How to Make Bacon Extra Crispy

Undercooked, soggy bacon is indisputably brunch’s most serious offense. In fact, if your bacon isn’t served with perfectly crisp edges and a balanced grease to meat ratio, what is the point of making it in the first place?

We’ve seen many a failed bacon in our day, which is why we are here, on behalf of all the slaughtered pigs who died in vain, to teach you our favorite (and perhaps the most popular, thanks to restaurants) bacon cooking method: the oven.

No, this doesn’t just mean lining a cookie sheet with raw strips and reciting a Hail Mary. To kick things up a notch and ensure crunchy perfection, you’re going to need some aluminum foil and a wire rack.

To start, place the wire rack over an a aluminum-lined cookie sheet. There should be space between the rack and foil to allow for bacon drippings to fall through the rack’s holes. By having the pork elevated, it prevents the meat from releasing its oils and cooking within itself. Cooking in a puddle will keep things soft and mushy in an oven.

Once your strips are aligned, simply pop your bacon into the oven for 20 minutes at 400 degrees. The cooking time will vary depending on the thickness of the meat, so be sure to adjust accordingly.

And that’s it! Crispy bacon every time. Guaranteed.

Other reasons why the oven is a bacon cooking superstar:

• You can make a lot of bacon at one time. It’s what the chefs do.
• You will prevent pesky oil burns and cough-inducing smoke from frying it on a skillet.
• You’ll have bacon fat to reserve and use for cooking other breakfast items like potatoes.
• You can simply throw away the sheet of aluminum foil for mess-free baking.

Give it a shot and less us know how you fare. Aside from a delicious, salty side, we like to crumble our extra crispy bacon into a salad or use it to top an omelette. Texture is everything with food and nothing rivals the crunch of hot, greasy bacon.

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U.S.-Grown Soybean Oil Achieves FDA's Qualified Heart Health Claim

The Food and Drug Administration authorized the use of a qualified health claim confirming soybean oil's ability to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.

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11 Snacks That Do a Great Job of Cutting Sugar

A lot of people believe “eating healthy” means eating weird foods you can’t pronounce and replacing your favorite ingredients with kale or tofu. You may be scared to cut out sugar because you’re afraid that means cutting out your favorite snacks. However, that doesn’t have to be the case! Believe it or not, there are healthy alternatives to your favorite guilty-pleasure snacks that won’t make you feel guilty at all. With these recipes, you can make your favorite snack foods with fruit-derived sugar sources, all-natural sweeteners, or no sugars at all. Rejoice! Now you can eat healthy and actually enjoy yourself.

Oven Baked Zucchini Chips

The Fit Housewife

I am constantly craving salt, so chips would be my hardest goodbye if I was cutting out junk food. Luckily, this delicious recipe allows you to have your chips and eat them too! Super easy to make, sugar free, and delicious, these zucchini chips are perfect for a snack any time of the day. Season them to your liking with cayenne or garlic powder for an extra kick. Get the recipe.

Healthy Blueberry Muffins

Joyfully Mad

Who doesn’t love a good muffin? They’re perfect for an on-the-go breakfast or for a late-night snack. While muffins tend to be sugary and sweet, these blueberry muffins are naturally sweetened by dates, so you have nothing to feel guilty about when you eat two or three in one sitting. Get the recipe.

Pear and Applesauce

A Savory Feast

When you think of applesauce, it’s hard not to think of baby food (or pork chops). But applesauce can actually be a really great and light snack! If you want to mix it up a little, you can try this recipe for a pear and apple sauce that’s quick and easy. Applesauce isn’t just a perfect snack; it also works as a sugar substitute for muffins or pancakes, so you can keep on keeping healthy! Get the recipe.

Cantaloupe Peach Smoothie

Natalie’s Food and Health

Smoothies are so underrated. They can be so filling…and so healthy. This recipe for a cantaloupe peach smoothie makes for the best snack on this list. There’s zero added sugar and the chia seeds and cashews in the smoothie pack lots of protein. Did I mention the amazing tropical flavor? Get the recipe.

