THE NIBBLE BLOG: Products, Recipes & Trends In Specialty Foods


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TOP PICK OF THE WEEK: Schmacon, The Best Beef Bacon

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[1] Schmacon and eggs (all photos © Schmacon).


[2] A Schmacon Cheeseburger (photo © Miguel Andrade | Unsplash).


[3] Use Schmacon wherever you’d use bacon. Here, Schmacon with a peanut butter dip. Now that’s snacking!


[4] Gotta love the Schmacon logo.


[5] Schmacon at Costco.

 

The creator of Schmacon Certified Angus Beef® Bacon, smoked and uncured, calls it “beef’s answer to bacon.”

For the many people would gladly exchange their pork bacon for flavorful beef bacon: Here it is, the best-tasting beef bacon out there.

Schmacon (that’s SHMAY-con, rhyming with bacon) looks like bacon and smells bacon; it cooks like bacon–preferably in the oven for maximum crispness (photo #1), although it can be cooked in a frying pan.

The resulting crisp strips of Schmacon tastes of beef instead of pork, but with the smoky, spicy spirit of bacon.
 
 
SCHMACON BENEFITS

For a similar meat experience:

  • A serving of Schmacon contains 30 calories, 2 g fat, and 60 mg sodium.
  • A serving of pork bacon averages 60-90 calories, 4.5-7 g fat, and 190-360 mg sodium.
  • Schmacon has no added nitrates or nitrites.
  • It is certified Halal.
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    More benefits:

  • Schmacon cooks in half the time of raw pork bacon.
  • It generates much less grease; and, as with bacon grease, you can use the grease to cook potatoes and eggs, make German potato salad, etc.
  • For everyone without a great kitchen exhaust fan: There’s no lingering smell of old bacon fat in the air.
  • Like bacon, Schmacon can be frozen; but we bet you’ll run through the package pretty quickly.
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    WHY SCHMACON IS SO GREAT

    Meatier, lower in sodium, calories and fat, Schmacon is a much healthier bacon alternative. You get more meat and less fat.

    And it’s not just more meat: It’s delicious meat.

    Schmacon is not the first beef bacon on the market, but but it’s head and shoulders above the rest.

    It was three years in development!

    Most other beef bacon is manufactured with the same technique as pork bacon, but that made no sense to Schmacon CEO Howard Bender.

    He started from scratch, testing different cuts of beef, spice blends and cooking processes until, three years later, he was satisfied.

    We think the result is terrific, and so does the industry: The National Restaurant Association gave Schmacon its Food and Beverage Innovations Award.
     
     
    WAYS TO USE SCHMACON

    We don’t have to tell you how to use bacon, but…use it anywhere you’d use pork or turkey bacon.

    Beyond Schmacon and eggs, and as a side to pancakes and waffles, we use it to make:

  • Bacon cheeseburgers and hot dogs
  • Bacon quiche
  • Bean and lentil dishes
  • BLTs
  • Brussels sprouts
  • Chowder
  • Hot bacon vinaigrette (with the leftover bacon grease)
  • “Larded” filet mignon or turkey breast
  • Spinach salad and wedge salad with blue cheese dressing
  • Surf and turf: bacon-wrapped scallops
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    FINALLY, AVAILABLE TO CONSUMERS NATIONWIDE

    When we first wrote about Schmacon five years ago, it was new on the market and was focusing its efforts on selling bulk packages to restaurants and foodservice.

    Not just in the U.S., either: Schmacon is way popular in the pork-free Middle East.

    Now, it’s in America in certain regions of Costco, Walmart and other large chains. Here’s a store locator.

    You can buy Schmacon online here.

    But this killer beef bacon needs your help, so help spread the word that it exists.

    Run out and buy some and tell your friends, so that the big retailers will keep it in stock.

    Spread the word and you’ll enjoy Schmacon for a long, long time.

    Discover more at Schmacon.com.

