Recently, the Grilling.com editor, Clint, challenged us folks in the highly compensated* Grilling.com writing department to come up with some outrageous or best bacon recipes for the upcoming International Bacon Day. I was standing at the dry erase board in our kitchen brainstorming ideas when Alexis said something brilliant.
"What about a Bacon Payday?"
Her idea was to take candied bacon (aka "pig candy") and combine it with her version of a PayDay candy bar. Game on!
The Bacon Payday
Ingredients
- 16 oz jar of dry roasted peanuts
- 2 Tbsp butter
- 1/2 of a 10 oz bag of peanut butter chips
- 1/2 can condensed milk
- 1/2 16 oz bag miniature marshmallows
- 1 package bacon
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp bbq rub*
- 2 Tbsp agave nectar*
Instructions
- Preheat a charcoal grill set up for indirect heat to 375f.
- Mix the brown sugar and bbq rub together. Toss with the bacon to coat. Drizzle with the agave nectar and toss again.
- Cook the bacon on the grill until brown and crisped, about 18-25 minutes. Remove and cool. Finely dice enough bacon to make 1/2 cup. That will only take 2-3 slices and I told you to cook a WHOLE package?!?! Yeah, you now have a lot of extra candied bacon. I did that on purpose because your family will want to eat it all right on the spot. You can thank me later ;)
- Place the can of condensed milk in hot water for 5 minutes.
- Preheat a medium sauce pan over medium heat and melt the butter and peanut butter chips together.
- Stir in the condensed milk, reduce heat and then stir in the marshmallows. It will start out like a hot mess but keep stirring and it will blend. Remove from heat.
- Grease the bottom of an 8" by 8" baking pan*. Pour one half of the peanuts on the bottom of the pan and then top with half of the diced bacon bits (1/4 cup).
- Pour in the gooey nougat mixture and spread evenly.
- Top with the remaining bacon bits (1/4 cup) and peanuts, pressing down with a spatula.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours.
- Use a metal spatula to free the edges from the pan and invert. Slice into 1" x 4" bars with a sharp knife and enjoy.
Notes
*Source - The Payday portion adapted from a widely repeated clone recipe on the Internet but we can't find the original source. So many places have a version of this recipe but none that we found can establish themselves as being the original source.
*Highly Compensated - just kidding....we're paid in bacon.
*BBQ Rub - I used Mike Davis' UnBULLevable rub but you could use your favorite.
*Agave nectar - I used a vanilla flavored agave nectar. You could substitute honey.
*Pan size - This size makes an extra thick, nougaty (just made that an adjective) candy bar. You can use the same recipe in a 9" x 13" pan for a thinner and more like the original candy bar.
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Benton's bacon is widely recognized as one of the best in the nation and it is produced locally. |
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A grill pan helps keep the mess down. |
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I was out front grilling the bacon when a neighbor asked what I was making. When I said "Candy bars" you can imagine the befuddled look that I received. I didn't bother to explain :) |
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RELEASE THE NOUGAT !! |
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More bacon. |
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Ready for slicing. |
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They are so filling that I can only eat one at a time. |
With my first bite, I knew we had nailed it. I had thought about adding more bacon when first making it but the 1/2 cup was perfect because the sweet, smoky bacon flavor really shines without being overbearing. The bacon adds to this candy bar instead of just being thrown in for bacon's sake.
Check out Grilling.com for grilling recipes and inspiration.
National Pork Board Giveaway
This is actually two giveaways in one and is sponsored by the National Pork Board. It is a follow up to the series I did regarding sustainable pork farming. Teresa and the gang at the National Pork Board gave me two wooden cutting boards and two grilling tool sets to give away. The tool set carry bag doubles as an apron, how cool is that?
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FREE STUFF !! |
I am awarding the first board and tool set to the first person who gives the correct answer to the question: At what time do narwhals bacon? (Yes, that is bacon as a verb.)
The second set is going to the winner selected as follows:
- Leave a comment that includes whether or not you knew that hormones are not permitted for use in American pig farming.
- Contest period runs from the time this is posted until Sunday, August 26, 2012 11:59pm.
- If you use an anonymous option for commenting, be sure to leave a way for me to contact you (email, forum name, etc).
- You have one week to respond to prize announcements. After that I will pick another winner.
- Winner will be selected by random draw.
- National Pork Board is sponsoring prize. I am running the giveaway and set the rules, so I have final say on any contest matters.
- I'm paying for shipping so prize winners must be in the continental US unless you want to pony up for the extra shipping charges.
Winners Announcement: The first to reply with the correct answer was Syscokid and the random comment winner was Sleepy Headed Mom. I have sent you two emails. Congrats!
midnight
ReplyDeleteThe Narwhal Bacons at Midnight
ReplyDeleteI did not know pork was hormone free until you told me.
ReplyDeleteSyscokid wins by 2 minutes and gets the first set.
ReplyDeleteBut Larry, since you phrased it appropriately, I'll hook you up with something too!
Too bad they're not banned in all farming.
