Bacon Wrapped Asparagus

Umm... one word: YUM!  This is the kind of recipe that makes it feel like both a healthy day and a major splurge day at the same time. That's probably because there is bacon involved!

It's a super easy recipe that anyone that knows how to work a grill (or I suppose a grill pan) can make.

Ingredients:

Bacon (one piece for every 8 asparagus spears)
Asparagus
Olive Oil (1-2 Tbsp)
Pepper (Up to you!)

Chop your asparagus so it's only about 4 or 5 inches in length. Toss in 1 Tbsp olive oil and however much freshly ground black pepper you want.

Cut your bacon in half and wrap around 5 asparagus pieces.

Grill. (takes about 10 minutes / make sure the bacon is crisp)

Yup, that's it!

Shrimp and Cheesy Grits [and Feta Bacon Salad]

A few years ago, while on my honeymoon with my husband, we had the most delicious shrimp and grits at a little restaurant on the ocean.  This is not a copycat, just a similar southern favorite. Get ready to wear the stretchy pants after dinner because I promise that there will be lots of fat in this dish - delicious, delicious fatty foods. (Consume in moderation)

Ingredients:

1 Cups uncooked Grits
3 Cups Water
Salt/Pepper/Butter to taste
2 Cups Shredded Cheddar (optional)


16oz. Bacon
1/2 Vidalia Onion
1 Green Pepper
1 lb. Peeled/Deveined Shrimp


Start by chopping up a half of your vidalia onion and one green pepper. Set aside (believe me, if you don't do this now you'll end up calling for help from your husband because you didn't budget your time right... oh wait, that was me.)

Fry up a pound of bacon - I like it crispy, but cook it however you like it.

Start your grits while the bacon is frying.  Whatever brand grits you have should have instructions on it... but in case it doesn't: Boil 3C Water, Add 1C grits after it starts to boil. Cook stirring constantly for 10-15 minutes.  Add desired butter/salt/pepper (you can go all Paula Dean on these grits like we did, or just add a tiny bit of butter - your choice) ** When your grits are done, stir in 2 Cups cheddar cheese if you want cheesy grits **

Keep watching that bacon!

Once the bacon is cooked, chop it up!

In the bacon grease, cook the onion and pepper.

Once the onions/peppers are getting soft, add in your shrimp - cooking about 3-4 minutes a side for larger shrimp.

You're ready to serve: Cheese grits on bottom, a little chopped bacon next, peppers/onions, shrimp on top!

Keep reading if you would like to know how to make MY FAVORITE SALAD EVER!

Feta Bacon Salad

1 8-oz package Feta Cheese (I LOVE FETA... and would err on the side of lots)
Bacon, crumbled (However much or little you want, but do yourself a favor and use real bacon, bacon bits do NOT count)
1 package Spinach

Dressing:
1/2 Cup Olive Oil
1/4 Cup Apple Cider Vinegar
3 Tablespoons White Sugar

Mix salad ingredients and dressing ingredients separately.  You may or may not need all of the dressing.

Just mix it and enjoy! Seriously delicious!

Derek's rating: 9/10! Yay, and yum!

Cheesy Bacon Stuffed Mushrooms

These are delicious and are totally worth the nasty mess that comes about whenever one makes bacon. YUM! 

Cheesy Bacon Stuffed Mushroms

2 Packages Whole Mushrooms (I think in total there were 30)

1 Package Cream Cheese

1/2 Lb Bacon, Cooked and Crumbled

3 or 4 Green onions, thinly sliced

Start cooking your bacon however you like it - I like mine nice and crispy! However, DON'T throw away your bacon grease just yet!

Pull out the stems from the mushrooms and place the mushrooms (cap on bottom) on a baking sheet.

Take those mushroom stems and chop them very finely. Saute them in the bacon grease! 

Mix together the cream cheese, green onions, bacon, and sauteed caps (drain the grease first).

Fill your mushrooms with this mixture.

Bake at 350 for 18 minutes.

Enjoy, and you're welcome.