How To Store Bacon In Your Freezer

A while ago, I discovered an awesome book for all foodies and cooks alike, called The New Food Lover’s Tiptionary. Loaded with useful tips from cooking pasta, to storing bacon, to knowing what to look for when buying produce, this book is simply a must for anyone with a  passion for cooking.

When I stumbled across bacon, it listed a tip in there that I simply thought to be genius and just an obvious, DUH! Since I love bacon, and I’m never home enough to enjoy cooking up some for myself, this method of storing them will save me from throwing out precious pig product.

Here is what you need:

• Parchment paper
• Gallon-size storage bags
• (Obviously) Bacon
• Scissors
• A permanent marker

Begin by rolling out seven to eight inches of paper, then cut.

Next, decide what a “serving” is to you. I picked two slices. You may pick more, your choice.

Place bacon about an inch up from the bottom and start folding.

Once you get close to the end, fold in both left and right sides.

Place in bag and repeat with remaining bacon.

Label and date the bag. Your bacon will be good for 2 months frozen.

Finally, place in your freezer!

Like stated above, your preference of a serving is up to you. Plus, frozen bacon is easier to work with. If you are in a pinch and don’t have a 5 minutes to spare so they are pliable, nuke ‘em in the microwave for about ten seconds and you will be ready to go.

Hopefully you’ll be able to get the most mileage out of your bacon next time you purchase some. It’s such a shame to waste such a beautiful thing.

Taste Of Fall: Pumpkin Bisque with Smoked Gouda

It’s getting colder out there in Minnesota. Snow recently just fell and I just, hesitantly, broke out my trusty Columbia coat. I don’t know if there is a better feeling than knowing you will always feel warm outside, in snot-freezing temperatures.

I’m not too big on soups, but this past year I’ve been more inclined to make them at home. Cheap, easy and delicious, soups are a great way to keep yourself warm and your pockets full throughout the winter season. When I came across this recipe in Taste of Home, I knew that I had to give it a try. Pumpkin, bacon and Gouda cheese? Sounded to good to me!

We ended up using one of our leftover, not-rotted pumpkins we bought in October. We roasted it in the oven with a little butter, cinnamon, vanilla and brown sugar in the oven and once the flesh softened up, we scooped out the tasty bits and made our own puree.




Pumpkin Bisque with Smoked Gouda (adapted from a Taste of Home recipe):


Serves 9

• 4 bacon strips, chopped
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 6 cups chicken broth
• 1 can (29 oz.) pumpkin puree (we just bought a smaller can and added our tasty homemade puree)
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 1/4 tsp. nutmeg
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1 cup shredded smoked Gouda
• Additional shredded Gouda for garnish

1. In a Dutch oven (or large pot), crisp up the bacon on medium. Once cooked, transfer to paper towels to drain while reserving 1 tbsp. of drippings.
2. Cook the onion until translucent, then add the garlic. Sauté for one minute.
3. Stir in broth, pumpkin puree, salt, pepper and nutmeg. Stir to incorporate, then bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
4. Remove from heat and, in batches, puree the soup in a blender (or if you have an immersion blender that works too).
5. Return to the stove, add cream and heat thoroughly. Once heated, add the cheese and slowly allow it to melt together. Adjust seasonings to your liking and serve with more cheese and bacon, if you are inclined :).

This soup was amazing. I loved the fact that it was so easy to make and it tasted phenomenal. The cheese and bacon really add a nice richness that I love in soups. This soup encouraged me to try to make more soups at home. This will definitely be going into our recipe box as one our favorites. I may also add that having this with a grilled cheese sandwich was pretty damn awesome too.

Road To Wellness: Fluffy Freedom WEEK 10!

This RTW has been like a rollercoaster ride. There were weeks where I just wanted to just binge and go completely against what my goals were and what I wanted to become. I believe that this blog and this series has kept myself and my appetite in check, because I like to stick to things, carry them out to the fullest and in the end, succeed.

