The perfect side for a turkey – crispy brussel sprouts!

Tags

bacon, brussel sprouts, christmas dinner, pork, turkey side dishes

First of all I hated brussel sprouts until recently. But after eating these at a restaurant in NYC I was officially converted.

Introducing … Roasted Brussels sprouts with crispy bacon and balsamic glaze. This is super easy to make and so delicious! Here is what you need:

3 cups of Brussels sprouts – cut into quarters
4 slices of bacon diced
Salt and pepper
Oil
3 tbs if balsamic vinegar

Preheat oven to 400. Quarter the brussel sprouts and toss with balsamic and oil and salt and pepper. Roast in the oven for 15 mins. While that is roasting, cook the bacon in the pan on the stove until almost crispy.

Remove sprouts from the oven and toss with the bacon and drippings. Put back in the oven for another 10 mins.

Resist eating the entire pan.

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A twist on the classic BLT

Tags

bacon, eat, food, pork

For all of you who know me, you know I love pork. I spilled the beans in my first blog post My Love Affair With Pork.

Today it is about the classic BLT made better with avocado. So how do you make it?

Step 1: How to cook bacon

The key to perfectly cooked bacon is to do it in the oven. You need a high rimmed baking sheet, bacon and parchment paper. Lay out the bacon on the parchment paper and place it on the baking sheet. Bake it in a preheated oven set to 400 degrees and bake for approximately 18-20 mins. Around the 15 minute mark peak in and take a look. Once it is done, place it on paper towel to remove the extra grease and let it cool a bit.

 

Place bacon on parchment paper

Step 2: Time to assemble.

*Important Tip – Toast the bread lightly, the worst thing you can do it over toast the bread so that it shreds the top of your mouth apart, and you can’t enjoy your sandwich.

You can use any type of lettuce you have (iceberg, mache, bib, arugula, romaine), you need fresh tomatoes, sea salt, an avocado, cooked bacon and toasted bread. You can use a bit of mayo if you would like, but it is not necessary. Mash up some avocado with sea salt. Spread it on both sides of the toasted bread. Top with lettuce, slices of bacon and tomatoes sprinkled with a touch of salt.

Avocado Bacon Lettuce Tomato Sandwich

And while one could argue that nearly any sandwich is improved by avocado, I would say there is something particularly special about a BLT with avocado, as it sits there, nestled alongside the salty bacon, crisp lettuce and juicy tomato, it is exactly where an avocado was meant to be.

Time to eat.

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I am a girl who loves food. I grew up with a Mom who was an excellent cook. She wrote a cookbook when I was a child, and as they say, the rest is history. Started a catering business in 2005 and haven’t looked back. I am a mom to 2 beautiful girls and I want them to love food as much as I do. In the meantime, I love life and love my job @ www.monicaskitchen.com