Bacon

There were few laugh lines in U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner's Thursday morning address to Baltimore's business community. But one of the biggest resulted from a bizarre off-script non sequitur Geithner made early in his speech. Setting: Fourth-floor conference room at the Marriott Waterfront Hotel in Harbor East. Three hundred of Baltimore's most influential business and political leaders are seated at round, white-clothed tables.

Overcooking is what kills asparagus for most people. Memories of gray, limp and pungent spears follow wary eaters like ghosts from a nightmare. But when treated right, asparagus is a versatile and complex vegetable. Its flavor profile can switch from green and grassy to sweet and nutty just depending on how it's cooked. That's why so many chefs love to put this "grande dame of spring" on their menus. Ben Simpkins, the executive chef at Richardson Farms in White Marsh, makes an asparagus "cappuccino," in which a cup half-filled with hot asparagus soup is topped with cold asparagus foam made by shooting the cold soup through a whipped-cream gun. "I love asparagus, and this is my favorite dish," says Simpkins.

On February 22, 2006 KAY beloved wife of Bob Bacon, devoted mother of Kathy Mc Cormick and husband John and Bill Bacon and wife Cindy, step-mother of Don Bacon and wife Denise, Rob Bacon and wife Mary Ann, Jeff Bacon and wife Caryn, dear grandmother of twelve. Family and friends are invited to attend a Memorial Service on Saturday at 11 a.m. in St. James Episcopal Church, 3100 Monkton Road, Monkton, MD 21111. Inurnment Private. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in her memory to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 11403 Cronhill Drive, Suite E, Owings Mills, MD 21117.

There were few laugh lines in U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner's Thursday morning address to Baltimore's business community. But one of the biggest resulted from a bizarre off-script non sequitur Geithner made early in his speech. Setting: Fourth-floor conference room at the Marriott Waterfront Hotel in Harbor East. Three hundred of Baltimore's most influential business and political leaders are seated at round, white-clothed tables.

On December 28, 2005, JOHN FOSTER BACON; beloved husband of Phoebe Bacon (nee Follmer); son of the late Lewis M. Bacon, Jr., and Ruth Heller Bacon; devoted father of Phoebe Edwards Bacon, Deborah H. Bacon Nelson and her husband Daniel, Thomas Follmer Bacon and Laurie M. Bacon Meister; grandfather of John Foster Nelson, Alice Heller Nelson, Samuel Follmer Meister and William Bacon Meister; uncle of Donald H. Eunson, Jr., and his partner Douglas Evans....

On September 11, 2004, SUSAN DOSH "Suzy"; loving daughter of John Foster and Phoebe Follmer Bacon; devoted sister of Phoebe Edwards Bacon, Deborah H. Bacon Nelson and her husband Daniel, Thomas Follmer Bacon, Laurie M. Bacon Meister; beloved aunt of John Foster Nelson, Alice Heller Nelson, Samuel Follmer Meister and William Bacon Meister; cousin of Donald H. Eunson, Jr. Also survived by a host of faithful friends. Memorial Gathering to be announced. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be directed in Ms. Bacon's name to Maryland Food Bank, 241 N. Franklintown Road, Baltimore, 21223 or Center for Poverty Solutions, 2521 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218.

On September 5, 2003, CHARLES WALTER BACON of Eldersburg, beloved husband of Eleanor Stock Stratten Bacon. devoted father of Jeffrey Bacon and his wife Melissa and Stephen Bacon and his wife Teresa; dearest grandfather of Kyle Bacon, loving brother of Walter E. Bacon and Jane Seals and hus husband George; dearest cousin of Kass Willhite; also survived by many nieces, nephews and friends. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, September 20, 2003 at 11 A.M. from Messiah Lutheran Church, 5600 Old Washington Rd., (Rt. 97 South)

On April 10, 2003 MARGARET M. (nee Weisgerber) beloved wife of the late Marcellus C. Bacon; devoted mother of Ronald C. and Roger C. Bacon; dear sister of William, Charlotte and Henry. Also survived by one grandson and two great-grandsons. Relatives and friends are invited to call at the LORING BYERS FUNERAL DIRECTORS, INC., 8728 Liberty Rd. (2 mi. W. of Beltway Exit 18B) on Sunday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Funeral Services will be held in the St. Paul's Lutheran Church (7902 Liberty Rd.)

