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Dairy-free, Export, Gluten-free, Grain-free, Nut-Free, Paleo

Balsamic Bacon Fig Jam

I attended a grand, Southern wedding this fall with a buffet selection to make a bacon lover weak in the knees. There were four rooms of buffet tables and every single dish involved bacon. Candied bacon, peppered bacon, bacon wrapped potatoes, bacon mac & cheese, bacon shrimp and grits, and even the vegetable dishes were cooked in bacon grease. I think I even heard some guests squeal. All that food posed a predicament though. So much deliciousness and not enough stomach space.

My husband and I must have eaten a pound of bacon each that night. I don’t recommend this. We felt less than optimal the next day and we didn’t have one sip of alcohol. How do you say no to bacon though?! It’s nearly impossible.

I believe in real bacon. None of that sorry imitation turkey stuff. Thick, juicy pork fat. Bacon from happy hogs is preferable too, pastured pigs raised humanely in a natural environment.

The bacon feast inspired me to take the fatty meat to a new level. Balsamic Bacon Fig Jam was born.

Makes 2, 12 ounce jars.

4 pieces thick bacon
4 cups of onions – chopped
1 tsp salt
7 fresh figs – chopped
1 tbsp maple syrup
½ tsp black pepper
dash of cayenne pepper
½ tsp fresh rosemary or 1 large sprig
¼ cup water
1 ½ tbsp balsamic vinegar

►Heat a dutch oven over medium high heat and cook bacon until crispy, about 10 minutes. Move bacon to a cooling rack and let the grease drip off into a bowl. Pour ¾ of the bacon grease from pan and leave the rest. Reserve the extra grease for other cooking.
►Sauté the onions in bacon grease over medium heat. Sprinkle in the salt, cooking until onions are translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in figs, maple syrup, black pepper, cayenne and rosemary.
►Once bacon has cooled, chop into small pieces. Add to the pot with water and stir together. Cook for 10-15 minutes until a thick, jam consistency forms.
►Remove from heat and stir in the balsamic vinegar.
►Keep refrigerated in a glass mason jar. Serve as an appetizer with fresh chopped veggies or as an accompaniment to pork, chicken or eggs.

*Recipe loosely based on Chef John’s Bacon Jam.

Dairy-free, Dessert, Gluten-free, Grain-free, Holiday Favorites, Nut-Free, Paleo

Pumpkin Pie – Grain-free & Dairy Free

Last week on the Splendid Table, the editor of Bon Appétit, Adam Rapoport, boldly stated, “No one likes pumpkin pie.” Excuse me? I want to know who this guy is hanging around with. I know plenty of people who don’t consider Thanksgiving complete without a slice of pumpkin pie. It’s even my husband’s favorite dessert.

Pumpkin Pie is also the only dessert that can count as a complete meal, containing protein, fat, carbs and little sugar. It’s typically the healthiest dessert option on the Thanksgiving buffet.

The history of pumpkin pie dates back to 1796 colonial America, where the first recipe was recorded in a cookbook by Amelia Simmons. Two recipes are included, one for a pudding and one with a crust. The ingredients have not changed much in over 200 years. It calls for pumpkin, cream, eggs, sugar, mace, nutmeg and ginger and then backed for 45 minutes. Some recipes stand the test of time.

The day after Thanksgiving marks the end of pumpkin recipes for me. Until next year.

Makes 8 servings

Crust

½ cup tapioca fl
½ cup coconut flour – sifted
¼ tsp baking soda
¼ tsp salt
4 tbsp butter – melted
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs – whisked
¼ cup maple syrup
¼ cup crushed pecans

Filling:

1 13.5 oz can pumpkin
1 13.5 oz can coconut milk
2 tbsp maple syrup
2 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
⅛ tsp salt
2 eggs

►Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
►Butter a springform pan and line the bottom with parchment. Butter the parchment too.
►To make the crust, mix together both flours, baking soda and salt. Then add in the melted butter, vanilla, eggs, syrup and pecans. Mix well. You can omit the pecans if you like to make it nut-free.
►Spread the crust evenly into the bottom of the pan. Use the palms of your hands to press it down and smooth it out.
►Bake for 12 minutes and then allow to cool 10 minutes before pouring in the filling.

►Bring oven to 425 degrees F.
►For the filling, whisk together all ingredients. Pour into prepared crust.
►Bake for 15 minutes at 425 degrees, then reduce to 350 degrees and continue baking for 35-45 minutes.
►Check for doneness by inserting a knife into the center and it will come out clean. Allow to cool for 30 minutes before serving. Keep all leftovers refrigerated.
►Top will coconut whipped cream or cranberry sauce for a festive addition.

Reference:

Halloween and Pumpkins in Colonial America, http://www.history.org/Foundation/journal/Autumn09/pumpkins.cfm

Breakfast, Dairy-free, Dessert, Gluten-free, Grain-free, Holiday Favorites, Nut-Free, Paleo, Vegetarian

Pumpkin Creme Brûlée

As pumpkin season comes to a close, I’m squeezing in all those recipes I ambitiously jotted down just as the leaves began to change. The leaves have found their way to the pavement and I’m soon calling it quits on fall flavors. Christmas decorations began creeping in weeks ago so Thanksgiving is the absolute cut-off.

At my Granny’s house, there is a tradition of dessert assortment that puts any extravagant cruise ship buffet to shame. Two tables covered in desserts. It’s not Thanksgiving without 14 pies – fruit, chess and creme topped with meringue, 3 cheese cakes, pralines and bread pudding with two sweet sauces. No wonder I had an eating disorder. It’s impossible to say no to all that sugar. Sugar is my worst best friend. If it’s in front of me, it taunts me, calling my name, causing a battle between my best intentions and desires. And sometimes you just have to eat the sugar. I find when I allow myself to give into the temptations I’m much happier and my body relaxes.

So every year I indulge in the sugar. And I wanted to create a dessert that falls into my dietary guidelines. This creme brûlée is actually healthy, filled with eggs, coconut milk and pumpkin. You have a good mix of protein, carbs and fat. If you can bear to omit the maple syrup, this would be a great breakfast too. But that would be sinful on Thanksgiving.

Remember to save room for sugar.

Makes 4 servings.

4 egg yolks
½ cup pumpkin – canned or fresh
½ cup full fat canned coconut milk
¼ cup maple syrup
½ tsp vanilla
¾ tsp pumpkin pie spice
½ tsp orange zest
⅛ tsp salt
1 tbsp maple sugar – I use Coombs Family Farms brand

►Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
►Beat egg yolks in a large mixing bowl. Add remaining ingredients and whisk together well.
►Pour into 4 ramekins, evenly distributing.
►Place ramekins in a baking dish deep enough to meet the lip of the ramekins. Fill the dish halfway with warm water.
►Bake for 25 minutes, until just set in the middle but still jiggling a bit.
►Cool to room temperature, then refrigerate for at least 3 hours.
►Before serving, remove from fridge and let sit for 10 minutes. Then sprinkle maple sugar on top of each. Caramelize with a kitchen torch or under a broiler. Serve and dig in! I ate mine in .5 seconds.

This would be fabulous as a pie filling too!