Meat Candy

The Mr.'s birthday was last weekend which meant three things were bound to happen:

1. A Party.
2. An ice cream cake.
3. A crock pot full of meat candy.

In case you've never heard of it before, meat candy is simply Lit'l Smokies wrapped in bacon, smothered in brown sugar, and baked in the oven. On a side note, I do not approve of shortening the word "little" to "lit'l" in any circumstance, but that's what they're called so Lit'l it is. 

The description of these may not sound very impressive. But let me tell you, something magical happens when these go in the oven. The flavors meld together into the perfect crispy, chewy, juicy, savory, sweet bite. It's like candy...only meaty.

Now this obviously sounds like the best thing in the world to the men reading. Meat wrapped meat is an automatic win in the Mr.'s book.

But I know some of you ladies out there are probably scoffing at this crass concoction.

Be warned scoffers! These are totally irresistible. Girls everywhere have gone weak in the knees after taking that first doubting, judgmental bite. You'll want a second, and a third, and almost assuredly a fourth and fifth. And before you know it you'll find yourself laying on the couch surrounded by toothpicks with crystallized bacon sugar all over your face.

Hey, don't say I didn't warn you.

P.S. These may just be the perfect accompaniment to some upcoming madness...if you know what I mean. *Cough* Go Bucks! *Cough*

Meat Candy
Yield: about 50 candies
Recipe adapted from Allrecipes.com

Ingredients:
1 lb. bacon (I find a thinner sliced bacon works best for this. Try to get long strips of bacon...it makes for easier wrapping)
1 package Lit'l Smokies

Absurd amount of brown sugar
50 toothpicks

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Cut the bacon strips into thirds.
3. Wrap one (third) piece bacon around one Smokie and secure with toothpick. Place on foil lined baking sheet. Repeat until Smokies and/or bacon runs out.
4. Smother with brown sugar. Really. Don't measure, just pour it on. Just make sure all the pieces have a good amount of brown sugar on them.
5. Bake for 30-40 minutes or until bacon is cooked through and crispy. Serve immediately OR keep warm by pouring a thin layer of maple syrup on the bottom of a crockpot, set on WARM, and layer meat candy on top.