Happy 4th of July! We did the fireworks thing last night and I have to admit it was a lovely show. Took along some of my favorite food....PIG CANDY!!!! No, I cannot take credit for this, it has to be given to Jill Conner Brown of Sweet Potato Queen fame. I have monkeyed around with the recipe a little, just to give it a sweet + hot twist. Pig Candy is the crack cocaine of bacon. Once you make it you can't stop.

Pig Candy a la Retro

1 package uncooked bacon cut into 1 inch square pieces
1 1/2 cups dark brown sugar
1 cup pecans finely chopped
2-3 drops Tabasco Sauce (Optional)

Preheat oven to 400 F
Cover a cookie sheet with sides with foil
you will also need a metal cooling rack to place the bacon on in the oven

Put brown sugar, pecans and tabasco in a plastic grocery bag
mix well with your hands
Add bacon, piece by piece to the bag
Toss bacon in the sugar mixture to completely coat it
Let it set at room temperature for 10 minutes then retoss in sugar mixture.
Lay each piece of bacon on the cooling rack, not touching.
If you have any of the sugar mixture left, sprinkle it over the bacon pieces.
Place in the oven and let cook for 7 minutes or until edges start to get brown---watch CAREFULLY-it will burn easily!
You will see the brown sugar start to carmelize.
Remove from the oven and cool slightly, take off the rack while still slightly warm.

These are great tossed in with a spinach salad or just on their own. Enjoy and Happy 4th of July!

Monday Morning....8:25 AM.....I am on hold with the Unemployment office, have been for approx. 45 minutes. By the time I get through to them I will be old enough to collect social security. OK, on to other stuff. Gregs dad is home, happily snoring away, the sprinklers are click, click clicking out water. Made an omlette first day he was home, 3 cheeses : asagio, cheddar and swiss with red peppers and last night I made Mexican. Refried beans made from scratch in the crock pot:

Cook a Boston Butt Pork Roast in the crock pot overnight with salt, pepper and sliced onions, cook on low add no water.
Remove meat for later use and reserve all fat
Add 1-1lb package dried rinsed pinto beans to the crockpot fat
add enough water to cover beans plus 3 inches
ADD:
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
3 crushed garlic cloves
1 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 cup diced onions

Cook for 2 hrs on HIGH
Add 1 cup more of water and switch to low overnight or for 7 hours
Mash beans with potato masher
Add Hot Sauce to taste (I like Yucatan Sunshine)
let beans remain uncovered on low, stirring occasionally until desired consistency is reached.
Turn crock pot off
Let cool slightly
Stir in 12 ounces sour cream, chopped cilantro if desired
Keep some out and freeze the rest for later.
Approx cost---reclaimed pork fat, 99 cents for pinto beans, $1.29 for sour cream. Makes a TON. Enjoy! ~~ Retro
PS...lovely vintage tea cups listed today in my Etsy store--check them out