Historical Bacon Bits

    Of all the amenities we feel we can not live without, bacon would have to be number one on my list.  Man, I do love bacon!

     Bacon has been around for a long time, clear back to the Roman era.  I can just see the Roman folks, lounging in their togas, enjoying a few strips of bacon.  Bacon probably played a part in the ancient Romans idea of a government by the people.  Discussing democracy over a bacon sandwich obviously had a good outcome.

     Sometime in the 1600's, bacon became a common, cheap staple for the European peasants.  I'll bet they figured out that eggs where even better when they teamed them up with a side of bacon.  I read an article that a French explorer by the name of Rene-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, try to say that with a mouth full of bacon, was the first European to navigate the whole length of the Mississippi River.   Back in 1687, poor Rene-Bob (for short) met his maker at the hands of mutineers in present day Texas.  Too bad he didn't have some bacon fried up ahead of time, bacon can solve a multitude of problems.

     Growing up in a county that prides itself as being the pork capital of the world, I thought we might hold the title for the best bacon around.  But an Englishman by the name of John Harris, much easier to pronounce, holds that honor.  In the 1770's he masterminded a large scale of bacon production in a town called Wittshire.  To this day, they are considered the Bacon Capital of the World.  Maybe I will visit there someday and bring back a bacon key chain.

     Bacon has even influenced the way we speak.  Who has not heard the term, "bringing home the bacon"?  This figure of speech came to use in the 12th century.  If a man could swear before God and the congregation that he had not had a cross word with his wife for  an entire year and a day, he got a side of bacon.  Any man who could "bring home the bacon" was the most respected guy in town..........I'm thinking he was probably the biggest liar in town too, but hey, when it comes to bacon, a guy's gotta do what a guy's gotta do.

     Bacon can be cooked numerous ways and I imagine everyone has their favorite.  I like mine crispy but I have a grandson who prefers his on the opposite end of the scale.  We call it wimpy bacon.  The flavor of bacon has infused everything from ice cream and vodka, to donuts and mints.  Just think about the make up kiss after the savoriness of a bacon flavored mint.....Woohoo!  There is even a commercial for a pizza wrapped with over three feet of bacon.  That is about as close to bacon heaven as one can get.

     In this country, most bacon comes from the pork belly, but the idea of having an egg and pork belly sandwich just doesn't carry the same appeal.  Neither does pork belly bits.  No, I do not want any of those on my salad, but they can sure bring on the bacon.