Name: Brie Appetizers with Bacon-Plum Jam
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 75 min
Total time: 100 min
Yield: 1 servings
Ingredients: 1 pound bacon strips, chopped; 1 cup thinly sliced sweet onion; 1 shallot, finely chopped; 5 garlic cloves, minced; 1 cup brewed coffee; 1/2 cup water; 1/4 cup cider vinegar; 1/4 cup pitted dried plums (prunes), coarsely chopped; 3 tablespoons brown sugar; 1 tablespoon maple syrup; 1 tablespoon Sriracha chili sauce; 1/2 teaspoon pepper; 30 slices Brie cheese (1/4 inch thick); 30 slices French bread baguette (1/4 inch thick), toasted

Among my friends I'm known as the pork master, because I love to cook just about every cut there is. These appetizers combine soft, mild Brie cheese with a sweet-sour bacon jam that has a touch of Sriracha sauce. —Rick Pascocello, New York, New York

Ingredients

1 pound bacon strips, chopped

1 cup thinly sliced sweet onion

1 shallot, finely chopped

5 garlic cloves, minced

1 cup brewed coffee

1/2 cup water

1/4 cup cider vinegar

1/4 cup pitted dried plums (prunes), coarsely chopped

3 tablespoons brown sugar

1 tablespoon maple syrup

1 tablespoon Sriracha chili sauce

1/2 teaspoon pepper

30 slices Brie cheese (1/4 inch thick)

30 slices French bread baguette (1/4 inch thick), toasted

Instructions

1 In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until partially cooked but not crisp. Remove to paper towels with a slotted spoon; drain skillet, reserving 1 tablespoon drippings.

2 Add onion and shallot to drippings; cook and stir 5 minutes. Add garlic; cook 2 minutes longer. Stir in coffee, water, vinegar, dried plums, brown sugar, maple syrup, chili sauce and pepper. Bring to a boil. Stir in bacon. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 hours or until liquid is syrupy, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat. Cool to room temperature.

3 Transfer mixture to a food processor; pulse until jam reaches desired consistency. Place cheese slices on toasted baguette slices. Top each with 2 teaspoons jam.