Twisted Stripper Recipes

TWISTED BACON

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Twist each slice of bacon tightly then lay the on the parchment-lined baking sheet, the pieces can be touching.
• Bake the bacon for 20 minutes, then remove and use tongs to flip the bacon, then bake for an additional 20 minutes.

SUNNY'S TWISTED BACON

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or nonstick aluminum foil. Take each strip of bacon and twist it along the length being careful to not stretch, just twist. Place the twisted strip on the prepared baking sheet and repeat with the rest, nestling them close together on the baking sheet.
• In a small bowl, add the brown sugar, thyme, dry mustard, paprika, garlic powder and plenty of black pepper. Mix with a fork until combined.
• Sprinkle the sugar mixture all over the bacon. Bake for about 40 minutes. The twists will be slightly flimsy. Let the bacon cool on the baking sheet for 30 minutes, loosening every 10 minutes so they don't stick to the baking sheet. They will firm up once cooled down.

PAN-FRIED STRIPED BASS WITH LEMON SAUCE

Steps:

• For the sauce, whisk together: 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, 1/4 teaspoon lemon zest, 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, Salt, Fresh-ground black pepper.
• Taste for salt and lemon juice and adjust as desired. The sauce will separate as it sits; this is not a problem.
• Season: 4 pieces striped bass, skin on (4 to 6 ounces each) with: Salt, Fresh-ground black pepper.
• Choose a heavy-bottomed pan for frying the fish. Take another, slightly smaller pan that will fit into the pan for the fish, and wrap its bottom with foil. This pan will be used as a weight to hold the fish flat against the frying pan to ensure that all of the skin will cook and crisp. (You will see the fish contract when it goes into the hot pan, as the skin shrinks on contact with the heat.) Warm the larger pan over medium-high heat. When hot, pour in: Olive oil, enough to generously coat the bottom.
• Add the pieces of bass, skin side down, and place the foil-wrapped pan on top of the fish. Cook until the skin is brown and crispy, about 7 minutes. Check now and then to see that the fish is indeed browning, but not overbrowning. Adjust the heat up or down to speed up or slow down the cooking as needed. When the skin is browned, remove the top pan and turn the fish. Cook for another minute or so, until the fish is just cooked through, but is still moist and tender inside. Meanwhile whisk the lemon sauce together again and pour it onto a warm plate. Serve the fish skin side up, on top of the sauce.
• Garnish the fish with a couple spoonfuls of chopped tender herbs such as parsley, chives, chervil, cilantro, or basil.
• Soak, rinse, and squeeze dry a tablespoon or so of capers. When the fish is cooked add the capers to the hot pan and sauté for a minute or two. Remove with a slotted spoon and scatter over the fish.
• Make a Beurre Blanc (Warm Butter Sauce; page 228) instead of the olive oil sauce.