Tuesday, May 8, 2018

Herb's the Word and 3 Minute Roasted Bacon and Green Onion Appetizer

I love complexities of flavors and textures in cooking.  I love to grow my own herbs and vegetables.  I have had better luck with some than others.  I can grow the hell out of some oregano, which occupies about 1/3 of my current herb garden, and I am proficient at keeping my Rosemary 'bush,' branching out and reaching for the sky. I just can't keep my Sage, Sweet Basil or Thai Basil or neither Mints thriving to my satisfaction.
 I gifted a portion of my Chocolate Mint to my sister Gayle last growing season.  Lo and behold, I had to be gifted back a portion to start again.  It's going swimmingly, by the way!  I had a surplus of fresh parsley, both curly and Italian Flat Leaf,  but apparently it has run its course.  It was my very first herb, about 7 years ago.  I have some fresh seeds ready to go.
As a girl, reading about cooking and the mechanics thereof, was how I got my feet wet.  I would read through the recipes and wonder what they would be like to prepare them without substitutions or omitting certain ingredients.  We possessed the basics; salt and pepper, seasoned salt, spice blend for homemade sausage and maybe some onion and garlic powder.  Dried parsley may have also been in the mix, but I am uncertain.
Fresh herbs were of regions unknown in our home, though we grew an enormous garden every year.  I remember memorizing the characteristics of herbs and what they paired with to act as my experience, until I could get out and buy some of the herbs I'd often read about in recipes.  I could not execute by the books, because the ingredient call was not a part of our staple items at that day and time.
My mom and sisters prepared delicious dishes using the dried herbs, but the Culinarian in me wanted to get my hands dirty, literally, and submerge myself in all of the beautiful aspects of cooking and cookery; seasoning and garnishing, accenting and embellishing.  Having an herb garden helped,  in my mind, confirm my commitment to the arts and my passion.  I feel they grew and helped me grow.
I beam with pride knowing that I can walk out the door, and come back inside after just a couple of minutes with the Lime Thyme to accent a Thai Soup perfectly.  Roasting some potatoes, pork or poultry'? A few sprigs of Rosemary can add a pleasant and satisfying earthiness, even warmth.  Sprucing up a summertime drink or a combination of fresh fruit? Some Mint or Chocolate mint, will do the trick!
Gardening can be fun and therapeutic for us. I am embarking on a new project and renovating my precious herb garden and replacing it with a spiral one.  I am currently in the process of  transplanting, re-planting and customizing my usual herb suspects and incorporating some new guys in the mix, I'll be sure to keep you posted;)

Recipe:
One pkg. of green onions
1 pkg. precooked bacon
olive oil for misting
SPST ( Salt and Pepper to Suit your Taste)

Instructions:
Turn on broiler.
Trim the onions on both sides.
Wrap a slice of bacon around the onion, starting with the white part.
Place on a roasting rack sprayed with an olive oil mister or cooking spray.
Spray the onions and SPST.
Roast until bacon is crisp, flipping once, if desired.
Serve immediately or at room temperature.
Perfect beside a nice juicy steak, medium rare with a baked potato and a glass of Chardonnay!



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