Spinster in the Kitchen (Bacon)

One of the great things about living alone is that I am queen of my domain, and that domain includes the kitchen. I've done many a kitchen experiment before some of which didn't seem doable but worked out (buffalo brussel sprout chicken nachos) and some that should have been okay, but didn't quite make it (broccoli rab quiche).  The wins far out number the fails and tonight, tonight well...

It was more than just a win.  It was a triumph of dessert! It was a conquest of the final course!  And it had bacon.

Wait! What?  You did say dessert right?

Yes, yes my kitchen delight was blend of sweet, creamy, crunchy and savory.  Smooth melting richness, a firm but delicate sweetness, topped with a crisp and smoky finish.  Ladies and Gentlemen.  Spinsters and dudes, I give you...

The Pineapple Bacon Maple Sundae

(or as I like to call it....the Mouth-gasm)

Ingredients:

Coconut milk vanilla ice 'cream'*
Unsweetened pineapple chunks**
Maple syrup (well chilled)
Bacon (several slices - though I always seem to end up cooking the entire package)

Directions:

Cook the bacon until crispy.  There are folks who like squishy bacon (yeah, crazy people) but now is not the time to go tender on the smoky pork.  You want to be able to crumble this over the top of your mound of sweet, sweet love this tasty dessert.  This is the finishing touch and it is what balances the sweetness of all the other ingredients.  So fry it up, make it CRUNCH!  Then let it cool.  Not only does sizzling hot bacon not feel good when being crumbled by your bare hands, it will turn your ice-cream into a puddle of goo.

Okay, once the bacon is cooled it is time for assembly.

1. Find a bowl of appropriate size (appropriate as determined by you or your inner ten year old)
2. Scoop ice cream into said bowl
3. Add several pieces of pineapple love and if your pineapple is canned, a few spoonfuls of the juice can't hurt
4. Crumble three pieces of bacon over the top
5. Finish it off by drizzling a tablespoon of chilled maple syrup all over it
6. Take a bite (use a spoon dear, we are still civilized here)
7. Moan, sigh...let you eyes roll back into your head, squeal
8. Swallow (uh, napkin, you, um, have something running down your chin)
9. Take a deep breath and repeat steps 6 -9 until done (this might include a second sundae)

One of the many pleasures of living alone is that there was no one around to watch me devour this satisfying treat, and all of the left over bacon?  Mine.  All of it.

Mine.

Notes


* Due to issues with lactose intolerance I used vanilla coconut milk ice cream, which does have a bit of a toasted coconut flavor to it.  I think this only added to the taste of this treat.  I'm sure regular vanilla ice cream would work just fine.

** I used unsweetened canned pineapple chunks, but I am sure that fresh pineapple would work as well and might even add another dimension of texture.