Exercise:

Exercise this week was great. I recently switched to a different creatine powder, C4. It keeps my mind sharp, focused and the energy is great. I just started using it this past week, and I can say that it does taste a lot better than last one I tried, ACG3. The taste reminds me a lot like fruit punch Kool-Aid, which is a plus because a lot of creatine powders (along with a lot of protein powders) out there taste God-awful.

Like I’ve said in past RTW’s, I’ve become accustomed to working out on a regular basis. This past week I had clocked in five days of hard, sweat-inducing workouts. I still absolutely love using my Wavemaster after a long, stressful day. There are days when I wonder if I will piss off the neighbors enough with the loud punches to the point where I get a noise complaint. HA!

Eating Habits:

Nothing too different about this week with the eating. I’d almost say I spoiled myself a little bit with a few not-so-great choices for lunch and snacks throughout the day. Try working in a kitchen and see if you can resist temptation! It’s hard to really, really not give in to your cravings, but with a strong mentality and self-control, you should be able to tame your taste and say, “No, I have goals I want to attain and this will not get me there”.

State-Of-Mind:

With my goal in mind, I pushed hard and I toughed it out each time I exercised. There were moments I wanted to give up, and moments where I seriously thought my heart was gonna explode. Overall, I couldn’t have asked for a better mindset this week. With Thanksgiving coming up, I want to prepare myself mentally and physically because it will be an all out FEAST when Turkey-Day comes around.

New Knowledge:

In the past, eating what you love and working out didn’t go hand-in-hand. Although, eating the things  you love in moderation and working out do actually work together well. I still can enjoy a burger every now and then without worrying about my waistline. I can go out to dinner with my friends, and have a few drinks from time to time and not think, “Shit, I gotta work this sandwich off!” I’ve come to understand what my body wants and when, and I understand when it’s time to keep it all under control as well. I’m learning more and more about what my body craves as each week passes.

Summary/Progress:

If it isn't apparent enough, this past week was a great one. I kept up the exercise, while still enjoying some good eats a long the way. I pushed myself hard and it had paid off. I am down to 169.5 with less than 7 pounds until I hit my goal. I have five weeks left until the end of the year. It will be extremely difficult because of the upcoming holiday feastings and my birthday (of course I’ll be eating terrible that day. I deserve it). I think that if I keep doing what I’m doing, and not stray too much, it won’t be as difficult as I am making it out to be.

For Real: Wendy’s “The W” Burger and Spicy Chipotle Jr.

A few weeks ago, I decided it would be fun to document and taste some of what the fast food world has to offer. Some will be decent. Some will be completely awful. But it will all be for awareness, so people know where to get semi-decent grub on the go.

Last time, I visited good old BK to give two of their burgers a try; the Deluxe and the Chef’s Choice. Both pretty much tasted like everything else they have to offer, just with different sauces and embellishments.

This time, I went to Wendy’s. I have rarely, in my life, really ever choose to go to there. It’s not something I think about, nor is it something I crave. It's not something that someone of my foodie-picky-ness would choose as spot to go hang out and enjoy great burgers.

Wendy’s recently added to their menu the “Dave’s Hot N Juicy” burgers. Although when I went to their website to gather more info, I was sidetracked and was sucked into trying their newest premium “W” burger. I also got the Spicy Chipotle Jr. Cheeseburger as well, which wasn’t on my “to-try” list.

Upon arrival there were maybe a few cars in line at the drive-thru and a few more waiting for their orders to be taken. Obviously, I went at their peak time to see how well they handled waiting customers and to see their quality. Although they were busy, they managed to get the food out within a reasonable 5 minutes. The cashier even had a nice little convo with me, asking if I was getting to watch the Vikes get slaughtered by the Packers.



The Spicy Chipotle Jr. was placed in their normal burger wrap while the “W” was placed in a what was an all white version of their wrappers and in a slider-like box, similar to the diarrhea-inducing White Castle.






The Spicy Chipotle Jr.  consisted of pepper jack cheese, pickled jalapenos, and their chipotle sauce. This is something that I like to see on fast-food menus. Just when you thought that you  had to go to a sit down to get these kinds of toppings, Wendy’s steps up the game and tries to lure you in. Now I’m not saying that this little guy blew me away, but it’s nice to see some flair once in a while. Kudos Wendy’s!



