Frankly, I don’t know of anyone who does not love bacon. Good bacon, that is. The one that is Just Right.

AllRecipes.com have done some research on the topic and while I generally subscribe to their suggestions, I use my broiler pan rather than a baking sheet. I spray both pieces with cooking spray to make clean up easier and then put the bacon on the rack, tuck it into the oven and impatiently wait. 😀 You could line the bottom pan with foil for easy clean up but if you are keeping the bacon fat in the fridge, foregoing the foil just makes it a bit easier.

Note: Some brands of bacon have a LOT of fat while others have very little.

Keep in mind that you could tuck in some tater tots or hash browns while the bacon cooks.

I have not gotten to the place where I freeze left over bacon because, well, there usually isn’t any. I might let it cool, blot it a bit and they layer between sheets of parchment paper cut to size for a gallon sized zip lock freezer bag. Freeze it flat and then, once frozen, I could stand it up beside my rack of veg to save space.

All in all, bacon cooking in the oven is a simple process. If you have not already done so, give it a try.

There are some convenience foods that I don’t use as much as I might because, honestly, I make a better product from scratch. I’m referring to using the product for what it was designed: biscuits, cake mixes, cookie mixes, and similar.

That being said, because of the way boxed mixes are constructed, they can be used instead of having a long list of ingredients always on hand all the time.

I am a HUGE fan of Bisquick because it makes a lot of different things quick and easy. Owning 8+ cookbooks dedicated to the product gives me a lot more versatility than just biscuits, pancakes, waffles and such.

Cake mixes, refrigerated biscuits and crescent rolls, pie crusts, and such are a great beginning for both new and experienced cooks. The newbies are pretty much guaranteed to get a good result while the more experienced cooks will see potential in trying something a little out of the ordinary – which is pretty much where all those recipes in the cookbooks came from. 😀

I am enjoying Nichole over at AllRecipes.com on YouTube stretch the envelope using these convenience items. Check out the YouTube channel by clicking HERE.

She has come up with a variety of uses for mixes in addition to creating new dips and appetizers along with some rather amazing holiday menus.

The videos are not only entertaining but thought provoking, too. And if you want the recipe, the link is in the description box below the video.

She recently tackled cake mixes and my mind was blown. I don’t know about your area but in my local stores the mixes usually start at $1.50 and go up. Since you don’t need an expensive mix to create these delights, they are a budget friendly way to play with your food. (And we like that around here!)

Now, for the slightly other side of the convenience coin. Mixes have their place and some are quite good while others…need help. America’s Test Kitchen has done some rather interesting, not to mention extensive, testing on a variety of convenience foods, including cake mixes. Click on the link to their YouTube Channel HERE. The results are interesting and a bit thought provoking.

Remember when I said that I could make some things better than a mix? To me a scratch cake is a true delight and not difficult. I’ve been making them for decades. If you follow the guidelines (room temp ingredients, preheated oven, pretreated pan…) you should get good results, too.

The difference could be that the items on the grocer’s shelves are new/fresher than what might be in your pantry. Baking powder and baking soda not working? How old are the containers? Spices not tasting quite right? Again, how old are those containers?

At the end of the day, the quality of anything coming out of your kitchen is based on the quality of the ingredients you use.

Check out the links, prepare to get your mind blown a bit, too. Then, grab those recipes and see what magic comes out of your kitchen!

Happy baking!