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.