When I ordered this, the friendly cashier was unaware of what this burger was. So when my ticket was rung in, the cooks didn’t know how to assemble it. Although they were confused, the MOD (Manager on duty) went over and gave them a quick how-to on assembling my burger. I had to ask, “When did this burger start?” to which the cashier said, “Oh actually today”. I then giggled to myself, knowing that this burger was very new and probably unfamiliar. In the background I could here words like “thousand island sauce, two regular beef patties…” It was kinda funny to hear the commotion in the background thanks to me ordering their newest menu item.  Now I’m not going to lie, the thousand island sauce is very, very similar to the Big Mac's.




Although you can’t see the pickles and lettuce, they are there. The double cheese is a nice touch, which brings it a richness that I dig.  The Chef’s Choice does not come close to this burger.Nothing tasted too artificial, and the pickles added a nice tang. A decent well rounded fast-food burger. Nice work Wendy’s.

Wendy’s does fast-food burgers right. They taste a lot better than BK and McDonald’s and they price their products competitively. If I had to choose between the three, Wendy’s has my vote.

Sometimes, I’m Amazed.

Sometimes I’m amazed.

Sometimes, I’m amazed by my loving wife. By her actions, by her words, by her passion.

Sometimes, I’m amazed about where I am in my career. I can only thank hard work and a lot of motivation to do the best I can, every day.

Sometimes, I’m amazed by my friends and family. They keep me always smiling, laughing and loved. I couldn’t ask for or trade them for anything better.

Then, I’m amazed by some people.

Amazed, that the color of my skin automatically makes me a “threat”.

Amazed, that just because when I come around, you automatically think I’m gonna swipe your purse.

Amazed, that every day, people like you make me sick and I PRAY that God himself will show you how much people like you make this world  miserable for minorities like myself.

Amazed, that I have the maturity to not see color, to see people for who they are, and make my judgments AFTER I have known them.

Sometimes, I. Am. Amazed.

Road To Wellness: Fluffy Freedom Week 9!

Another week, another journal entry. Sometimes, when I think that these things are a waste of time, I have to realize it’s for my own benefit, my own documentation, of what it took and what it takes to transform oneself into a fit and healthy individual.

Let’s break the week down:

Exercise:
Like I stated on Wednesday, I bought and have been beating using the shit hell out of my Wavemaster.  I sometimes wonder if my neighbors next to me get sick of hearing the constant pounding and striking? Oh well! Supreme 90 Day keeps things interesting and keeps me motivated to do the next workout. It’s hard to believe that I actually really look forward to it. I’m becoming something that I thought I never would have thought I could, which is someone who truly enjoys exercising.

Eating Habits:
I’m not going to lie, this week was terrible in Eating Clean. I will admit, I don’t want to know the total number of how many calories I consumed this week. I went out to dinner with a few friends who I haven’t seen in a long time and my aunt who spoke at our wedding, also came up for dinner too. Ugh. I understand it’s not the right direction. Hell, it’s going in reverse at 100 mph. I know that just because I have a goal in mind, it shouldn’t mean I should starve myself, but I should really, really be careful  about what I pick and choose at my restaurants. I value my relationships with the people I really care about, so sometimes that will get in the way of  Eating Clean,  and I can accept that. Forgive me!

State-Of-Mind:
Once again, frustration and stress were key players in the explosive energy I had during my sessions with my Wavemaster. Workouts now seem to fly by because I can completely focus on each exercise without staring at the clock wishing for the workout to end or my heart to explode, which ever comes first. Just kidding. I’ve gotten so much better at getting focused and pushing myself through each circuit.

