BBQ Makes Everything Better (Even Bacon)

August 23, 2010

One of the unpredicted by-products of the internet has been internet memes.  The "RickRoll", LOLcats and their quests for cheeseburgers, "Chocolate Rain", and Diet Coke/Mentos fountains are examples of a phenomena that have catapulted to widespread fame on the Internet via email and social media sites.  One of the stranger memes to develop is an obsession with all things bacon.  That's right, the salted smoked pork belly has become an internet star.

One of the things that helped bacon achieve this superstar status was a recipe that originated right here in the Kansas City area:  The Bacon Explosion.  What is a "Bacon Explosion"?  (Vegetarians, you might want to stop reading now.) It's basically bacon wrapped in sausage wrapped in bacon, which is then cooked by smoking. 

Jason Day and Aaron Chronister, creators of the Bacon Explosion, have expanded on their fame with the new cookbook "BBQ Makes Everything Better".  I recently checked this book out and thought "what better way to review this book than to try its signature recipe?"

Step one:  bacon weaving!

Step two:  season the bacon weave with barbecue meat rub.

Step three:  add more meat (Italian sausage)!

Step four:  add even more meat (cooked bacon) plus filling!  Here I took some creative license, substituting Monterey Jack cheese and jalapeno peppers instead of the barbecue sauce specified in the recipe.

Step five:  separate the sausage layer from the outer bacon weave and roll up into a cylinder. 

Step six:  wrap the bacon weave around the sausage roll and season with more barbecue meat rub.

Step seven:  cook in a smoker or oven at 225 ºF , an hour for each inch of thickness.

Step eight:  the finished product.  Coat the outside with a light covering of barbecue sauce (I used Bronco Bob's Raspberry Chipotle sauce).  Slice and enjoy!

The staff here at Grandview enjoyed this Bacon Explosion at lunch today!  Reactions were overwhelmingly positive.  I should add that the Bacon Explosion is best served at a party or other group dinner to keep you from eating  5,000 calories and 500 grams of fat all by yourself.

-Jeff D
Grandview Branch