Chocolate Coated Candied Spicy Bacon

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup firmly-packed brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons prepared mustard
• 1 tablespoon Cayenne Pepper
• 1 tablespoon Black Pepper
• 1 pound apple smoked pork bacon
• 1 lb chocolate or chocolate candy coating
• Flaked sea salt, chopped nuts, or other toppings of your choice

Preparation:

In a large frying pan over medium-high heat, slowly cook bacon until bacon is lightly browned on edges but still flexible, turning over once, approximately 5 minutes total per batch. Drain the fat each time. (Remember bacon crisps as it cools, so do not overcook.) Remove cooked bacon from the frying pan and place onto paper towels to soak up excess fat.

After draining fat from the frying pan, reduce heat to low.  Grab a bowl and add all the cooked bacon with the brown sugar, pepper and mustard mixture, tossing with a fork to coat the pieces evenly.  Return the bacon to the frying pan. (NOTE: Sugar melts very slowly and burns easily; reduce heat further if necessary, after the sugar begins to caramelize.)

Remove from heat and transfer onto a wire rack to cool. Keep the pieces separate or they will stick together.

Melt the chocolate in a double boiler or in the microwave. If you are using chocolate candy coating, simply melting it is fine. If you are using real chocolate, temper the chocolate, so that it remains shiny and hard at room temperature.

Holding a strip of bacon at the top, carefully dip most of it into the melted chocolate. I prefer to keep about an inch of bacon uncovered, so that is easier to eat (and easier for other people to identify what they are eating!) but you can always use a fork to dip the bacon completely in the chocolate if you want it entirely covered up. If you have trouble dipping the bacon; use a spoon to pour the melted chocolate over the bacon until both sides are covered to your liking.

Lay the chocolate-dipped bacon on a tray or plate covered with waxed paper. While the chocolate is still wet, sprinkle the top with flaked sea salt, chopped toasted nuts, or any other toppings you’d like. Repeat until all of the bacon is covered with chocolate.

Refrigerate the tray to set the chocolate, for about 15 minutes. Once set, let the bacon come to room temperature, and it’s ready to eat! Store Candied Spicy Bacon dipped in Chocolate in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.