ReplyDeleteOh, for bacon's sake...love that one! I'd also love to see the look on your neighbor's face when you told him/her that you were making candy bars on the grill. Hysterical!
ReplyDeleteThose bacon paydays look damn good. Alexis had a great idea with that one.
I didn't know that American pigs were raised without hormones. That's refreshing to know!
Narwhals "bacon" in the spring, usually in mid April. And I did not know about the hormone-free pig farming - very good!!!
ReplyDeleteThe Narwhal Bacons at Midnight and hormones are not permitted
ReplyDeleteChris, I think I am in love. This bacon candy bar gave me chills. YUM!
ReplyDeleteBTW, I did not know that hormones were not permitted in pig farming in America. Very cool to know. To be honest, that piece of information wasn't going to keep me away from my beloved pork. But it is nice to know. : )
You know I want those grill tools and the piggie cutting board is awesome!
I knew hormones weren't permitted in pig farming in America because I read your pig farming posts. (Jealous Mod) And I love bacon and Paydays.
ReplyDeleteYou know you want to hook me up dude… ;)
i didnt know hormones were not in pork, i just figured they did, its great to know they dont!! thanks for that info and oh yeah that bacon patday looks AWESOME!!!! jj.april@hotmail.com
ReplyDeleteI didn't know about the hormones until you mentioned it last week. That candy bar looks incredible!!!
ReplyDeleteI forgot to comment on the dish - are there no bounds to your creativity? Benton's bacon makes everything better. No need to give me anything, but thanks for the offer.
ReplyDeleteOh Alexis...that woman is so smart! I knew you married her for a reason. :P
ReplyDeleteI think that Bacon Payday? Looks absolutely WONderful! Great idea. And I even despise marshmallows.
ReplyDeleteAlexis is a genius! Must be hard to live with her sometimes with all the gloating she must do :) The bars sound absolutely decadent!
ReplyDeleteAs for the hormones, I did not know that they were raised without them... makes me feel better about eating pork, though, that is for sure!
At Midnight! And I did know that hormones were a no-go. We eat lots of pork (smoked on our big green egg, given the choice!). Husband would LOVE one of these sets!
ReplyDeleteI knew that hormones were not allowed in American Pig Farming. That does not mean it does not happen.
ReplyDeleteKudos to Alexis! Bacon Paydays sound great! If I knew when narwhals bacon I'd know what a narwhal is. Sounds vaguely familiar, like something I call the mister...As to your other question, I suppose I could never be a pig farmer as I take hormones, would be homicidal without them...Actually, I have no ideas if pigs take hormones, but I'd say yes as they seem very mild-mannered!
ReplyDeleteoh my gosh, this is such a good idea! i'm a huge fan of payday bars and adding a bit of smoky bacon goodness can only make them better.
ReplyDeleteI love you and Alexis for this. I really do. And no I didn't know that hormones weren't permitted in the U.S. Definitely thought there was some hormone-injection going on there. I would love to win those cute pig cutting boards!
ReplyDeleteIt seems that not a lot of people knew about there not being any hormones in pork, myself included. Its good to know. Big Al Skid - timbermanas@hotmail.com
ReplyDeleteI was also surprised that pigs are hormone free in the USA. Thanks for the information.
ReplyDeleteI did not know but that's great that hormones cannot be used!
ReplyDeleteI did not know that that pork is raised without hormones. I was thrilled to learn that I can purchase hormone free pork at my local grocery store!
ReplyDeleteKim in MD
I did not know about the hormones.
ReplyDeleteI'd LOVE to win this prize! It would make a great Christmas gift!
ps. That recipe looks amazing!
Football season is around the corner = Bacon Paydays! Yum!
ReplyDeleteI did not know that about the hormones.
Thanks for the giveaway!
Susan
rainman17@cox.net
Excuse me... I am drooling! You have no idea how much I want this right now!!!
ReplyDeleteI didn't know that pork is raised hormone-free - I am so glad it is!
I actually did know that pigs were hormone free. Although I only learned this recently.
ReplyDeleteNarwhals - been very curious about that issue. Now I know .... Not sure how long I will retain this important fact :-)
ReplyDeleteHormones - nope, never new, never asked, never questioned. Need to get out of my cave more often.
Bacon Payday!!! Oh yea!! Love this idea
I did not know that hormones are not permitted for use in pig farming. I'm glad to hear that though.
ReplyDeleteSleepyheadedmom at gmail dot com
Never knew about the hormone thing! Or lack thereof.
ReplyDeleteDigicats {at} Sbcglobal {dot} Net
Narwhals! No clue. No clue at all. But that's OK, but this is all about that candy bar you just made. How delicious! Sharing that with everybody!
ReplyDeleteI just heard about the pork industry at a Rotary Meeting the other day, you confirmed it all. Those candy bars look like a must try, and a fun husband/wife project to boot.
ReplyDeleteOh yum! Did you make me a batch too?
ReplyDeleteO.M.G! Paydays used to be one of my faves. Adding bacon is nothing short of genius!
ReplyDeleteThat's some naughty nougaty goodness right there! Nice work, Chris!
ReplyDelete