Beer Candied Bacon!!!!!!

This will make you new friends all over the place!

Take a package of regular cut unflavored bacon.  (the glaze will burn greatly on thick cut to get it done)

Place the bacon on a rack on a backing sheet and cook at 400 degrees for 10 minutes. (I covered the sheet with foil for clean up purposes)

Meanwhile, mix 1 cup of dark beer with 1 cup of brown sugar and mix until dissolved. 

After the 10 minutes in the oven, pull the bacon and brush both sides with the bacon and sugar mixture then put back into the oven for 10 more minutes.  Repeat the process until the bacon is to the desired crispness. 

You'll.  Be. A. Hero.

You don't need to put it on anything or with anything.  Just serve straight up.

The ANTI pasta (get it? You will when you see the recipe)

This is something that is outside of the norm for me, but I'm glad I tried it!  To make it, I had to buy one of those things that turn veggies into spirals.  So, without further adieu:

Butternut Squash pasta with sausage, kale, mushrooms,and pomegranate. 

First, I cut off the bulb bottom of the squash it would fit in the spiral thing.  (don't worry, I roasted the bottom and will use it for soup or something later)  Put it on a baking sheet, toss with olive oil, salt and pepper,

Meanwhile, brown some mild sausage in a pan.  Once that's cooked, remove, then drain the excess grease but don't clean.  Now you're going to add kale to that pan along with salt, pepper, olive oil, and crushed red pepper flakes. Sautee until the kale is softened.  I also used half of a package of a mushroom medly from Trader Joes freezer section.  I put those in the last 8-10 minutes.

Put the squash noodles into the oven at 400 degrees for a total of about 8 minutes, tossing once.

Then plate your noodles, top with the sausage, the kale and mushroom mixture, then parmesan cheese and pomegranate.  BOOM!!!

This is a great pasta replacement!