5 Minute Paleo Banana Bread

Paleo Gluten Free Eats

Banana bread is always delicious. It smells and tastes amazing, and it’s one of my favorite comfort foods. This recipe is a great snack if you’re trying out the Paleo diet, or if you’re trying to cut out gluten. At one gram, this recipe actually has the highest amount of added sugar on this list. But, remember when I said applesauce could be used as a sugar substitute? Replace the stevia liquid with applesauce to make this bread even more fibrous. Get the recipe.

Peanut Butter Cookies

Walking On Sunshine

I bet you never expected to see cookies on a list of snacks! However, this recipe for a sugar-free and flour-free peanut butter cookie gives you complete creative control. While it calls for Splenda or your “favorite sugar substitute,” I recommend something more natural, like dates. Get the recipe.

2 Ingredient Pancakes

Gimme Delicious

Start your day the no-sugar way with these two-ingredient pancakes! Seriously, all you need are bananas and eggs. No added sugar. What I love about this recipe is that it gives you dozens of optional extras (like cinnamon, nuts, or cocoa powder) to customize your flapjacks. There’s nothing like a protein-packed banana nut pancake in the morning. Get the recipe.

No Bake Paleo Protein Bars

The Big Man’s World

Now you can make your own protein bars for when you need that extra boost to get you through the day. These are easy to make, nutty, and delicious. You can pick which nut butter you want to enjoy, and the recipe even suggests ingredients you can add to your own taste. Get the recipe.

Flourless Pumpkin Gingerbread Blondies

The Big Man’s World

I’m so glad to live in a world where you can make blondies without added sugar. These blondies are healthy and super sweet. The pumpkin and banana flavors combine perfectly for a fall-themed treat you can enjoy without feeling bad for yourself (sign me up). While the recipe calls for gingerbread spice, you can stick to using cinnamon as a way to jazz up these blondies; less sugar, and cinnamon and pumpkin is a killer combo. Get the recipe.

Sea Salt and Garlic Kale Chips

The Busy Baker

Did you really think you were going to get through an article about healthy eating without seeing any kale? Relax, I found a great recipe for garlic and sea salt kale chips. Who doesn’t love garlic? And who doesn’t love a salty chip? You won’t even notice the kale. The real trick to healthy eating is to use delicious ingredients like garlic to distract yourself. Get the recipe.

Pumpkin English Muffins

The Big Man’s World

English muffins always make me feel fancy. Now, thanks to this recipe, I can feel healthy and high-society. These pumpkin English muffins are sweet, filling, delicious, and they take less than three minutes to make. Not to mention, all of these beautiful and tasty ingredients combine for less than one gram of sugar. Get the recipe.

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You Can Now Make Cheesecake Factory Cheesecake at Home

It’s no surprise that a restaurant called Cheesecake Factory has become the authority of all things cheesecake (though we’re not sure Olive Garden is playing its part by becoming an expert on all things olives. Perhaps it should change its name to Breadstick House.) So if we’re going to attempt to make a cheesecake within the comforts of our own home, we’re going to want to consult the best of the best. Lucky for us, Cheesecake Factory has just rolled out a line of boxed baking mixes, which means you can not only bring home the chain’s familiar flavors, but also master them with easy, step-by-step instructions.

In addition to a classic, strawberry, and salted caramel cheesecake varieties, the “At Home” collection has also debuted cookie and cupcakes kits for the unskilled baker. And after much stalking on Cheesecake Factory’s website, it looks like DIY truffle boxes are on the way in mint crunch, milk chocolate, dark chocolate, cappuccino chocolate, and sea sea salted chocolate coated caramel flavors.

