Making Bacon The Easy Way

On Sunday mornings I make several batches of bacon, usually 2-3 pounds. By doing this I have bacon readily available when ever I need it. The bacon can be warmed in the microwave or the oven. You can put a few pieces in a plastic bag and with a rolling pin, roll back and forth on to the closed bag for bacon bits. This is great for salads, baked potatoes, etc.,.

Directions:
1. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. This aids in easy clean up.

2. Take the bacon out of the package.**I like to get All-Natural thick cut bacon from the butcher or from friends of ours that process their own pigs. This is done humanly and I know where my bacon is coming from. Try to find bacon that doesn't have Nitrates in it. Nitrates are not good for you.**

3. Run the bacon under cold water and then pat dry with a paper towel. Don't ask me how this works but it does, it prevents shrinking.

4. Lay the strips of bacon side by side on to the parchment paper until the baking sheet is full. If they over-lap a little bit that is fine.

5. Set your oven for 400-Degrees F and put the baking sheet in to the oven for about 15-minutes or so. Keep an eye on your bacon, depending on your altitude and your oven, it may cook faster or slower. You want your bacon to be golden brown.

6. Take the bacon out of the oven. On a plate, put some paper towels or a clean brown paper bag. Put the bacon on to the plate. Now, with another piece of paper towel or paper bag, blot the top of the bacon. Once you remove the grease from the top, flip the bacon over and repeat.

7. Let the bacon cool. Once the bacon is cooled you can put it in to a plastic zip-lock bag and put it in to your refrigerator. I save the bacon grease and put it in to a sterilize mason jar and then put it in to the fridge. The bacon grease is great for making gravies or adding in to home made biscuits, recipes, etc.,. Don't put the grease down your sink, it will clog your pipes. Put the grease in a empty tin can or plastic bag and then discard.