupy.  Transfer to the bowl of a food processor and pulse two times or until it's just slightly chopped up.  Cool completely, then refrigerate in an air tight container.  Stays good for about 4 weeks.  I like to warm mine a little in the microwave before using it, that way you can really taste all the yummy flavors going on!   Makes about 5-6 cups, depending on how long you let it cook down.

6 comments:

  1. OMG! What a cool idea. I stumbled upon your blog while looking up food pictures (have pretty weird cravings of nutella so found the banana Nutella Rolls, but since I train in boxing I can't eat this stuff). This jam looks incredible. I would do if I hated my friends (in the sense that bacon is sooooo unhealthy) but didn't want them to know that. hehe

    Will bookmark your blog! Amazing stuff and your pictures are great!

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    1. Yes, I suppose this isn't the healthiest is it? Haha, oh well, Christmas is the time to indulge right? Thanks for stopping by - hope you find something you will like :)

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  2. Can't wait to try this! It's perfect for my brother's birthday. Thanks!

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  3. I wonder is their a way you could put it in a pot a get the same results? It would seem like it is the same thing, and instead of chopping in a processor we could cut it up really finely after we pull it out of the grease, and then we could ladle it into jars and process them in the canning pot. Does that seem feasible?

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    1. I definitely think it's worth a try! Good luck ☺

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