Brown Sugar Bacon & Dutch Babies

Brown Sugar Bacon

1/4 cup light brown sugar
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp black pepper
6 sliced thick-cut bacon

Preheat the oven to 375^F. Mix the brown sugar, cayenne and black pepper in a shallow bowl. Add bacon and toss to coat each slice. Live a baking sheet with a wire rack and lay bacon on the rack. Pat any remaining spice mixture on the bacon. Put the baking sheet on the top rack of the oven and bake until crisp, 15-20 minutes. Remove from oven to a serving dish and let cool slightly before serving.
Adapted from Food Network's "Down Home with the Neelys". This was very tasty, but not crisp enough in the middle for my taste.


Dutch Babies

2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup sifted all-purpose flour
1 pinch nutmeg
1 pinch salt
2 tbsp butter
2 tbsp confectioners' sugar for dusting

Place a 10-inch cast iron skillet inside oven and preheat oven to 475^F. In a medium bowl, beat eggs with a whisk until light. Stir in milk. Gradually whisk in flour, nutmeg and salt. Remove skillet from oven and reduce heat to 425^F. Melt butter in hot skillet so that inside of skillet is completely coated with butter. Pour all the batter into the skillet and return to oven. Bake until puffed and lightly browned, about 12 minutes. Remove promptly and sprinkle with powdered sugar. Serve with warm maple syrup and wedges of lemon, if desired. From allrecipes.com - I LOVED these! I can definitely see this becoming one of my favorite Sunday breakfasts!