BROWN-SUGAR BACON BITES

I discovered this recipe in the November 2016 issue of Sunset magazine on Thanksgiving Eve. Made the bacon bites the next morning to take to a Thanksgiving meal where they were a hit, served as an appetizer. They are a cinch to make, so this is a good recipe for beginning cooks. Just make sure to line those baking sheets with foil and be sure that you use rimmed baking sheets.

Brown-Sugar Bacon Bites

Serves 4

20 thick slices of smoked bacon, about 30 ounces,
cut into 2-inch pieces

1/4 cup dark brown sugar

2​ teaspoons freshly ground black pepper

1 teaspoon freshly ground fennel seed

1. 
   
   1​.  Line two rimmed baking sheets with foil. This step is essential to avoid great difficulty cleaning pans.
   
   
2. 2​.  Set wire rack in each pan. Then arrange 2-inch bacon pieces on racks in single layer.
   
   
3. 3​.  Mix together brown sugar, black pepper, and ground fennel.
   
4. 4​.  Sprinkle brown-sugar mixture over bacon.
   
   
5. 5​.  Bake in 400°F. oven until bacon is crisp, about 30 minutes, rotating pans after 15 minutes.
   
   
6. 6​.  Let bacon cool to room temperature so that sugar will harden.
   
   
7. 7​.  Arrange pieces in airy heap in several small bowls. Serve as appetizer. 
   

WENDY'S BRAN MUFFINS

The worst aspect of this recipe may be that it is scaled to make only eight muffins. However, the recipe can be doubled easily, and I recommend that you do double it if you are baking for more than one. Another option is to use the recipe as-is to make about 26 bite-sized muffins; those take about 10 minutes to bake.

I make a single batch for just myself. Typically, I eat three muffins the first day and finish the batch over the next couple of days. I eat the muffins warm or at room temperature. I eat them without butter or jam. However, I have eaten them with a slice of Cheddar cheese.

This is a good recipe for kids to try and, if they like the results, to add to their personal cookbook of recipes kept in a binder.

Wendy’s  Bran  Muffins

Makes 8

1 cup wheat bran

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 cup whole-wheat flour

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/3 cup chopped walnuts, if desired

1 egg

3/4 cup buttermilk at room temperature

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. In a medium-sized bowl, stir together bran, all-purpose flour, whole-wheat flour, brown sugar, baking soda, and salt. 

2. If desired, add walnuts and then stir.

3. In a small bowl, beat egg.

4. Add buttermilk, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract to beaten egg; beat well.

5. Make well in dry ingredients and pour combined wet ingredients into well.

6. Stir gently only enough to moisten dry ingredients.

7. Divide batter evenly among eight greased or paper-lined regular-sized muffin tins.

8. Bake in 375°F. oven for 12 to 14 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

NOTE: To go fancy, add a half walnut to the top of each uncooked muffin.

Unbaked mini-muffins

Baked full-sized "fancy" muffin

Baked mini-muffins