National Bacon Day: 16 ways to celebrate, including bacon martinis

1/13

A candied bacon swizzle stick? Genius! This delicious concoction was created by Test Kitchen Director Noelle Carter, and we can’t think of a better way to kick off a look at some of the test kitchen’s favorite bacon recipes. So, mix up one of these and read on:
Recipe: Candied bacon martini
(Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

2/13

Make this recipe the day before, and then tuck into the oven before anyone else is up.
Recipe: Apple bacon coffeecake
(Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

3/13

A tart sherry vinaigrette balances the richness of the bacon.
Recipe: Panzanella
(Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

4/13

This is one of the most requested recipes from the Los Angeles Times Test Kitchen. Try it, and you’ll know why.
Recipe: The bacon potato salad at Cole’s in downtown L.A.
(Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

5/13

This edgy salad highlights nose-to-tail eating by featuring strips of crunchy pig ears and bacon.
Recipe: Celery salad with pig ear, bacon and walnuts
(Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

6/13

This French toast is great for breakfast, lunch, brunch, dinner...
Recipe: Stuffed French toast with bacon, dandelion greens and Gruyère
(Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times)

7/13

Football season is here. This is a great make-ahead chili for game day.
Recipe: Bowl of red chili
(Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

8/13

A perfect way to kick off the meal.
Recipe: Romaine salad with blue cheese, bacon and radishes
(Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

9/13

Who doesn’t love a homemade pot pie? A few strips of bacon lend this savory dish a depth of flavor.
Recipe: Classic chicken, leek and fennel pot pie
(Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times)

10/13

Think you don’t like Brussels sprouts? Try this and then report back to us.
Recipe: Brussels sprouts braised with bacon and chestnuts
(Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times)

11/13

Our favorite way to use up Thanksgiving leftovers.
Recipe: Carved turkey sandwich with kabocha spread, applewood smoked bacon and ancho-bell-pepper-cranberry chutney
(Christina House / For The Times)

12/13

Roast tomatoes beneath a layer of meaty bacon to make a confit. The result is great for slathering onto a grilled cheese sandwich, or serving with some garlicky crostini. Or, you can...
Recipe: Roasted tomato confit with bacon fat
(Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

13/13

A reader asked the test kitchen for a creamed spinach recipe the way it’s served at Morton’s, Lawry’s and other steak houses. “Don’t go low-cal on me,” he implored. The result:
Recipe: Creamed spinach
(Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times)

By Rene Lynch

Aug. 31, 2013 7 AM PT

Bacon martinis -- above -- seem like a good way to celebrate one of the most hallowed “holidays” on the food calendar: National Bacon Day.

Moment of silence, please.

In trying to trace the roots of National Bacon Day, or, as some refer to it, International Bacon Day, we soon found ourselves reading the Republic of Bacon blog. The blog says this holiday was started in 2000 by three bacon-loving students in Massachusetts. Sounds like a perfectly good reason to start a holiday, in our book. And we’re a teensy bit jealous we didn’t think of it ourselves.

PHOTOS: 16 recipes to celebrate National Bacon Day

To celebrate National Bacon Day, we’ve collected some of our favorite bacon-infused recipes from the L.A. Times Test Kitchen, including favorites such as maple-bacon biscuits, bacon potato salad, and, of course, bacon martinis.

That is indeed a candied bacon swizzle stick, a sweet-and-salty stroke of creativity courtesy of L.A. Times Test Kitchen director and bacon lover Noelle Carter.

As you go through the gallery you will find recipe hyperlinks in the captions.

How are you planning on celebrating? Just remember: If you plan to celebrate National Bacon Day by driving around in a Ford Fiesta outfitted with strips of bacon, please either wait until you are safely parked for the night or get a designated driver before you start to hit the bacon martinis, OK?

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