Bacon. Nature's gift to man. Is there anything it can't do? From a snuggle on a chilly fall morning to helping me with girl problems, bacon has always been there for me. And now, with these super easy to make snack recipes, it can be there for you too. Enjoy!

1. Bacon Guacamole Mash 2 avocados with 1/2 cup each chopped tomato and cilantro, 1/4 cup each chopped onion and crumbled cooked bacon, 1/2 minced jalapeno, some lime juice and salt.

2. Cheesy Bacon Popcorn Drizzle 4 cups hot popcorn with 1 tablespoon bacon drippings. Toss with 3 tablespoons crumbled cooked bacon and 1/4 cup each grated Parmesan and cheddar.

3. Bacon Reuben Spread Russian dressing on rye toast. Top with Bacon Kraut (No. 4) and Swiss cheese. Broil until melted.

4. Bacon-Apple Sandwiches Spread a split baguette with honey mustard. Fill with cooked bacon, sliced Brie and apple, and lettuce; add salt and pepper. Slice.

5. Bacon Butter Cook 2 slices bacon in a skillet; drain and chop. Blend 1 stick softened butter with the drippings and 2 tablespoons maple syrup. Stir in the chopped bacon.

6. PB&B Sandwich peanut butter, banana and cooked bacon with white bread. Cook in a buttered skillet.

7. Stuffed Mushrooms Mix 1/2 cup each grated Parmesan and breadcrumbs, 4 slices crumbled cooked bacon and 2 tablespoons each parsley and olive oil. Stuff into mushroom caps, drizzle with olive oil and bake at 350 degrees F, 20 minutes.

8. Bacon-Wrapped Dates Stuff pitted dates with blue cheese and wrap in bacon. Secure with toothpicks. Broil, turning, until crisp, 5 to 6 minutes.

9. Bacon Nuts Beat 1 egg white until frothy; toss with 2 cups mixed nuts, 2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning, 2 tablespoons brown sugar and 4 slices crumbled cooked bacon. Bake at 325 degrees F, 10 minutes.



Dees nuts ... have bacon in them

10. Bacon-Beer Mussels Cook 1/4 pound chopped slab bacon in a pot with 1 sliced onion. Add 3/4 cup beer, some thyme sprigs and 3 pounds mussels. Cover and cook until the mussels open, 5 minutes. Stir in 2 tablespoons each chopped parsley and whole-grain mustard.

11. Bacon Meatballs Pulse 6 ounces pancetta in a food processor. Add 1 cup breadcrumbs, 1/2 cup each chopped onion, chopped parsley and grated Parmesan, 4 garlic cloves, 2 eggs, and salt and pepper; pulse to combine. Form into small balls. Brown in a skillet with olive oil, then simmer in tomato sauce until cooked through.

12. Tomato-Bacon Gravy Cook 6 slices chopped bacon in a skillet; drain. In the drippings, simmer a 28-ounce can whole tomatoes (crushed), 1/4 cup water, 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar, and salt and pepper, 20 minutes. Add the bacon.



This is a portrait of Kevin Bacon made out of bacon. Now go pick up all those

pieces of your brain that just got blown away.

13. Hot Bacon-Crab Dip Mix 8 ounces each cream cheese and crabmeat, 1 cup crumbled cooked bacon, 1/2 cup mayonnaise, 3 chopped scallions and the juice of 1 lemon. Spread in a baking dish; top with breadcrumbs. Bake at 350 degrees F until bubbly, 30 minutes.

14. Bacon Muffins Make corn muffin mix as the label directs; add 1/4 cup crumbled cooked bacon and 2 tablespoons chopped chives.

15. Pancetta Chips Sandwich sliced pancetta between 2 baking sheets. Bake at 350 degrees F, 25 minutes.

16. Spicy-Sweet Bacon Make Sweet Bacon (No. 41) but sprinkle with ancho chile powder before pressing in sugar.

17. Bacon Grits Simmer 2 cups each milk and water with 1 teaspoon salt in a saucepan. Stir in 1 cup grits; simmer until tender, about 35 minutes. Stir in 2 tablespoons butter and 1 cup each grated cheddar and crumbled cooked bacon. Top with chopped chives.

18. Bacon-Potato Pancake Cook 2 slices bacon; drain and crumble. Shred 2 peeled russet potatoes; squeeze dry. Mix with 1/4 grated onion, the bacon, and salt and pepper. Cook in the drippings until crisp, 8 minutes per side.

19. Bacon Brittle Boil 2 cups sugar and 1 cup water in a saucepan, without stirring, until 340 degrees F, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in 1 cup peanuts, 5 slices crumbled cooked bacon, 1 tablespoon butter and a pinch each of cayenne and cinnamon. Spread on a greased baking sheet to harden.

For even more bacon recipes head over to the Food Network