All of the above are currently available at Walmart, though the new items have also been found in major grocery store chains like Kroger and Publix. For those who enjoy shopping from the comfort of their couch, Amazon also carries the products at a hefty price tag of $11.25. While the sticker shock may be too off-putting for some consumers, let’s put things into perspective. An entire original Cheesecake Factory cheesecake sells on Harry & David for a whopping $50. That. Is. Insanity. We’re not entirely sure if they incorporate unicorn tears or diamond sprinkles into their recipe, but we can come up with a long list of other things that are worth more than a $50 cheesecake (Like five Cheesecake Factory box kits to make five cheesecakes in your own kitchen. Don’t you like the way we think?).

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Old El Paso Stand 'N Stuff Soft Flour Tortillas

The brand's Stand 'N Stuff Soft Flour Tortillas have also been issued a design patent and have a pending utility patent application.

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Roasted Carrots With Black Sesame Dressing

Black sesame paste has a deep, earthy flavor with an edge of bitterness. With the help of little more than lemons and olive oil, it's transformed into a dressing for tender roasted carrots, which makes for a visually striking dish with contrasting flavors. Get Recipe!

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15 Ridiculously Good Chorizo Recipes

In the realm of food subscriptions that don’t exist but should, a chorizo of the month club would definitely be one worth signing up for. And not just because it would mean a regular supply of meat shipped straight to your door. It would also be a fantastic way to taste one food in all of its worldly iterations: the colonial influence of Spain and Portugal brought the sausage far and wide. In Brazil, chouriço lends a smoky, fatty flavor to the stew feijoada, while in the Philippines, longganisa (a related variety) are served with rice and eggs for breakfast. And back on the Iberian peninsula, you could easily make a hobby out of cataloging differences of size, texture, seasoning, and shape in the links from each and every town.

Chorizo isn’t exactly one type of sausage, but a genre of sausages that share diasporic origins. If you had to think of broadly defining characteristics, chorizos are heavily seasoned—paprika is the major flavor in Spain, although other chiles might be used elsewhere. And pork is their default meat, although it’s not the only one. Argentina, for example, is known for its mixed beef and pork sausages.

But even with a world of chorizos out there to explore, there are just two that have made significant headway stateside. The first, what is usually referred to as Spanish-style chorizo, is a hard, cured sausage that can be sliced and eaten as is. It comes in both hot and sweet varieties (based on the heat level of the paprika that’s used). The other, Mexican-style chorizo, refers to a soft, fresh ground meat sausage, the type that you can slice open, crumble, and cook. Hot chiles and other spices give them a flavor that’s distinct from their Iberian counterparts.

Although you wouldn’t want to swap out one for the other in recipes, Spanish and Mexican chorizos ultimately have the same goal in mind: tons of porky, delightfully greasy flavor blasted with spice. Whether you’re in the mood for a tapas-style bite, something to eat with tortillas, or a dish that completely criss-crosses the map, these recipes prove that chorizo is not simply a sausage, but a state of mind.

1. Smoky Clams with Chorizo

I follow the seafood diet. I see food, and then I eat. Such is the case with this clam-heavy broth dish that spoils us with smoky chorizo and uber-chic saffron.

2. Chorizo and Potato Breakfast Tacos

Chowhound

Tacos in the morning? Don’t mind if I do. These tortillas are stuffed with a combination of scrambled eggs, potato, cheese, and chorizo that’s worth getting out of bed for. Get our Chorizo and Potato Breakfast Tacos recipe.

2. Chorizo Breakfast Burritos

Chowhound

Or maybe you prefer your breakfast scramble fully loaded and wrapped. This recipe packs all of its elements into one handful of a burrito. Get our Chorizo Breakfast Burritos recipe.

3. Mollete con Chorizo y Salsa Tricolor

Chowhound

It wouldn’t be an overstatement to say that this is the holy grail of breakfast sandwiches: with beans, cheese, eggs, chorizo and a whole other heap of glorious toppings piled onto a torta, it could literally overpower most other first meals of the day. Get our Mollete con Chorizo y Salsa Tricolor recipe.

4. Chipotle-Chorizo Jalapeño Poppers

Chowhound

Up for a triple threat? How about fiery hot jalapeños, chorizo, and chipotles in a bite-sized package. Make sure to keep a beer or glass of milk by your side. Get our Chipotle-Chorizo Jalapeño Poppers recipe.

