Sweet and spicy bacon

SERVINGS:   TIME: 50 - 65 minutes

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 1/2 tbsp packed light brown sugar
• Rounded 1/4 tsp cayenne
• Rounded 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
• 1 lb thick-cut bacon (about 12 slices)

DIRECTIONS:

1. Position an oven rack in the middle position and preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a small bowl, stir together brown sugar, cayenne, and black pepper.
3.  Arrange the bacon slices in one layer on the rack of a large broiler pan or on a rimmed baking sheet covered with aluminum foil.
4. Bake for 20 minutes. 
5. Turn the slices over and sprinkle them evenly with the spiced sugar. Continue baking until crisp and deep golden, about 20-35 minutes more, checking every 5 minutes.
6. Transfer to paper towels to drain before serving.

NOTES:

SOURCE: Orangette

Roasted sweet potato wedges

SERVINGS: 2  TIME: 25-30 minutes

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 medium sized sweet potato
•  1/16 tsp cinnamon
• 1/8 seasoning salt
• 1/8 tsp ground cumin
• 1/16 tsp pepper
• 1/8 tsp garlic powder
• 1/8 cup olive oil
• 1 tsp maple syrup

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
2. Cut sweet potato in half, lengthwise, and then chop into wedges.
3. Put wedges into a large ziplock bag.
4. Combine all seasoning ingredients and pour into bag. Shake well.
5. Place on baking pan, ensuring the wedges don't overlap.
6. Bake for 20-25 minutes, flipping wedges once during baking time.

NOTES:

• Baking time varies, depending on how thick your wedges are.

SOURCE:

Pizza Potato Skin Luge

 SERVINGS: 8 potato halves   TIME: 40 min to nuke; 1h30m to bake

INGREDIENTS:

• 4 large baking potatoes, scrubbed
• 1 cup shredded cheese
• Pizza version
•  ½ cup pizza sauce
• 2 oz sliced pepperoni (about 24 small slices)
• ½ cup sliced mushrooms 
• Classic version
• 2 tbsp butter, melted
• 6 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled
• 1 green onion, thinly sliced

DIRECTIONS:

1. Prick potatoes all over with a fork. Place in a 400°F oven for about 1 hour or until tender. Alternatively, microwave on high for about 10 minutes.
2. Let potatoes cool slightly until they're easy enough to handle. Cut each potato in half and scoop out some of the potato, leaving about 1/2 inch wall all around. Reserve the scooped potato for another use. 
3. Place the potato halves onto parchment paper lined baking sheet.
4. Pizza topping: spread each potato with pizza sauce and top with pepperoni and mushrooms and sprinkle cheese on top. Classic topping: drizzle butter, top with bacon and sprinkle cheese.
5. Place baking sheet in 400°F oven for about 20 minutes or until golden and crisp. For classic potatoes, sprinkle with green onions.

NOTES:

• Optional: a variety of favourite pizza toppings. For the classic potato, try sour cream as well.

SOURCE: Longo's magazine

Honeyed Apple Crackers

Servings: 2   Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

• Half of a sweet apple
• Honey, for schmearing
• Brown sugar, for sprinkling
• Crackers

Directions:

1. Lay crackers on a sheet, tightly packed. Sprinkle brown sugar.
2. Slice apple into thin slices and lay onto crackers, making sure all surface area of crackers is covered.
3. Drizzle a generous amount of honey on top of each slice.
4. Let broil for 5-10 minutes or until browned and soft.
5. Scoop into individual teacups. Serve with a spoon.

Honey baked ricotta

 {photo credit: sweet paul}

SERVINGS: 4   TIME:

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 cups ricotta
• 2 tablespoons honey
• toast, to serve
• berries, to serve
• extra honey, to serve

DIRECTIONS:

1. Stir together ricotta and honey in a bowl.
2. Fill the ricotta into 4 small oven proof bowls.
3. Place them under the grill in the oven until it just starts to get a little color.
4. Take it out and serve with toast, berries and some extra honey.

NOTES:

SOURCE: Sweet Paul

Banana Bread

SERVINGS: 1 loaf   TIME:1 hour 30 minutes

INGREDIENTS:

• ½ cup (1 stick) butter, room temperature, plus more for pan
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1½ cups unbleached flour
• 1 teaspoon  baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt 
• 1 cup (3 bananas) very ripe bananas, mashed 
• ½ cup sour cream
• ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ cup pecans
• ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips 

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Butter a 9x5x3inch loaf pan; set aside.
3. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs and beat to incorporate
4. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt. Add to the butter ixture, and mix until just combined. 
5. Add bananas, sour cream, and vanilla; mix to combine.
6. Stir in nuts and chocolate chips; pour into prepared pan.
7. Bake until a cake tester inserted into the center of cake comes out clean (about 1 hour 10 minutes). Let rest in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a rack to cool.

NOTES:

ADAPTED FROM: Martha Stewart