Pork and Whiskey has moved

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Pork and Whiskey is now porknwhiskey.com

The blog has moved…. Pork n Whisk(e)y

Pork and Whiskey moving to a new domain soon

Check in as I’ll be moving the blog to PorkNWhiskey.com soon.

Instant Bacon

Yes I’m still alive.

Bad blog owner.

Bad

Heaven must be in Baltimore

Bacon and Beer Happy Hour at Bad Decisions from Gavin on Vimeo.

Bigfoot Barleywine braised Pork Belly and Chevre Grits

Bigfoot Barleywine and pork belly

I’ve been wanting to braise a pork belly for a while and couldn’t really find one recipe that looked like what I wanted so I figured what the hell I’ll try my own. I decided on trying some beer for the braising liquid and despite all the warnings I used an ale that was pretty hoppy, namely Sierra Nevada’s Bigfoot Barleywine style Ale. I anticipated the sweetness would reduce down to make a great sauce and hoped the hops wouldn’t overpower the pork. Mostly I was right. You should be able to get pork belly from any decent butcher. Try and pick one that has a nice mix of both red meat and fat and without skin. If there is too much fat you may have to trim a little but do not go crazy, this is pork belly remember. It is going to be fatty. You WANT it to be fatty. Don’t fear the lipids. Fat=flavor

Duh: Bacon helps hangovers

In an obvious merging of the title of this blog.

Bacon sandwich really does cure a hangover

Researchers claim food also speeds up the metabolism helping the body get rid of the booze more quickly.

Elin Roberts, of Newcastle University’s Centre for Life said: “Food doesn’t soak up the alcohol but it does increase your metabolism helping you deal with the after-effects of over indulgence. So food will often help you feel better.

“Bread is high in carbohydrates and bacon is full of protein, which breaks down into amino acids. Your body needs these amino acids, so eating them will make you feel good.”

Ms Roberts told The Mirror: “Bingeing on alcohol depletes neurotransmitters too, but bacon contains a high level of aminos which tops these up, giving you a clearer head.”

Researchers also found a complex chemical interaction in the cooking of bacon produces the winning combination of taste and smell which is almost irresistible.

The reaction between amino acids in the bacon and reducing sugars in the fat is what provides the sandwich with its appeal.

Ms Roberts said: “The smell of sizzling bacon in a pan is enough to tempt even the staunchest of vegetarians. There’s something deeper going on inside. It’s not just the idea of a tasty snack. There is some complex chemistry going on.

“Meat is made of mostly protein and water. Inside the protein, it’s made up of building blocks we call amino acids. But also, you need some fat. Anyone who’s been on a diet knows if you take all the fat from the meat, it just doesn’t taste the same. We need some of the fat to give it the flavour.”

She explained that the reaction released hundreds of smells and flavours but it is the smell which reels in the eater. “Smell and taste are really closely linked,” she said. “If we couldn’t smell then taste wouldn’t be the same.”

Happy Repeal Day

On this day 75 years ago the forces of reason defeated a small part of the forces of religious stupidity and party pooperness and Ratified the 21st amendment to the Constitution of the United States of American repealing the idiotic 18th Amendment / Volstead act.

In your face Women’s Christian Temperance Union!!

Happy Repeal Day

Diet coke WITH BACON