Candied Bacon

Ingredients

1/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
2 tablespoons maple syrup 
Ground black pepper to taste
1 pound thick-sliced bacon

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350 F. In a bowl, mix brown sugar, rice vinegar, maple syrup and black pepper. Place bacon slices on cooling rack set over a baking sheet. Bake in oven for 10 minutes, turn slices, and bake 5 minutes more.

Remove bacon from oven and brush both sides with the brown sugar mixture. Return bacon to the oven and bake another 5 minutes. Repeat basting every 5 minutes, turning bacon each time, until bacon is browned and crisp, about 30 minutes.

Serve as is for a snack or appetizer. Crumble and use as a topping for other dishes, such as waffles, pancakes, baked beans or chili. Store tightly sealed in plastic bags for up to two days.