Everything Tastes Better With Bacon

This was the first time Joe masterminded the entire meal. He said, "Let's make an entire meal with bacon!" So we did. He practiced on me with so many different recipes I was almost sick of bacon by the time our dinner party rolled around...almost. I didn't know bacon came in so many flavors and cuts.

We decided to let the Wades and Shetlers choose what wine varietal they thought would pair with bacon. It was interesting to say the least.

Starter:
Smoky Gouda with Bacon, Prosciutto and Crackers. 
We also made this simple little delicacy of maple-bacon wrapped smokies (chicken and apple smokies to be exact). Just dump on a layer of brown sugar and bake them until the brown sugar is a caramelized gooey mess.

Salad:
Warm spinach salad of course. I sauteed the mushrooms and onions first, then tossed in the plain crunchy bacon, and topped it with some slivers of strawberries.

Main Course:
Twice baked potatoes with plain bacon.
Filet Mignon medallions wrapped with pepper crusted bacon and then topped with Cambozola  cheese. Sorry for the photo without cheese, but we all attacked our food so fast I could only get a photo of Joe's plate, and he doesn't think steak and cheese should mix :)

Dessert: (You're curious about this aren't you)
I purchased a dark chocolate cake from the bakery (I don't know how to bake) and separated the two layers with a thin metal spatula. Once lifted, Joe lay paper-thin crispy bacon, and then put it back together again.

The wines were two Zins and a Syrah. The Shetlars won with a 2012 Mettler Old Vine Zinfandel. The Wades brought a 2011 Michael David Lust, also a Zinfandel. We presented a 2010 Syrah from Dobra Zemla.