Bacon Week Day Two!  As expected, I have something lovingly planned.  Just for you.

Earlier this month I began planning for Bacon Week and was pleased to come across Joy’s recipe for Coffee Bacon Sandwiches.  Coffee?  Bacon?  Two of the best things in the world, along with, maybe, goat cheese?  WHAT?  THIS HAS GOAT CHEESE TOO?  Can life get better?  I SUBMIT THAT IT CANNOT.

This sandwich was definitely a labor of love, but it was a labor that was absolutely worth the time and effort.  The ingredients are the type that I never would have put together myself, but when you take a bite you’re both intrigued and delighted by the outcome.  The tart and tangy lemon goat cheese pairs beautifully with the smooth and mellow flavor of the coffee’d bacon, and paired with the slight spice of red pepper you’re taken to foodie-heaven.  Or at least a foodie place with lots of sun and a cool breeze.

My parents allowed me to experiment on them (bless their trusting hearts), so while I provided the sandwiches, they graciously provided sweet potato fries and some delicious cole slaw (and wine).  Despite having bacon in the meal, it actually turned out pretty darn healthy.  Who’d have thunk it?

The recipe was slightly time-intensive, but when I think about it really no worse than yesterdays Bacon Ice Cream.  There were basically 2 parts to this recipe: the bacon, and the cheese (3 parts if you count making the bread….but that’s a story for next week :D).

The bacon required mixing up a pretty interesting “sauce” in which to marinade and bake your bacon (yes, you actually bake this bacon instead of frying it).  The sauce included chili powder, molasses and, of course, coffee grounds.  Bizarre, right?  But oh-so delicious.

After mixing this concoction together, you spread it over one side of your bacon, then wrap it up and let it sit overnight (or if you’re forgetful/don’t read the recipe far enough in advance like me, you let it sit for 4-5 hours).

While that’s doing its thing in the fridge, you then start doctoring up your goat cheese.  Will normal goat cheese do in this case?  CERTAINLY NOT.  Instead of being boring, you add lemon, dates, and more chili powder (actually you’re supposed to add red pepper flakes, but I had none.  Whoops).

Pretty, right?

After mixing it all together you get a nice smooth spread the glides beautifully over your bread.  It’s sweet, tangy, and tart, and definitely in need of something a little savory to tone it down a little.  Upon trying it I actually thought I might reduce some of the lemon juice, but my mom and dad insisted that they thought it was great the way it was; they liked the tartness very well.

Once all that’s completed, it’s all about stacking your sandwich as you like and shoving it into your face (at least, that’s how I do things. >.>).  In the end the only real change I’d make is to use slices of bread as opposed to rolls as you see in the pictures above.  The sandwiches were still tasty, but I felt the large amounts of bread hindered some of the other flavors; toasted slices as Joy has in her recipe are really the way to go.

(Sorry Mom – I have a picture of you too, but it turned out all blurry and weird.  You get a cameo next time!)

This recipe?  Absolutely worth trying out.  This seems like something that would be perfect for a picnic since you could make everything ahead of time, pack separately, and then build once you get settled onto the grass or picnic table.  It would also probably be delicious with a slice of fresh tomato.  Mmm.  Wow, now I’m really hungry for one of these. ^_^

The baconation continues tomorrow!  Grab a badge and join in the fun!

Bacon Coffee Sandwiches

Find the recipe at Joy the Baker!