     

     
      

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    RECIPE: Candy Corn Ice Cream For National Candy Corn Day

    Diana Hardeman, founder of Milk Made, is one of the great artisan ice cream makers of New York and beyond.

    Known for her creative ice cream flavors, it’s no surprise that she made Candy Corn Ice Cream.

    She has allowed us to share the recipe with you today, October 30th, National Candy Corn Day.

    For more ice cream delights, sign up for her newsletter.

    “Even if you hate candy corn (as I do),” says Diana, you may like this flavor.

    “Yes it tastes like candy corn, but with all the saccharine, honey-like aspects of the candy and none of the chalky, wax-like texture*.”

    What to listen to as you eat the ice cream?

    > Diana’s Halloween Playlist!
     
     
    RECIPE: CANDY CORN ICE CREAM

    Ingredients For About 1 Quart

  • 1.5 cups cream
  • 1.5 cups milk
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 1 cup candy corn
  • 4 egg yolks
  •  
    Preparation

    1. SET up an ice bath. Fill a large bowl with ice and water, then place a medium sized bowl on top. Set aside.

    2. HEAT the milk, cream, and sugar in a medium saucepan, over medium heat. Once the sugar has melted, add the candy corn and stir constantly, scraping the bottom of the saucepan, until it is melted. Do not let candy corn stick to bottom; it will burn. In a separate bowl…

    3. STIR together the egg yolks. When the candy corn is melted (you may still have some small pieces and that is okay; you’ll strain them out later), gradually pour about ¼ cup of the mixture into the egg yolks, whisking the yolks constantly as you pour. Then scrape the warmed yolks back into the saucepan, whisking constantly.

    4. COOK over low heat, stirring constantly and scraping the bottom until the custard thickens enough to coat the spatula, or it reaches 160°F.

    5. STRAIN the custard into the bowl over the ice bath. Stir until cool. Refrigerate to chill thoroughly (8 hours or preferably overnight).

    6. FREEZE in an ice cream maker according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

    7. SCOOP the ice cream into a freezer-safe container. You can garnish the pint with whole or chopped pieces of candy corn. Place in freezer to set (about 4 hours).
     
     
    Notes From Diana

  • You can decide how strong you want the candy corn flavor to be. Add more or less to taste. I always err on the side of more in any recipe, for that WOW factor. So I have been very liberal with the candy corn in this recipe. If you want a lighter taste, use less candy corn.
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    [1] Halloween yummy: candy corn ice cream (recipe and photo © Diana Hardeman).


    [2] This recipe uses four egg yolks. Here’s what to do with the egg whites.

    Candy Corn
    [3] Who invented candy corn? Here’s the scoop. Plus, here’s how candy corn is made (photo © Liz West | Wikipedia).

  • Because this flavor has so much sugar (candy corn is made from sugar, corn syrup, confectioner’s glaze, salt, dextrose, gelatin, sesame oil, artificial flavor, honey, yellow 6, yellow 5, and red 3), it yields a softer ice cream. It will not freeze as hard as other ice creams, both in the ice cream maker and in your freezer. The more candy corn you add, the gooier it will be.
  • For the authentic candy corn taste, use Brach’s Candy Corn: no generic brands, no different shapes, no special flavors.
  •  
    Thanks, Diana. We love softer, gooier ice cream.
     
     
    MORE CANDY CORN RECIPES

  • Candy Corn Cocktail
  • Candy Corn Cookies
  • Candy Corn Fruit Salad
  • Candy Corn Fudge
  • Candy Corn Ice Cream Cones
  • Candy Corn Layer Cake
  • Candy Corn Popcorn Balls
  • Candy Corn Pudding
  • Halloween Monster Munch
  •  
     
    ________________

    *Candy corn is coated with carnauba wax, also called Brazil wax and palm wax. It is made from the leaves of the carnauba palm (Copernicia prunifera), a plant native to and grown only in northeastern Brazil. Here’s more about it.
     
