Chef Lauren's Bacon Garlic Creep Loaf
CSSI Staff Post - October 27, 2020
Our pumpkin carving parties and costume contests are limited in numbers this year, but that’s no reason to let the *👻spirit👻* of the season fade away. In fact, I see it as a reason to get even MORE into the festivities!! 🎃 Whether it’s a small family gathering, or you are sitting home alone with your goldfish—YES, you should decorate! YES, you should celebrate! While you are at it, throw on a hot pink curly wig and a pair of fairy wings!! Try out "I Put a Spell on You" Pandora radio while you’re cooking up some Creep Loaf for extra inspiration. You might end up with a One-Eyed-One-Horned-Flying-Purple-People-Eater Loaf! If things start getting too terrifying, add some extra garlic to the mixture to keep the vampires at bay.
Bacon Garlic Creep Loaf
Yield: 4 Loaves
Ingredients
Sauce
½ cup - ketchup
1 tbsp - Worcestershire sauce⅓ cup - BBQ sauce
¼ cup - apple cider vinegar
¼ tsp - cayenne pepper
¼ cup - dark brown sugarCreep Loaves½ lb - bacon, sliced
4 cloves - garlic, peeled, rough chopped
1¼ cup - yellow onion, rough chopped
2 tbsp - vegetable oil
1 lb - ground pork
1½ lb - ground beef
4 oz - Parmesan, grated
¼ cup - parsley, fresh, chopped
1 cup - seasoned breadcrumbs
2 each - eggs
1 tsp - kosher salt
½ tsp - black pepper, ground
½ tsp - garlic powder
Spooky garnishes**
Directions
For the Sauce:
- Add ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, BBQ sauce, apple cider vinegar, cayenne pepper and brown sugar to a medium-sized saucepan. Whisk together.
- Simmer over medium-low heat for 10-15 minutes, or until mixture is thick and bubbly, stirring occasionally.
- Remove from heat, divide in half and set aside.
For the Creep Loaf:
- Lay bacon on a parchment-lined sheet pan in a single layer. Bake at 350⁰F for 20-25 minutes or until cooked through and starting to get crispy.
- Remove bacon from the tray and chop into fine pieces.
- Add garlic and onion to food processor and pulse until finely chopped and almost looks like a puree.
- Transfer onion and garlic mixture to sauté pan with vegetable oil, and cook over medium-low heat for 5-7 minutes or until mixture is translucent.
- In a large mixing bowl, mix chopped bacon, onion and garlic, ground pork, ground beef, Parmesan, parsley, breadcrumbs, eggs, salt, pepper and garlic powder.
- Using a scant 2 cups for each loaf, shape the meat mixture into a hand shape. Transfer to the parchment-lined sheet pan. Using half of the reserved sauce, brush sauce generously over the top of hands.
- Add spooky garnishes** and bake at 350⁰F for 30-35 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 165⁰F.
- Serve immediately with remaining sauce and your favorite sides (preferably mashed potatoes).
**Thought starters for spooky garnishes:
- Use quartered pearl onions or cut bell peppers for fingernails.
- Use cut bell peppers or cherry tomatoes for scars, warts, and blisters.
- Allow some red chard to show through the back of the hand from the top to look like veins.
- Use leftover bacon to wrap around fingers or back of hands to look like bandages.
Lauren Kuhn
Culinary Center Manager
Culinary Center Manager
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