Tag: Bacon

Berner Wuerstl

On my mission in Vienna, my companion and I discovered what we called “Heart Attack Wursts”, aka Berner Wuerstl. These bacon-wrapped, cheese-filled hot dogs were SO delicious, but we didn’t dare eat very many or we might actually die of a heart attack. Haha. They were sold in packages in the store in Vienna, but we don’t really have them readily available in stores near us; so I decided to make a substitute version for Oktoberfest. It’s really easy–the hardest part is wrapping the bacon around the hot dog so it doesn’t unravel. I try to tuck in the ends, and if I slightly stretch the bacon from side to side (not pulling on the ends but the sides), that it holds onto the hot dog easier.

You can either use nice cheese-filled hot dogs and wrap them in bacon, or stuff your own hot dogs with cheese.

And this one is naturally gluten free.

Make it a meal with:

Berner Wuerstl

  • Servings: varies
  • Difficulty: medium
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A delicious, bacon-wrapped “heart attack wurst”.

Ingredients

  • 1 pkg. good quality Hot Dogs
  • 1 brick White Cheese (like Muenster), thinly sliced to fit inside a hot dog
  • OR 1 pkg. Cheddar Hot Dogs
  • 1 pkg. uncooked Bacon

Directions

For the easiest version, buy cheddar hot dogs and simply wrap them with bacon. OR Slice hot dogs down middle, place cheese in middle, then wrap in bacon, making sure to tuck the ends so the bacon doesn’t unravel. Broil or grill on medium heat for 5 minutes on each side, turning halfway.


Sparkling Potatoes

Sparkling potatoes in a Dutch oven are a camping classic, and I have many memories of having them during our camping excursions growing up. Or at Scouting events. We basically never go camping anymore, but it’s still fun to make these potatoes at home in the oven. Whether you’re having a “camping at home” night with s’mores or a Dutch oven night, they’re lots of fun. They do tend to be a bit greasy with all the cheese and bacon, so you may want to serve this with a less greasy main course or a nice fresh salad.

We’ve also made sparkling potatoes with leftover New Year’s ham instead of bacon. It’s pretty good and very similar to the regular kind, but bacon does make it better.

And of course this one is naturally gluten free.

Make it a meal with:

Sparkling Potatoes

  • Servings: 8?
  • Difficulty: easy
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It takes a bit of time and it’s fairly greasy, but it’s delicious.

Ingredients

  • 8 Potatoes, sliced (peeled or not, depending on your preference)
  • 1-2 Onion(s), chopped
  • 1 lb. Bacon
  • 1 tsp. Salt
  • Pepper to taste
  • 1 (+) can Sprite
  • Shredded Cheddar Cheese

Directions

Fry bacon and onions in bottom of pot. (If you want it less greasy, you can remove some bacon grease.) In same pot, add potatoes, salt, and pepper. Pour in Sprite. Sprinkle on a thick layer of cheese. Bake at 375° for about 1 hour or until potatoes are tender and cheese starts to brown.

(To save time, lately I’ve been cooking everything in a big ovenproof skillet beforehand to get the potatoes mostly done before putting it in the oven. Then I just pour in the Sprite and top with cheese, and basically cook until the cheese is melted and starting to brown a little.)

For cooking with charcoal: Dutchovendude.com says for a 12″ Dutch oven to be at 375°, place 20 coals on the lid and 6 under the oven. Don’t forget to rotate the oven every 10  minutes or so 1/4 turn.


Green Beans & Bacon

We have this every year at Thanksgiving. The house is already full of delicious smells of turkey and hot rolls, then you add the beauty of bacon, and it’s glorious.

There are two ways you can make these beans. The first way is to do everything in the microwave–just put everything in a microwave-safe container with a lid and microwave for 20 minutes. The bacon does turn out floppy this way. We always used to use fresh green beans and then use the microwave method, either frying the bacon beforehand and then microwaving with beans or just putting the bacon in uncooked.

But lately we’ve been doing the stovetop method with frozen green beans. If you’re running low on time or want crispy bacon, you can cook the bacon in a pan on the stove until crispy, then add everything else and heat through. Either way is delicious. It can tend to be greasy, though.

And good news, this one is naturally gluten free.

Make it a meal with:

Green Beans & Bacon

  • Servings: 8?
  • Difficulty: easy
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Haha, a deliciously unhealthy take on a healthy vegetable.

Ingredients

  • 6 c. fresh Green Beans (about) or 2 pkgs. frozen Green Beans
  • ¼ c. Water
  • 1 pkg. Bacon
  • 1 Onion, chopped
  • Salt and Pepper to taste

Directions

For microwave method, wash and trim full-length fresh green beans and place in microwave dish with lid, pouring water in bottom. Cut bacon with scissors and fry on the stove, then pour bacon and onion over beans in microwave-safe dish (or cut up uncooked bacon and place on top of beans with onions); but don’t mix because of water in bottom. Microwave about 20 minutes or until done.

For stovetop method, cut up bacon and fry on the stovetop, drain a little grease, then add onion and green beans to pan (omit water), and cook until it reaches the desired tenderness. You may want to put on a lid and let it steam for a few minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.