Chocolate Dipped Bacon

by kelleymarie

 Chocolate dipped bacon is an instant dynamic duo. It's incredibly easy to make and a crowd pleaser every time with it's union of salty, crunchy, cured bacon and smooth, creamy, sugary chocolate.

You'll find it won't stay on the plate too long. Whip it up for your next party, decadent morning brunch, or just for fun. Enjoy, I did. :D

Step 1: Things You'll Need

 Gather the following:

• 1/2 Cup Semisweet Chocolate Chips
• 1/4 Cup White Chocolate Chips*
• 1 1/2 Teaspoons Vegetable Shortening
• 1/2 Pound of Bacon
• Double Boiler**
• Cookie Sheet
• Spoon to Stir
• Wax Paper
• Aluminum Foil
• 1 Ziplock Bag

*NOTE: I just used the white chocolate for decorative detail. You can omit them from the recipe and just use your semisweet chocolate if you'd like. You could also make white chocolate covered bacon and omit the semisweet chocolate. Get creative!

**NOTE: You can substitute a pot with water covered with a bowl for a double boiler. You can also melt your chocolate chips in the microwave--if this is the case, follow the alternate instructions in step 3. 

Step 2: Bacon

 You'll want to cook your bacon first. I've found that the easiest way to get a large quantity of straight cooked bacon is in the oven. There is a great Instructable on this method if you want more detailed information.

Here are the steps I took:

1. Preheat your oven to 400F (204C).
2. Wrap a cookie sheet in aluminum foil. This will make it easier to clean up later. 
3. Lay your bacon strips on your cookie sheet. If you'd like bite sized chocolate bacon strips later, cut your bacon into halves or thirds now before you cook it. 
4. Place in your oven for 15-20 minutes, depending on your desired crispy bacon texture. Structurally, I've found that just barely crispy is good for your final chocolate covered bacon.

Remove your bacon from the oven and allow to cool on a paper towel covered plate. This will absorb remaining bacon grease. 

              

Step 3: Chocolate

 

                                                                                       

                                                                                       
 Waiting for your bacon to cool is a great time to melt your chocolate. Pull out your double boiler or create your own. You'll see in the photos that I created my own with a pot of water and a pyrex glass bowl that fits nicely on top.

Once your water is boiling, reduce it to a simmer. This will prevent any water from getting up and splashing into your bowl and chocolate mixture. If water gets into your bowl, your chocolate will seize, creating granular chunks.

Add your semisweet chocolate chips and shortening to your double boiler. Stir occasionally as the chocolate and shortening melt. Continue to heat and stir until both the chocolate and shortening are completely melted and uniform. Turn off the heat.

NOTE: Shortening is incorporated into the chocolate to thin the melted chocolate mixture. It makes it easier to dip things in and produces a smoother chocolate coating in the end product. I only used it with my semisweet chocolate chips, not with my white chocolate. It is not necessary by any means, but it does produce better results.

ALTERNATE METHOD, MICROWAVE: If you'd like you can also melt the chocolate using your microwave. Just place the shortening and chocolate in a microwave safe bowl. Heat for 30-45 seconds then remove and stir to combine. Continue to heat and stir until your chocolate and shortening are completely melted and uniformly mixed. 

Step 4: Dip

 

 

 Place a sheet of wax paper on your cookie sheet.

Dip your bacon (now cooled) into your hot chocolate mixture. I chose to cover only a portion of the bacon since I found it pleasing to still be able to see some bacon in the end product. If you'd like to, cover the entire strip.

Once dipped to your liking, place your bacon on your wax paper. Continue with all of your strips of bacon. Chill your bacon strips in your fridge until chocolate is solid.  

Step 5: White Chocolate

 

While your chocolate bacon is cooling, melt your white chocolate chips using instructions from step 3. Once the white chocolate has melted, use a rubber spatula to scrape it into a clean ziplock bag. Cut a small corner off of your ziplock bag that you can squeeze your chocolate out of.   

Step 6: Decorate

 

Using the ziplock bag, squeeze out your white chocolate into any design you want. Once you're done decorating, pop your bacon back into the fridge. Cool in the refrigerator until the chocolate is hardened.

