Bacon Lovers Steak and Salad

So it's safe to say that Team Matos is a team full of bacon lovers. The All-Star and I frequently sound like the dog in the Beggin Strips Commercial "Bacon! Bacon! Bacon!!!" So naturally when I saw these recipes they jumped up and said I MUST try them. Then when meal planning I realized that I absolutely must make them both together as it would be the YUMMIEST meal on record. I'll let you try it yourself and see what you think!

Italian Bacon Spinach Salad

from http://www.kraftfoods.com/

The Line Up

8 slices cooked bacon - crumbled

1/4 c Italian dressing

6 c torn spinach

1 small tomato, seeded, chopped

1/4 c Mozzarella & Parmesan shredded cheese (omit for dairy free)

The Game Plan

Place bacon and dressing in small microwavable bowl. Microwave on high 30 seconds or until warm.

Toss dressing with spinach and tomato in large bowl

Sprinkle with cheese

Coach's Post Game Conference

The crispier the bacon, the better it works. I apparently got some cheap bacon this weekend at the store and I couldn't get it crispy. The bacon flavor wasn't quite right either (yes, I checked and it was regular bacon, not turkey bacon or worse yet... meatless bacon). But the salad was still good. This was the second time we've had it. I added an avocado for kicks and giggles tonight.

Final Score

Coach - Home run

Catcher - Home run

The All-Star - Home run

T-Bone Steaks with Bacon-Mushroom Sauce

http://www.kraftrecipes.com/

The Line Up

5 slices cooked bacon, crumbled

2 TBSP reserved bacon drippings

1 (8 oz) pkg fresh mushrooms, sliced

1/4 c steak sauce

1/4 c dry sherry or water

1 tsp packed brown sugar

2 beef loin t-bone steaks 1" thick

The Game Plan

Cook and stir mushrooms in reserved bacon drippings for 5 minutes or until tender. Stir in steak sauce, sherry/water, brown sugar and cooked bacon; heat to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer for 5 minutes. Keep sauce warm. Grill or broil steaks for 7-9 minutes on each side or until desired doneness.

Serve with warm mushroom sauce

Coach's Post Game Conference

A while back I bought a bottle (big bottle) of cheap red wine and stored it by pouring it into ice cube trays. Since, anytime a recipe calls for any wine type drink (other than WHITE wine)... I just pull out a couple cubes (1 ice cube = 1 TBSP so 4 = 1/4 cup!) and throw them in.

Again - same issue with the bacon, but as we've had the meal before, we knew it was yummy

I actually made 3 T-bones as The All-Star wanted his own entire steak

Final Score
Coach - Home Run
Catcher - Out of the park home run (5+ stars)
The All-Star - Home Run

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