6 ways to celebrate International Bacon Day

You’ve heard of applewood, you’ve heard of smoked — you’ve probably even heard of Canadian bacon. But what about speck, gypsy bacon or slab bacon? On Sept. 3, you can enjoy the delicious, addictive meat in all its forms on International Bacon Day. People have been gobbling up this cured delicacy since at least 1500 BC, but the first patent for modern packaged bacon went to Oscar Meyer in 1924.

The average American eats nearly 18 pounds of bacon a year. That’s a lot of bacon. So, here are six ways to celebrate International Bacon Day without overdoing it and breaking the piggy bank.

1. Host a Bacon Potluck Party

You love bacon. Your friends love bacon. Throw a potluck-style Bacon Day party, but make sure your friends chip in too. You’ll save money if everyone brings a dish of their own to share with the rest of the bacon lovers — and maybe some beer, too. There are literally hundreds of recipes with bacon, from bacon-wrapped jalapeno popper burgers to bacon maple shortbread and bacon guacamole.

2. Go to a Bacon Day Celebration

You’re not the only one who loves bacon. Across the country, businesses, bars and restaurants are hosting Bacon Day events that you can enjoy. Here are a few of the best:

San Diego Bacon Fest: This festival takes place from 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 3 at Preble Field, NTC Park. Tickets cost $60, $100 for VIP. That may seem pricey, but you are entitled to unlimited samples of all the rare and exotic bacon-themed food and drink the festival offers.
International Bacon Day Brunch: Sept. 3 at 11 a.m. at Coppertail Brewing Co. in Tampa, Fla. $30 gets you four courses of bacon-themed goodness, as well as bacon cocktails.
San Jose Bacon Festival of America: Sept. 3 at noon through Sept. 4 at 7 p.m., for just $9.99 online or $15 at the door, you can join in on the festivities for this fourth annual event.

3. Make Bacon Cocktails

Some of the best bacon recipes aren’t food. You can celebrate with a huge variety of bacon-flavored beverages, as well. For a bacon and egg cocktail, simply shake 1.5 ounces of bacon-infused gin, 1 ounce of fresh egg whites, 1.5 ounces of lemon juice and a half ounce of orange blossom honey syrup in a cocktail shaker, strain, serve over ice in a tall glass and, of course, garnish with a strip of bacon. Go ahead: Google some more delicious bacon cocktail recipes and show off to your friends this Bacon Day.

4. Taking Advantage of Bacon Day Deals

Online retailers know you love bacon. This Bacon Day — as well as in the weeks before and after — look for coupon codes, deals and discounts for bacon and bacon-related products. Here are a just a few that we found so far:

BaconFreak.com: Enter coupon code BACONWONDER at checkout for 20 percent off your entire purchase.
J&D’s Foods: Get 30 percent off Baconnaise until Oct. 10. No code needed.
J&D’s Foods: Take 11 percent off jalapeno bacon salt until Oct. 10. No code needed.

5. Have a Bacon Cooking Competition

As part of the Big Bite Bacon Dish festival in San Diego, contestants square off in a bacon cooking competition. But you don’t need to be in Southern California to play — host your own contest among yourself and your friends. The contestants can chip in and get the winner a bacon of the month club subscription of your choosing. Want to take home first prize? Try this easy, but delicious bacon and cheese quiche from Allrecipes.com:

Ingredients:

1 (3 ounce) can bacon bits
1/2 cup chopped onion
5 ounces shredded Swiss cheese
3 ounces grated Parmesan cheese
1 (9 inch) deep dish frozen pie crust
4 eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup half-and-half cream

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400.
Mix the bacon, onions and cheese in a bowl, then place the mixture in the frozen pie crust.
Mix the eggs and half and half in a bowl, then pour it over the cheese mix.
Bake for 15 minutes at 400, and then lower the heat to 350.
Leave it in the oven for another 35 minutes, until the quiche browns on top.

6. Dress Your Dog up in a Bacon Costume

You know who loves bacon more than you? Your dog. You can score an amazing bacon pet costume at FindACostume.com for $6.95, on sale from $12.95. Depending on how good your dog looks dressed for the occasion, your pet might even make the cut for the Royal Bacon Society’s pets in bacon costumes photo gallery. Yes, that’s a real thing.

From GoBankingRates.com: Ways to celebrate International Bacon Day on the cheap