New Knowledge:
It’s hard to talk about these things sometimes. San, do you really want to lose that 10 pounds? Why do you keep eating like shit crap and complain about it each Sunday? Of course I want to lose those 10 pounds. Of course I eat like shit from time to time. And yes, of course I do complain about it from time to time. I think it’s the foodie inside of me and the skinnier fit me having that constant battle. Each week, it’s hard to know who will be the victor. I have learned that I have conflicting forces working inside of myself and it’s hard to make the foodie in me shut up when I want the fit me to take over and be in control. And you thought you had problems?

Summary/Progress:
I’ve come a long way and I’ve got a long weigh to go (ha ha). NINE MORE POUNDS. I wanna finish this year stronger and 10 pounds lighter. I’ve got some good/evil forces inside of me, pulling and tugging to see who will win the battle.  It will be hard, but I’d rather go out swinging and end the year with a bang.

Road To Wellness: Fluffy Freedom Week 8

I know I missed my usual post on Sunday. I actually was planning on putting it up but, as you already know, life gets in the way sometimes. Don’t worry, I am here now to tell you how my week was.

Heeeeere we go…!

Exercise:

This past Halloween actually, I purchased a Wave Master Punching Bag:

It’s a freestanding, adjustable training bag. you can fill the base with either water or sand to keep it from moving around on you. Luckily for me, I bought this off of Craig’s List and saved a ton of money (originally $150 and up, I got mine for $50!) and got a free pair of gloves that the seller was including. Great deal if you ask me.

Now why did I decide to buy one of these things? Is it because I am training to become a boxer or mma fighter? No. Simply because I know that boxing and MMA training blasts a lot of calories and I will admit, that I do have a lot of aggression sometimes. It’s a stress-buster and fat-burner all in one. I start off with some shadow boxing for a few minutes to warm-up my muscles. Then I do five 3-minute intervals that consists of speed (fast punching) , inside drills (uppercuts and hooks), outside drills (jabs and combos), alternating directions (if I am used to moving right, I move left and vice versa. Mixed with combos as well), and finally an entire jab round.

By the end of my rounds, I am breathing heavily and my muscles are sore. I can honestly say that my mood gets better afterwards as well. I like to channel a lot of the negatives in the day (if there are any) and just unleash on my poor old punching bag. It’s pretty badass.

I still did my Supreme 90 Day workouts as well, but adding this additional 30 minutes of workouts will pay off.

Eating Habits:

I was seriously surprised when I did my weigh-in this Sunday. After Sarah and I indulged at a buffet on our date night, I was sure I was going to balloon up. I stepped on the scale and it said that I lost a pound! Pretty damn awesome. I’m not implying that by completely shattering my daily caloric intake is a good thing to do to drop pounds, but maybe I just need a little more in my diet to maintain and maybe lose the weight?

State-Of-Mind:

A lot of my stress and a lot of my frustration was taken out on my punching bag the past week. It has since helped me breath easier in stressful moments, react more accordingly and it has helped me breath easier when things get hectic. 100% commitment and 100% mental focus will keep those pounds off of me.

New Knowledge:

Sure, stress can get the best of us, people can be completely and utterly idiotic, but you can’t let them get the best of you. It took me a while to realize that I do have a lot of pent up aggression even if nothing is truly bothering me. I guess it took a lot of self-reflecting to accept it. Gotta start somewhere right?

Summary/Progress:

An interesting but good week overall. Nothing to faltering, nothing too off the charts. Just an average week for this guy.  Since I’ve purchased the Wave Master, I am always pumped to use it and I can’t wait to see the results in the end of all of this with it’s help.

Just 9 pounds away from my goal. During every workout I’ve done, in my head I continuously repeat, “10 pounds, 10 pounds, 10 POUNDS”. The constant echo of those words will keep me grounded and focused until the end of the year.

For Real: BK’s Chef Choice and Topper Burgers

I am not sure what exactly caught my attention or made me even want to try eating these burgers, but I guess I am always looking for some laughs and a good story to tell about a fast food restaurant that’s giving their college try on making “Chef’s Choice” burgers. Those words next to “BK” are funny enough on their own. Seriously BK? It’s like McDonald’s making juicy Lucy’s at a fast-food pace! Must say that this was quite the experience for me when I went looking for these bad boys.

