Bacon Brittle

Cap'n Ron's Note:

Bacon, It's not just for breakfast anymore! This recipe for Bacon Brittle uses my Jamaican Jerk Butt Kickin' Blacken to give it a little kick. The bacon is as much a carry for the candy and flavors as it is for the taste. Butt Kickin' Blacken contains neither salt nor sugar and is available at http://www.capnrons.com/index.html?id=rz Most other blacken seasonings contain a lot of salt and sugar, you'll have to adjust this recipe accordingly.

• Total Time: 40 mins
• Prep Time: 10 mins
• Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients:

Serves: 4

Yield: 12.0 pieces

• 6 slices thin-sliced bacon , cut in half
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons water
• 2 teaspoons light corn syrup
• 2 teaspoons cajun seasoning , Butt Kickin' Blacken, Jamaican Jerk, to taste

Directions:

1. Cook the bacon over a medium heat until almost crisp. You can do this either in a fry pan, or the oven.
2. Place the sugar in a pot wide enough to hold the cooked bacon strips. Add the water. and corn syrup,, mix well, and be sure that no sugar or blacken are on the sides of the pot.
3. Cook over medium / high heat, being careful not to burn, until the mixture is a light golden brown. Now you can add the blacken. Hot enough for the hard ball stage.
4. You can test the mixture, by dropping a drop into cold water, then touching it to see if it's hard or soft. If it's soft, you've reached the "soft ball stage" and must cook it a little longer. When you drop a drop into cold water, and it becomes hard, you're ready for the next step.
5. Turn off the heat, and dip the bacon strips in the caramel one strip at a time. Place them on a parchment lined sheet pan, and let cool. You might have to leave the heat on real low, to keep the caramel warm. The cold bacon will cool it down pretty quick.
6. When the bacon brittle has cooled, you can chop it up, or serve as strips.
7. I always keep some pecans on hand, and I'll through a good handful into any leftover caramel for a Spicy Pecan Brittle.
8. For additional step by step pictures, please visit: http://www.capnrons.com/R_D_Bacon_Brittle.html?id=RZ .
9. Hint:.
10. I like using a Teflon pot for this recipe. The easiest way to clean your pot after making candy in it, is to fill have way with water, and boil. This will melt and dilute the sugar, making cleanup easy.