Get creative and have fun with your bacon bits. :D 

Step 7: Fancy Brunch Anyone?

 

 

Take your chocolate dipped bacon to your next potluck, party, or serve it at a decadent brunch! It definitely goes well with pancakes. Enjoy your new sweet and salty dynamic duo!

How To Make the Perfect Summer Cocktail: the Kentucky Mule

by laladiesman

Summer is upon us. This beautiful, hot season will be filled with outdoor everything; whether it’s a party with friends and family or a relaxing night in. This great, refreshing cocktail will get the party started or keep you from overheating in the sweltering heat. The combination of mint, lime, ginger and whiskey are refreshing and will keep people begging for more. This cocktail is a twist on the Moscow Mule; this way is just making it a little more American. This would be a wonderful cocktail to have at your Fourth of July party! So lets get started!

Step 1: Make a trip…to the store (if you don’t have these already)

 

You will need the following:
- A bundle of mint leaves
- Lime (one will make four cocktails, plus one more for garnish). You could use lime juice from a bottle, but it’s definitely better when it comes from an actual lime.
- Ginger beer (not ale!) I suggest everything but Reed’s Ginger Beer. It’s too sweet; get something spicy!
- Whiskey. Preferably a bourbon from Kentucky, like Maker’s Mark.
- Ice (if your freezer doesn’t already produce it)
- Copper mugs. A regular glass will work if you do not want to spend money on a few. They can be found at any kitchen-oriented stores (Sur La Table, Crate and Barrel, etc.)
- One shaker.
- One muddler. A spoon/fork will work just fine. I won’t tell anyone if you don’t!
- A knife. Use caution after two or more Kentucky Mules!

Step 2: Preparation is key!

 

Make sure everything is clean, once that is done…
- Leave mint leaves whole (muddling will break the leaves up)
- Cut lime into quarters.

Step 3: Get angry and muddle!

 

What I mean by this is...
- Throw mint leaves and 1/4 of a lime into the shaker.
- Muddle it, till there’s nothing left to muddle.Don’t be afraid to let today’s troubles get in the way of your muddling. Let your anger out on the lime and mint!

Step 4: Combine the (rest of the) good stuff.

 

- Add ice and an ounce and a half of whiskey to the muddled lime and mint in the shaker.
- Mix the flavors together, so shake lightly.

Step 5: Enjoy!

 

- Pour all (shaken) ingredients into copper mug.
- Top off with about 4 ounces of ginger beer and some more ice.
- Garnish with lime wheel and a mint leaf.
Enjoy this with your friends and family on a hot summer evening or enjoy this at home with your closest loved one. I hope this cocktail let you sit back, relax, and enjoy your surroundings. This cocktail goes great with any meal, so enjoy it whenever you want! End your week, full of stress, with this cocktail.
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OTHER POST   by DrinkEssentials

Nice read Instructables.

1) Most ginger beers are already sweet so depending on preference, you might not need the simple syrup.
2) Swap vodka with rum and you have a Dark & Stormy. Swap vodka with tequila and you have a Mexican Mule (Cinco de Mayo is around the corner you know).
3) Muddle in your favorite fruit to kick things up a notch (we like blueberries and strawberries).
4) Our classic Mule recipe: fill a copper mug with ice, squeeze in 1/2 a lime (full lime if you like 'em more acidic), 2 oz vodka (no sense in messing' around...get to the point already) then fill up your mug with a good ginger beer.
5) A quality spirit and ginger beer is key. For vodka, try Tito's...nice, clean taste. For ginger beer, Fever Tree & Q Ginger Beer are our 2 favorites.
6) If you have copper mugs, store them in the freezer for at least 30 minutes until party time.
7) Here are some additional recipes if needed:http://www.drinkwareessentials.com/9-different-wa...
While the Mule is certainly trendy, you can't argue with the fact they're **delicious** and on a hot day, very refreshing.

Bike tool key set (MOD)

by stuartcom

This is a guide on how to make your own flip out key set using a bike multi tool set kit

Step 1: Take off the tools

Depending on how many keys you may have take off one side (or two) of the tools on the tool kit and check to see if the keys match up to the bolt that runs through it. If the keys don't line up you would have to find a circular file and round out the holes so the bolt can go through them.

