Bless this bacon, for it gives me long life.

It's true! Cured, smoked pork belly has never tasted so good, and finally the truth has come out that it's so good for you!

An elderly woman, age 114, in Los Angeles has attributed her longevity to the occasional eating of crispy bacon. It's now scientifically proven one key to long life is eating bacon. Bacon i, it may be the world's most perfect culinary art. The wondrous combination of salty and sweet, and crunchy fatty goodness. I'm sure Mr. Kevin Bacon and Sir F. Bacon would agree.

Bacon is as versatile as the pig itself. It can be a condiment (in "bit" form), a flavor component (in stews), a main ingredient (The Bacon Explosion), and the fat can be made into soap... not that I've ever tried making that before. Okay, that part is actually kind of gross to think on, "Honey I'm out of dove, can you bring me some bacon?"

We fry bacon crispy in our house, that's the way my mom does it too, and making it melt in your mouth fat-meat ratio. Typically we use the Farmland type, the other kinds are okay, but nothing does it like the farmland, except the scrumptious slabs from New Braunfels. Up here in Milwaukee I have discovered Nueske's bacon, a whole other world. Last night friends and I made a pound of Nueske's for Fat Tuesday celebrations and my hair still smelled of it this morning. Better than perfume, sigh.

If you're looking for more ways to use our fragrant friend, I sometimes coat a chicken with pieces of bacon before roasting, it works for turkeys too. Chop it up and toss it with sectioned Brussels sprouts. And one of the best Tapas in the whole world can give credit to bacon for it's amazingness.

Bacon wrapped dates.

Oh holy jesus these are good. You might not want to use thick slices because it's too much baconess (i know, "How could it be too much?" you think!--but it really is). Cut a slice into three pieces - we discovered half a piece is too much, and a whole piece is ridiculous and doesn't cook crispy. Wrap the bacon around a pitted date and secure with a toothpick. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 min and then flip them over and bake for another 10 till crispy. You're guests will eat them all up and beg for more. And they'll be sad because you ate all the reserves in the hour before people showed up.