Brown Sugar Bacon Smokies

This is a bit of a 'carnivores only' type recipe, but I personally love it! I'm definitely in that carnivore club ;) I can only handle a few, though, before thinking that I need to go eat a salad or something.

They're great for parties--the only problem is that they're one of the first things to be eaten up! So maybe make a double (or quadruple ha) batch.

Brown Sugar Bacon Smokies

1 13 oz package Lil Smokies

1/2 package bacon

1/2 cup brown sugar

Preheat oven to 350*

Wrap each smokie in bacon, either by cutting bacon into pieces and stretching to fit, or wrapping bacon and cutting as you go.  Place in a glass dish and then sprinkle with brown sugar.  

Bake for 30-40 mins or until bacon has cooked and tightened around the smokie and the brown sugar is bubbly.

Bacon wrapped Butternut Squash

Little known fact:  Bacon makes everything taste better.

Oh, wait, you knew that? I guess it's not much of a secret. But have you ever tried wrapping it around squash?? I mean, why would you since they're pretty much opposites? But really, world of a difference for the squash.

I found this recipe a while back when I was planning my friend Stacy's bridal shower menu.  I tried it out since there was squash involved and we were trying to have something a little healthy to go along since pretty much everything else was "off your diet" food (enter funfetti cookie dip).  And then we were #hooked4lyfe.

We've made it so many times now we've got the process down pat.  And by 'we' I mean Dillon because he is the one to cut up the squash into perfect little cubes and then wrap them up for me so I can pop them in the oven and set a timer.  He's the real MVP in this house.

Bacon Wrapped Butternut Squash

1 butternut squash
1 package bacon
1 TBSP brown sugar
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp chili powder
1 shake smoked paprika (I love this stuff)
Olive oil to coat

Heat oven to 350*

Peel, remove seeds, and cut squash into one inch cubes, or something similarly uniform.  Place in a gallon ziploc (or in a bowl), then shake in olive oil to coat. Add in spices and shake to coat.  Wrap each piece in bacon, either by first cutting up bacon into pieces and then pulling it to fit or wrapping and then cutting as you go.

I prefer the second method because you will end up with leftover pieces of both the bacon and the squash and you can roast those together a later time. Alternately, if you don't have a Dillon to be your sous chef and don't want to spend the time to wrap, just chop up the bacon and throw it in with the squash on a pan.

Cook at 350* for 45-55 mins, or until squash is tender.