     

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    Guacamole Garnishes & International Guacamole Recipes


    [1] Start with plain guacamole, chunky or smooth; then mix in your favorites from a long list of choices (photo © McCormick).


    [2] DIY guacamole provides a variety of mix-ins; here at Cocina 214 in Winter Park, Florida (photo © Cocina 214).


    [3] You can go fusion-style, too. Here, Argentinian-style guacamole, with grilled beef (photos #3 and #4 © Avocados From Mexico).


    [4] Head to Asia with this guacamole blended with Korean spices.


    [5] This glass Lazy Susan, at 40 inches wide, is ready to party (photo © Kohl’s).

    Whole & Halved Avocados
    [6] Ready, set, go avocado (photo © Aldi).

     

    Guacamole is one of those foods that gets lots of attention around the Super Bowl and Cinco de Mayo, and September 16th, which is National Guacamole Day.

    But we love it all year around.

    We keep an eye out for sales on avocados—when a large lot of them are already ripe at the grocer and will be too ripe to sell in another day or two.

    Since there are so many ways to embellish guacamole, our favorite is a DIY garnish buffet.

    We serve using a turntable—our Nana’s large Lazy Susan, a revolving tabletop server that enables each person to spin it to get to a favorite item without needing to ask someone to pass it.

    The Lazy Susan has gone out of fashion, except for the plastic versions made for easy access to cabinet storage (we keep our spices on two double-stack turntables).

    Today, a large Lazy Susan like Nana’s seems to be found mostly at restaurant supply stores; although we did find this glass version at Kohl’s (photo #5).

    For a party, you can instead spread the garnishes out on a buffet or table.

    For a family dinner, simply say, “Please pass the pineapple.” (We serve guacamole and chips as an appetizer.)

    Check out the international guacamole recipes below.
     
     
    RECIPE: DIY GUACAMOLE OR AVOCADO BAR

    To serve DIY guacamole, all you have to do is mash the avocado. Then supply bowls large enough so that each person can add the avocado and mix-ins and blend them together.

    For an avocado bar, use avocado slices instead of mashed avocado.
     
     
    RECIPE: DIY GUACAMOLE
     
    Mix-Ins

  • Bell peppers, diced
  • Black olives, sliced
  • Chives, cilantro and/or parsley, fresh, snipped
  • Cilantro, chopped
  • Cotija or feta cheese, crumbled
  • Garlic, minced or garlic chips
  • Jalapeño or other chile, sliced
  • Mango or pineapple, small dice
  • Roasted red pepper (pimento), diced
  • Red onion or scallions, thinly sliced
  • Tomatoes, small dice or halved grape tomatoes
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    Fusion

    See 16 fusion recipes below.

  • Bacon, chopped
  • Green goddess dressing
  • Hummus
  • Mayonnaise
  • Ponzu sauce
  • Sweet chili sauce
  •  
    Condiments

  • Crema or sour cream
  • Hot sauce
  • Salsa
  • Salt
  •  
    Garnishes

  • Balsamic glaze for drizzle
  • Crumbled cotija cheese
  • Lime wedges
  • Parsley, chopped
  • Pomegranate arils
  •  
    For A Main Course

  • Grilled sliced chicken or meat, fajita-style, or grilled shrimp
  •  
    Optional Base

  • Black beans
  • Salad greens
  •  
    Plus

  • Agua fresca
  • Beer
  • Crudités
  • Tortilla chips
  • Tortillas
     

    BEYOND MEXICO: A WORLD OF GUACAMOLE RECIPES

  • Argentinean Guacamole
  • British Guacamole
  • Cajun Guacamole
  • California Guacamole
  • Caribbean Guacamole
  • French Guacamole
  • Greek Guacamole
  • Italian Guacamole
  • Japanese Guacamole
  • Korean Guacamole
  • Lebanese Guacamole
  • Moroccan Guacamole
  • Nordic Guacamole
  • SoCal Guacamole
  • South-Of-The-Border Guacamole
  • Southwestern Guacamole
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