Step 2: Line up the keys

Once you know that each key will fit on the bolt line the keys up in a way that you know they fit together and then using the washers from the tools that came off thread each key on and add a washer after.

Step 3: Tighten the nuts and bolts

Tighten the bolt up but make sure you don't over tighten because the keys wont be able to move around otherwise.

Step 4: Finished

Now enjoy having all your keys together in one holder.

If you liked this instructable please favorite and vote!

This is where I got mine from -

http://www.sportsdirect.com/dunlop-multi-tool-pack..

The Bat-shelf

by Lord_Pruitt

Ok, so I have a lonely, boring corner on my desk at work.  It just NEEDS something to make it, and me, happy.  Plus, I spend way more time riding a desk now that I'd like.  And I could always use a little more storage space for my stuff.

Thus, the idea for the bat-shelf was born.

Step 1: Resources & Materials

Materials
one piece of 1" x 12" plank, 8 foot long
a scrape piece of 1" x 12" plank, 1 foot long
18 stainless steel screws
one piece of 1/2" quarter round
four finish nails


Tools
skill saw
jig saw
sander
cordless drill / screwdriver
hammer
miscellaneous colored markers
2" paint brush
pre-stain treatment
red oak stain
clear coat

I decided that I wanted a 36" high shelf - with three shelves, but the difficultly here is that I need the shelves to be about 13" apart.  A mathematical conundrum!

Ok, so use ye old skill saw to cut the 8' piece into two 3' pieces (these are going to be the supports), and two 11&3/4" pieces (these will be shelves).  Then trim the scrap 1" x 12" piece to match the other two shelves.

Next whip out the jig saw to put a curve on the shelves.  This cut will be followed by the sander, to smooth the cuts into a pretty arc.

Step 2: Research & Artwork

Ok, so I wanted to combine a bunch of different elements from a bunch of different versions of the Batcave.  How to do that?  You guessed it - the internet.  First I research the trophy room aspect of it, along with playing cards, pennies, and T-rexs.  Then I searched for a good photo of the atomic pile from the Adam West era.  The I checked out the modern version of the garage, the batwing parking, and the armory.

After assembling my research, I pulled out my sketch book and did some doodles.  This was to get an idea of the layout for my shelving unit.  Once I had a semi-idea about it, I pulled out my Sharpies and got to work.

Step 3: Some assembly required

Ok, so everything is cut, marked, drawn, and colored - now it's time to assemble our Batcave.

While I do think using screws is just about the best thing to use for wood assembly, I also believe in drilling pilot holes.  So, I used a 3/32" drill bit and some 1 5/8" x 7 square drive exterior trim screws.  Three per side per shelf.

I clamped the first shelf in place and attached both supporting backs.  The I flipped it sideways, and attached the other shelves the same way.

I didn't photograph it, but I cut a piece of 1/2" quarter round and placed in the spine groove space.

Step 4:

Ok, now that we have the whole unit assembled, it's time to pre-stain, stain and finish the shelf, getting it ready for usage.

The most difficult part of the phase was getting Mother Nature to cooperate enough, with temperatures being high enough, for me to apply the pre-stain and stain.  I guess that's what I get for doing this in the middle of winter, right?

Since I'm using soft wood (ie, pine), a pre-stain is necessary  for mostly even absorption.  So pre-stain first (as per directions), and after it dries enough, apply the stain (per directions as well).

Step 5: Finishing the Bat Cave

Now, time to apply at least four coats of polyurethane - I like my shelves to be slick and durable.

I must apologize - I didn't take any photos during the month that I worked on this.  Due to temperature fluctuation, this part took a little while to finish.

And here is the finished Bat Cave, level by level.

Step 6: Post Script

One thing I wish I had done?  Used more colors.

I was afraid that the application of the stain would bleed-out or over-power the colors, so I didn't use that many.  The stain work did make the line work difficult to see, but the colors come through pretty well.

The moral of this story?  Don't be afraid to color the bejezzles out of your project.