Bringing home the bacon!!!

[jyoutz]

I'm going to try some Mexican vanilla beans too, I've heard they have a slightly smokey flavor... This will be a fun experiment

Hmm. I thought most vanilla came from Mexico? Maybe just in my location?

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

Maybe, I think most are Madagascar

 

[Sprinkler Fitter]

I've only been able to find 2 or 3 lb. Nothing larger. I'm looking to see if I can find another source nearby. I can probably get them in Muenster, north of me. It's a big German/Chech community with a lot of meat markets and butchers.

We make a lot of pork belly burnt ends in our food trailer, we get the pork bellies from Costco business and they’re usually between five and 6 pounds

 

[jyoutz]

Maybe, I think most are Madagascar

They sell a lot of Mexican vanilla in my area. And the bottles of Mexican vanilla extract are cheap also.

 

[gsganzer]

We make a lot of pork belly burnt ends in our food trailer, we get the pork bellies from Costco business and they’re usually between five and 6 pounds

I don't have a Costco, but do have a Sam's. I'll check Sam's next time.

 

[part-time-Farmer-NC]

There are a few countries that vanilla pods come from. Mexico, Madgascar, Tahiti are a few I have tried. They all claim to have the best.

I have made my own vanilla extract. Put a few pods in a quart of clear vodka. Takes a few months then.. Wella. Taste so much better than the store bought stuff.

Been thinking about making my own bacon. Pork and a deer bacon (bearded butchers). Have smoker, will experiment...

 

[HawkinsHollow]

Best bacon you'll ever eat...View attachment 2223145

There is NO DOUBT in my mind that this is true.

 

[gsganzer]

I’ve lately been cooking bacon in the oven. Put a sheet of parchment paper on a cookie sheet and the bacon on top. About 15-20 minutes at 375 degrees. And usually there’s not much clean up: the paper keeps the pan clean.

I also cook it on a roasting pan in the oven. Hotter temp though, 400 degrees

Cooking in a pan with the thin layer of water is something I want to try. Apparently, "America's Test Kitchen" tried it and they say it's the best. I've only seen that show a few times, but I've really liked all the episodes I saw. It gives you some good tips.

 

[dstig1]

I've heard baking it is more forgiving, but have not tried it. Pan frying requires constant attention after the first few minutes heating up but allows you to tune the crispiness any way you like, very closely. No smoker so never tried making my own. Maybe some day...

 

[gsganzer]

I just bought 2 more pork bellies at Sam's, 5lbs each.