Recipe: "Candied" Bacon Roses for Valentine's Day

Surprise your sweetheart with these “Candied” Bacon Roses for Valentine’s Day! What a special treat for that bacon lover in your life!

“Candied" Bacon Roses

By: Chef Jill Aker-Ray

Ingredients:

1 pound hickory smoked bacon
2 TBSP hot sauce 
1/3 cup  brown sugar
Toothpicks
12 Artificial rose stems ( remove flower portion)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. 
Line a baking sheet with foil. Put rack on top of it and spray with cooking spray.
Combine brown sugar and hot sauce. 
Lay each piece of bacon on a cutting board. Brush with sugar mixture. Roll tightly and secure crosswise through center of bacon ( like an X), leaving swirls at each end. Bake for 20 to 30 minutes, or longer, until cooked and slightly crispy. Remove from oven. Let rest a few minutes.
Meanwhile, gently remove the rosebuds from the rose stem, leaving stem and leaves intact. Secure rose on top after removing toothpicks. 
Place in a vase filled with marbles or something to hold the roses. Serve for holiday breakfast or brunch!

Easy prep: line a baking sheet with foil and top with a rack, spray rack with cooking spray and line with bacon slices. Brush brown sugar mixture over bacon and bake at 375-400 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes. Watch closely the last 5 minutes or so as not to burn.