5. Mushroom and Chorizo Quesadillas

Chowhound

Meat, cheese, mushrooms, and tortillas: quesadillas like these aren’t here to get fancy; they’re here to satisfy your innermost junk food desires. Get our Mushroom and Chorizo Quesadillas recipe.

6. Mushroom and Chorizo Pizza

Chowhound

Next to this pie, even an Italian sausage pizza with an extra shake of pepper flakes looks meek and mild. This combo of mushrooms, chorizo, and cheese is all things flavorful and spicy. Get our Mushroom and Chorizo Pizza recipe.

7. Linguine with Clams and Chorizo

Chowhound

Surf and turf can be so much more than just lobster and steak. Clams and chorizo show that the duo can branch out (and be a bit more budget friendly) too. Get our Linguine with Clams and Chorizo recipe.

8. Orecchiette with Chorizo and Swiss Chard

Chowhound

Pasta is an excellent template for a one plate meal. You can layer on the veggies, meat, and cheese, as this recipe does, to create contrasts of texture and flavor. Get our Orecchiette with Chorizo and Swiss Chard recipe.

9. Chorizo Scotch Eggs

Chowhound

This is the sort of pub food you’d want to see at the Scottish-themed cerveceria of your dreams: a hard boiled egg covered in chorizo and dredged in tortilla chip crumbs (never mind that Scotch eggs aren’t actually a Scottish invention). Pair it with a side of chipotle-spiced haggis and a margarita made with an extra-peaty whisky. Get our Chorizo Scotch Eggs recipe.

10. Pork and Chorizo Chile Burger

Chowhound

Think you can handle all all this chorizo? Here it gets packed into one hefty and juicy patty, served alongside Anaheim peppers for a bit of subtle sweetness and the creamy smack of grilled avocado. Get our Pork and Chorizo Chile Burger recipe.

11. Tex-Mex Macaroni and Cheese

Chowhound

If nachos were reborn as a cheesy pasta casserole, this is what it would look like. Fully loaded with chorizo and dripping with cheddar and jack cheeses, you almost feel compelled to eat it with your hands, too. Get our Tex-Mex Macaroni and Cheese recipe.

12. Chorizo and Olive Flatbread

Chowhound

Loaded with paprika, Spanish-style chorizo can be especially headstrong. It needs equally robust ingredients to go along with it. In this appetizer, funky oil-cured olives and harissa paste prove to be a match. Get our Chorizo and Olive Flatbread recipe.

13. Grilled Paella

Chowhound

In this quintessentially Spanish dish, chorizo adds a smoky hint, which is intensified even further through cooking on the grill. Get our Grilled Paella recipe.

14. Chicken-Chorizo Empanadas

Chowhound

Green olives and Spanish chorizo are intense and intriguing as the filling in these flaky empanadas, which also feature a homemade crust. Get our Chicken-Chorizo Empanadas recipe.

15. The Turducken of Cheese Balls

Chowhound

Of course chorizo would have a hand in this over-the-top ball of cheese. Tucked in between a layer of cream cheese and a layer of manchego, it’s living out every sausage’s dream: to be completely smothered by dairy on all sides. Get our The Turducken of Cheese Balls recipe.

Header image: Chorizo Quesadillas from Chowhound

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Kicktail Energy Mixersa

The lineup is available in six flavors: Cranberry, Lemon-Line, Cola, Tonic Water, Club Soda and Ginger Beer.

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Campbell Partners with Foodworks Brooklyn

The partnership includes a Real Food Innovation Challenge and a mentorship program between Campbell experts and Foodworks members.

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Kinky Cocktails Sunshine, Summer

The summer seasonal features a fusion of coconut, lime and pineapple and will be available through August.

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How to Weed Through the Clutter of New Product Introductions

It is more challenging than ever to identify winning new product concepts: Product proliferation, shifts in channels and distribution, and market and category fragmentation make for a very complex environment.

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