Windy City Pig Candy Popcorn Mix Recipes

PIG CANDY

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350˚ F. Place 2 cups light brown sugar in a pie dish. Gently press 12 to 14 slices of applewood-smoked bacon (not thick-cut) into the sugar until mostly coated. Line a baking sheet with a wire rack and spray with cooking spray. Arrange the bacon on the rack. Bake, rotating the pan halfway through baking, until the bacon is super crisp and golden, 30 to 50 minutes, depending on the thickness. Let cool on the rack.

PIG CANDY BLT

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Place the brown sugar in a pie dish. Gently press each slice of bacon into the sugar until coated (there can be small patches of uncoated bacon). Line a baking sheet with a wire rack and spray with cooking spray. Arrange the bacon on the rack. Bake, rotating the pan halfway through baking, until the bacon is super crisp and golden, 30 to 50 minutes (depending on the thickness of the bacon). Remove the rack from the pan and let the bacon cool on the rack.
• Meanwhile, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Place the vegetable oil and onions in the pan and gently cook, stirring only occasionally to let the sugars develop, until the onions are a deep golden brown, about 30 minutes. If necessary, deglaze the pan with red wine a couple of times. Season with the vinegar, salt and pepper and set aside.
• Combine the mayonnaise, barbecue rub and hot sauce in a small bowl to make an aioli.
• Build the sandwiches: Season the tomato slices with salt; cut the bacon slices in half. On each toasted bun, place a layer of caramelized onions, followed by about 6 half slices of bacon, a tomato slice, a romaine leaf and a nice schmear of the aioli on the bun top only. Close and serve with extra aioli on the side.

CARAMEL AND CHEDDAR POPCORN MIX

Steps:

• For the Cheddar popcorn: Melt the butter in a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Remove from the heat and fold in the popcorn to coat. Sprinkle in the cheese powder and mustard powder. Fold together to evenly coat. Transfer to a large serving bowl.
• For the caramel popcorn: Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with foil and generously spray with nonstick spray.
• Wipe the large pot clean of any excess popcorn residue. Add the brown sugar, corn syrup and butter to the same pot and bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, about 3 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium and continue to let it boil, without stirring, until it turns a deep golden brown, 4 to 5 minutes.
• Remove from the heat and stir in the salt, vanilla and baking soda. Gently fold in the popcorn until well coated (spraying a rubber spatula works well, here!). Transfer the popcorn to the prepared baking sheet and bake until the caramel has melted around the popcorn and nicely coats the kernels all over, about 10 minutes. Let cool completely on the baking sheet, about 10 minutes. Break into pieces and add to the serving bowl.