Let’s jam! ‘Tis the season for something different

Written by Judy Vig and Joy Paoletti
Thursday, 20 September 2012 11:03

Did you ever think that you could make a jam without any fruit at all? Well you can, and this is one jam you won’t mind being in!! Joy decided to try making a bacony jam-ish kind of jelly-ish kind of spread and it came out ridiculously delicious!

Just wait until you taste this. It is truly amazing and can be paired with anything from a roasted chicken, holiday turkey, a topping for brie cheese or just a spread for some crusty bread. If you are a bacon lover than your going to die for this. We even topped Mom’s special deviled eggs with it and also made a awesome BLT.

During that last hour of simmering all these crazy ingredients, something magical happens. The flavors meld and it starts to come together. The vinegar calms down and the jam mellows into something wonderfully sticky. By the time it is done simmering and then takes a spin in the food processor, you will definitely have to taste it. And then you’ll lick your spoon... and it will hit you — this is amazing!

Please visit us on Facebook and also at TwiceBakedTwins.com. Enjoy!

Joy’s Jam

Ingredients:

1 lb. bacon

1 small onion, chopped

1 shallot, minced

3 to 4 cloves garlic, chopped

1ŕ4 cup apple cider vinegar

1ŕ2 cup packed brown sugar 

1ŕ2 cup strong brewed coffee 

splash of bourbon 

Directions:

In a large pot, cook bacon until just starting to brown and crisp at edges. Remove cooked bacon to paper towel-lined plate to cool and drain off grease. When cool, cut bacon into 1-inch pieces.

Pour off all but 1 tablespoon bacon fat from pot. Turn heat down to medium low. Add onions, shallots and garlic, and cook until onions are translucent. Add vinegar, brown sugar, and coffee and splash of bourbon. Bring to a boil. Add cooked chopped bacon.

Turn down heat to the lowest setting and allow to simmer for about 1-1ŕ2 hours, stirring every few minutes, until most of the liquid has evaporated and what is left is syrupy. Do not leave the pot unattended. There is a lot of sugar from the onions and the sugar, so it can burn easily. 

Transfer the cooked bacon jam to a food processor. Pulse until you get the consistency of chunky jam. Store in a covered container for up to 1 week.