Makin' Bacon

...Chicken-fried veggie bacon, that is!

After a mention of my latest food discovery, chicken-fried bacon, proved unexpectedly controversial, I decided to try making it myself. Perhaps the first mention came off as wholesale disapproval, but I was actually a little in awe of this novelty creation. Like other unusual dishes I've discovered of late, it was like something I might invent while under the influence of a certain substance (but only someplace where it was legal, of course, such as the Netherlands). Since I'm a sometime-proponent of the credo "good things come in fried packages," and a fan of veggie bacon and gravy, there was a chance this could be amazing.

First I found the recipe for regular CFB online. I enjoyed the shame accompanying this one, the author's avatar, and especially the reference to Vitamin G-- grease! Be sure to check out the nutrition stats. One piece of CFB is 75% of the US RDA of fat.

Then it was time to unearth an old acquaintance known as Fry Daddy.

Here is what veggie bacon looks like, if you are not familiar. This is Morningstar Farms brand (aka Kellogg's). There are also tempeh-based versions of Fakin' Bacon that I enjoy, but I don't think they'd work well for this project.



And then you fire up Fry Daddy and follow the recipe directions. Rather than six strips together like in the Deep Fried show, I fried two pieces together at a time. (Healthy!)



Not too surprisingly, I found that if you don't have enough milk for the gravy, don't substitute soy milk. It can not carry a cream-based gravy.



Et voila: Chicken-fried veggie bacon.



How did it taste? Not that great. Maybe pre-cooking the bacon would make it better, but overall...eh. I think what's inside the crispy exterior needs more Vitamin G.

(BTW, don't call Betty Ford. That's flour on my nose.)

Comments

[roopa]

Your apron = awesome.

Flour. Is that what they call it in the south?

[jeff]

Um. What is Fry Daddy?

[queencarlotta]

Awww...I have fond memories of Fry Daddy--i.e. doughnut making day, circa 2005.

By the way, Jeff, there is also a "Fry Baby," for those of us who have more modest deep-frying needs. I ate my lifetime allotment of home-cooked french fries through use of such an apparatus.

[Austin]

not too often you hear of people using soy milk to try and make gravy. good luck fending off the old women brandishing rolling pins who happen upon this post.

[Kevin]

Bonus points for throwing the goat whilst holding the chicken fried veggie bacon (you're probably the first person in human history to do that exact combination of things!)!

[Elizabeth]

Hey is that Annie's Goddess Dressing hiding in the background near the fry daddy? That is the yummiest dressing ever. I bet if you put it in the CFB it'd help with the taste. That dressing tastes good on everything.

[Beth]

I have to say I am not inspired to try CFB. But I am inpressed that you were!

[meanieT]

I second that about the cute apron!

[Ellen]

You should make some chicken-fried beggin strips for Cooper.

[Jules]

This is the cutest post ever. And that apron is fabulous. And the flour, hysterical. And the idea to make this is brilliant! :)

[Big Daddy]

I recently fell in love with Morningstars Veggie Corn Dogs:

http://www.seeveggiesdifferently.com/product_detail.aspx?id=322

Yum!

[Kartek]

I have to say I'm much more interested in deed fried desserts. Although while in Netherlands or those other lowlands countries, do not miss out on those double fried pomme frites. yum!

[jade]

i had chicken fried chicken from chelsea's in your honor on saturday :)

& my best friend was given a fry daddy when we lived together & went through our "eating out of loneliness" phase. it was not good news.

[Caitlin]

I have to agree that your apron is awesome.

As much as I'm open to veggie food that masquerades as meat, I cannot sink my teeth into tofu dogs or those Morningstar patties that look like sausage patties. I'll have to give the veggie bacon a shot.

[Trey]

Egads!!! That's horrid!

Those are some seriously huge photos you have attached to this post. I fixed that for you, just follow the link. ;-)

[jason]

Any post with the words "fry daddy" is a good post.

[jew]

I love that you are making devil horns with your veggie bacon!

[Jennifer Perkins]

Your apron is indeed totally cuteable. I am so glad to see I am not alone with a Fry Daddy. My husband’s college room mate left his and I snagged that baby up and use it to make friend pickles and the occasional chilie relleno.

[sam]

Fry Daddy? Fry Baby? All well and good....but remember the first and best greasy electronica: the Presto Burger. Mmmm. From a frozen disc to a fresh hot hamburger in just minutes

[randomvoyeur]

Your apron is great. I have 3, but they all make me look like a pierogi making Oma