One of the rules of this blog is that I don't write negative reviews. So if someone sends me a product I don't like, I just don't write about it. I guess it goes back to the basic lesson we all learned as kids - if you don't have anything nice to say then don't say anything at all.
In my 4 1/2 years of writing about all the bacon I've eaten through my adventures with this blog, you may or may not have noticed a lack of reference to many of the major brands of bacon you can purchase at most grocery stores. Quite simply and honestly it's because I just don't enjoy most of the bacon you can buy off the shelf.
Last month, when Oscar Mayer offered to send me their new Super Thick Cut Applewood Smoked Bacon to try, I was skeptical at first. They described this new product as "twice as thick as regular Oscar Mayer bacon with about nine slices per pound, delivering restaurant-inspired taste and quality in the comfort of your own home." They offered to send me bacon, recipes and even a free skillet. They won me over with their persistence and by offering to make it as easy as possible for me to try their new product. So I said, "sure, send some of your bacon my way."
To test drive the bacon I used it in two recipes - Snappy Asparagus with Bacon, a recipe developed exclusively by Kraft Senior Executive Chef John Li for BaconUnwrapped.com readers, and Cheesy Bacon Bruschetta.
This new Oscar Mayer bacon is definitely a step up from some of the tasteless pre-packaged bacon I've encountered in the past. And as a flavor enhancer in both of the dishes I prepared, it was a hit with the friends who were at the party where I served both of the appetizers. No one would have guessed that it was bacon from the supermarket. What's best is this new bacon product from Oscar Mayer is affordable and readily available - it retails for $4.50 per package and is now available at most major grocery stores across the United States.
Next time you're in the bacon aisle at the grocery store, look to see if they carry Oscar Mayer Super Thick Cut Applewood Smoked Bacon, pick up a package, take it home, fry it up for breakfast or try it in one of the following recipes, and let me know what you think.
Snappy Asparagus with Bacon
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 27 minutes
Makes: 6 servings
4 slices Oscar Mayer Super Thick Cut Applewood Smoked Bacon, cut crosswise into 1/2 inch wide strips
1 lb fresh asparagus spears, trimmed, cut into 1/2 inch lengths
2 cups sugar snap peas
Dash crushed red pepper
Dash soy sauce
Cook bacon in large nonstick skillet on medium heat 12 minutes or until browned. Remove bacon from skillet, drain on paper towels. Discard all but 1 tsp drippings from skillet. Add asparagus and pea pods to skillet, cook and stir 5 minutes or until crisp-tender. Stir in bacon and remaining ingredients.
Cheesy Bacon Bruschetta
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 28 minutes
Makes: 4 servings
2 slices Oscar Mayer Super Thick Cut Applewood Smoked Bacon, cut crosswise into 1/2 inch wide strips
4 slices French bread, 3/4 inch thick
1 tsp olive oil
1 clove garlic, cut in half
4 extra- thin Swiss cheese slices, cut in half
1 plum tomato, seeded, chopped
Heat broiler. Cook and stir bacon in skillet on medium heat 12 minutes or until browned; drain on paper towels. Meanwhile, brush one side of each bread slice with oil. Broil, 4 inches from heat, 1 to 2 minutes or until toasted; rub with cut sides of garlic. Cover with 4 cheese pieces, bacon and tomatoes. Top with remaining cheese; broil 1 minute or until melted.
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