Looking for a few simple ways to make the menu for your Fourth of July feast even more fun, festive, and flavorful? We’ve got just the thing — Bacon Up® bacon grease. **Available now on Amazon (with free shipping!) and in select retail outlets in Texas.**
With a tub of Bacon Up on hand, you can get an extra boost of down-home flavor in all your favorites simply by using it to replace the butter, oil, shortening, lard or mayonnaise in almost any recipe. Bacon Up is authentic bacon grease that’s been triple-filtered for purity, providing you all the deliciousness of cooking with bacon grease, without the extra time, mess or money of having to fry the bacon first.
Below you’ll find several simple ways to incorporate Bacon Up bacon grease into some Independence Day stand-bys. We think you’ll love the extra flavor it brings to the party!
First – Snacks!
Set the stage for a day bursting with flavor by using Bacon Up bacon grease instead of mayonnaise in these traditional starters:
• Bacon-enriched Deviled Eggs
• Bacony Pimento Cheese Spread
BACON-ENRICHED DEVILED EGGS – photo credit to the deviled-egg-queen(!), our friend @keto_sheena
6 eggs – hard boiled
2 Tbsp warmed Bacon Up® bacon grease
1 tsp honey mustard
1 tsp sea salt
½ tsp garlic pepper
¼ tsp smoked paprika
Optional – Bacon bits or crumbled bacon
• Peel eggs and slice them lengthwise
• Remove yolks to a mixing bowl
• Warm Bacon Up bacon grease on stovetop or microwave
• Add to the yolks along with honey mustard and mix thoroughly
• Add the seasoning (salt, garlic pepper, and smoked paprika) and mix again
• Spoon mixture into egg whites
• Garnish, if desired, with a sprinkle of smoked paprika and bacon bits or crumbled bacon
• NOTE – if you prefer a spicier taste, substitute a teaspoon of your favorite hot sauce for the mustard
BACONY PIMENTO CHEESE SPREAD – inspired by Chicago chef Bob Zrenner
4-ounces cream cheese (bring to room temperature first, if using a block)
¼ cup Bacon Up® bacon grease
¼ tsp garlic pepper
¼ tsp onion powder
¼ tsp salt
dash of Worcestershire sauce (or Tabasco if you prefer more heat)
4-ounce jar of pimentos or roasted red peppers (if using the latter, you’ll need to cut them into smaller pieces before adding)
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup shredded gouda
(Note that many people prefer shredding their own cheese, since packaged shredded cheese includes a non-stick coating)
• Mix together garlic powder, onion powder, and salt. Stir in Worcestershire or Tabasco sauce.
• Add cream cheese and Bacon Up bacon grease to seasoning mixture and blend until smooth.
• Fold in pimentos and cheese until well blended.
• Cover and chill for an hour or more to allow the flavors to develop.
Full-flavored Sides:
Whether you’re hosting or taking something along to a pot-luck, everyone will LOVE the extra layer of flavor Bacon Up provides in these go-to side dishes:
• Bacon-infused Fried Cabbage
• Bacon-enhanced Peruvian Beans – or (even easier!) Baked Beans with a Twist
BACON-INFUSED FRIED CABBAGE– many thanks to our friend Greg H. in Central Ohio for this winner!
¼ cup Bacon Up® bacon grease
Bag of shredded cabbage
3 Tbsp diced garlic
3 cups of frozen bacon pieces
1 cup minced onions
Salt & Pepper
• Start with a generous dollop of Bacon Up bacon grease in your skillet and melt on medium-high.
• Add the bag of shredded cabbage, garlic, frozen bacon pieces, and minced onions and mix together.
• Add salt & pepper to taste.
• Cook until tender.
BACON-ENHANCED PERUVIAN BEANS – inspired by Bacon Up Instagram friend, @bigteebackyardbbq!
2 cups Peruvian Beans – also sometimes called Piruano beans, Canary, Mayocoba, or Mexican Yellow Beans (haricots jaune); brands to try include Goya and Rancho Gordo
12 cups Water – divided
2 Tbsp Bacon Up® bacon grease
Small Onion, Diced
1 tsp salt
• Clean the beans and soak them in 6 cups of water for 4-8 hours –or try the quick-soak method: boil them for one minute, then let them soak for 1 hour.
• Drain the soaking water and add 6 more cups of fresh water.
• Add the onion and Bacon Up bacon grease, then cover and simmer for 1-2 hours over medium-low heat until the beans are tender.
• Add the salt when they are about 15 minutes from finished. (Optional: If you like a little more heat, add your favorite hot sauce to taste. Fresh cilantro also makes a flavorful garnish, if you wish to add.)
BAKED BEANS WITH A TWIST
If you’re looking for a super easy way to add a special twist to something everybody loves, simply add a tablespoon of Bacon Up bacon grease to the pot when you’re heating up a large can of your favorite prepared baked beans. It will add more down-home flavor in no time flat!
Finally, Sweets!
Finish off your delicious day with the extra richness and flavor that bacon grease can bring to your baked goods. Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream to these two ideas from our Bacon Up family of fans, and you’ll be right in line with the day’s theme of red, white, and blue:
• Strawberry-Bacon Popovers
• Low-carb Blueberry Cobbler
STRAWBERRY-BACON ROLLS – created by Mizzou grad and travel & food vlogger, @nicksdynasty!
1 Tbsp Bacon Up® bacon grease
2 Tbsp Strawberry preserves
1 package Pillsbury Crescent Rolls
• Spoon the Bacon Up bacon grease and preserves into a small casserole (preferably rectangular) that can go from microwave to freezer (Pyrex, etc.).
• Microwave for 15-30 seconds until the two ingredients melt, then stir to mix.
• After thoroughly blended, place the dish in the freezer for several hours.
• After the mixture is solid, use a sharp knife to cut 12 strawberry/bacon squares (4 rows x 3 columns).
• Preheat the oven, as indicated on the crescent rolls.
• Open the crescent rolls and, one at a time, unroll a triangular piece of dough, place a strawberry/bacon square near the wide end of the dough, and fold the corners in to cover the strawberry mixture. Make sure the dough completely covers the filling and pinch the edges to seal.
• Place on a baking sheet and bake as directed.
• Transfer baked pop-overs to a serving plate and sprinkle with powdered sugar.
LOW-CARB BLUEBERRY COBBLER – hat tip to our Instagram friend, @keto_sheena!
2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries
1/4 cup water
1 Tbsp lemon juice
2 Tbsp classic monk fruit sweetener (such as Lakanto Sweetener)
10 drops stevia (Such as Sweet Leaf)
1/8 tsp xanthan gum
1/4 cup softened butter chopped into pieces
1/3 cup coconut flour
1/3 cup classic monk fruit sweetener (such as Lakanto Sweetener)
1 Tbsp ground cinnamon
1-2 Tbsp Bacon Up® bacon grease
• In sauce pan, add blueberries, water, lemon juice & sweetener. Bring to a light boil and add xanthan gum. Stir occasionally as it thickens. Then remove from heat.
• For crumble topping, mix coconut flour, monk fruit & cinnamon. Combine well, then add butter. Mix with fingers until well incorporated & crumbly.
• Grease a cast iron skillet with Bacon Up bacon grease and then pour in the blueberry sauce. (You’ll notice the enhanced flavor versus using butter!)
• Top with cinnamon crumb topping. Bake on grill heated to 350° for about 30 minutes or until it bubbles & topping browns. (The oven works too, but it seems more fun on the grill!)
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