 

Now, I really wasn’t planning on going during there busiest time-hell, it was just a coincidence. I knew that the drive-thru window was going to be tied up so I decided to head inside to order at the counter. Upon entering, there wasn’t a cashier at the register. Simply put, they had their a$$es lit up thanks to the drive-thru (which is exactly why I didn’t go through it). I approached the counter and stood there and waited, patiently mind you, for someone to come take my order, knowing that they were short-staffed and were all in a hurry to put out their food to waiting customers.

It may have taken a few minutes for someone to finally come up and take my order, but the process of ordering was easy: one BK Chef’s Choice burger, and also, a BK Topper Deluxe (which is basically their version of a Big Mac, but watered down. Something I had not also planned on trying).  No fries and about nine dollars later, I began my wait.

Like I just mentioned, they were busy. Like, busy. The screen that was keeping track of their ticket times were a few shades of red, indicating that they were behind. I did this all on purpose. Why? To test to see how well they handle customers who are not as patient as I, and to see if their quality of their service and product would suffer from such circumstances.

The clock was winning this battle.  I waited patiently and kept my cool, knowing from past experience how it is to be understaffed and seriously in the weeds.  Slowing ticking to six on the nose, my order took approximately fifteen minutes. Which seems a bit unheard of in the fast-food industry. Without getting too flustered like the guy before me, which by the way, only ordered one frickin’ sandwich and complained because he was in such a hurry to leave. Anyway, my order finally came up and I noticed that my cashier had placed fries in the bag and handed me a glass. “Oh I didn’t order fries”, I said without too much excitement in my voice, knowing this was because I didn’t cause a scene. She said it was because I was waiting a while and I told her that it’s no big deal-that I’ve been in her place before, staring into eyes of a fed up , impatient SOB.
I grabbed my bag and off I went to give my burgers a taste test. I threw the cup away, but I wanted the fries damn it.



The Deluxe was packaged in the traditional BK garb: their wax paper with the stupid drawings and chalk markings. The Chef’s Choice came in a clam shell, which is something that I haven’t seen their burgers come in before (it’s been a while).

The Deluxe BK Topper

Let’s get real here. A lot of the fast-food we purchase, almost never looks like their ad counterpart. You’ve got your basics here. The lettuce, the bigger beef patty, American cheese, a thick slice of white onion, pickles and their 1000 island sauce. To be frank, this tasted like any other BK burger, minus the fact that there is more meat. Is it worth the $1.99? The sauce wasn’t on par with McDonald’s. I’d rather get the BK Stacker. Like stated before, it’s a watered down version of the Mac.

The Chef’s Choice

Here is what is stated on BK’s website about there Chef’s Choice burger: “A flame-broiled 5.5 oz burger patty, made with USDA certified ground chuck seasoned with salt and pepper, a thick slice American cheese, Naturally-smoked thick cut bacon, Fresh cut romaine lettuce, red onions and ripe tomatoes, our original grill sauce on an artisan bun . . .” These do taste a lot different then their usual flame-broiled taste. These legitimately taste like an actual burger, not beefed (no pun intended) up with soy and other BS. The lettuce sure looked fresh, but iceberg lettuce on burgers is not my cup of tea. Ripe tomatoes? No. Those I pushed off to the side. Everything else was kept on. The bacon looked crisp and the cheese was completely melted and even centered on the damn patty! It started to get weird after a few bites in. I had a hard time trying to figure out their “grill sauce”, but I know it seemed to taste too artificial for my taste buds.

Overall, were their burgers worth their price? Maybe. I’m sure the regular customers will/do love the pricing on these. When I first looked at the sign for the Chef’s Choice burger, it reminded me a lot of Smashburger’s signature. In the struggle between keeping customers happy with reasonable prices and putting out quality grub is no easy feat. I don’t think there will ever be that perfect balance at such a place as this.

I had a blast doing this. Not only because it allowed me to really write out everything I experienced, but it allowed me to take some snazzy pics of mediocre burgers. It’s all apart of the growing process for my blog.