On August 17, 2009, THELMA GERALDINE BACON ELSEY; devoted mother of two sons, Earl R. Elsey Jr. and Joseph H. Elsey; two daughters, Bernadette Y. Elsey-Lewis and Michele Elsey. Also survived by one brother, Isaac J. Bacon; sisters, Varnetta W. Armes and Marion J. King; and a host of other family and friends. Friends may call the WYLIE FUNERAL HOMES, P.A. OF BALTIMORE COUNTY, 9200 Liberty Road, on Monday from 6 to 8 P.M. Funeral Services will be held on Tuesday at the address mentioned above.

Actor Kevin Bacon brought his star power to a charity event Wednesday at the University of Maryland, College Park. But the cheers the actor received were not as loud as the hoots and hollers directed toward the six student groups competing for $5,000 toward their favorite causes. The competition — called the "Do Good" Challenge — is part of an effort by the school to make philanthropy more of a focus in academics and student life. The winner was The Food Recovery Network, which developed a system of collecting food from campus dining halls that would otherwise go to waste and distributing it to homeless shelters.

Bacon lovers, are you sitting down? Better yet -- are you dead? If so, your dream product is here. Today they guys who brought the world Bacon Salt, Baconnaise and most recently, Bacon Lube, unveiled their latest creation: the bacon coffin. For those who love bacon to death. "You ate bacon, you decorated your body with bacon, your car with bacon and your home with bacon," the release says. "And now, you can peacefully rest wrapped in bacon. " The coffins are painted to look just like the deceased's favorite food -- with what the company calls a "bacon and pork shading.

The nerd in me says books but rest of me wants bacon. Mmm … bacon. Luke Broadwater, reporter, The Baltimore Sun A zombified Bea Arthur would add the celebrity element an event like this cries out for. Anne Tallent, editor, b Break dancing, just because. Wesley Case, reporter, b Bed, Bath & Beyond. Shopping is always more fun with a little Bourbon on board. Pick up some barware and napkins to wipe the BBQ sauce off your fingers.

This week's recipe is from Weight Watchers. Seems like a good recipe to make in a big batch and eat on all week. I know I love leftovers for lunch. If you have a healthy recipe you'd like to share please e-mail me at andrea.walker@baltsun.com .  1 pound uncooked asparagus, trimmed, cut into bite-sized pieces 12 oz uncooked whole wheat penne pasta 1 cup fresh tomatos chopped 2 Tbs chopped, fresh parsley 1 1/2 tsp balsamic vinegar 3 slices uncooked reduced fat bacon cut into small pieces 2 large eggs beaten 1/2 tsp table salt 1/4 tsp black pepper 2 Tbs reduced-fat sour cream 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese Instructions: Boil asparagus in a large pot of water for 2 minutes.

NAME : Lady OWNER : Don, Denise, Jeff and Kevin HOW THEY MET : Most outgoing puppy in the litter (hence her nickname Spunks) AGE: 14 HOME : Hampstead BREED : English Springer Spaniel BEST TRICK : Balancing a treat on her nose, tossing and catching it FAVORITE ACTIVITY : Belly rubs FAVORITE FOOD : Bacon FUNNIEST MOMENT : We had a yard sale and a customer was so impressed with Lady's repertoire of tricks that he wanted to buy her. MASTER OF HER DOMAIN : Lady believes that she rules all that she sees and barks when neighbors are in “her” yard.

To Baltimoreans by residence or in spirit, to Baltimoreans in need of comfort - that is, anyone with a corpuscle of love for the Ravens - I offer what works for me during any winter of discontent: coq au vin. The Super Bowl is a week away, and most of us will watch it, wondering what might have been had Billy Cundiff … or Lee Evans ... but never mind that. There are no comforting words for what happened last Sunday and what will happen next Sunday: our New England nemesis versus the New York franchise the Ravens trounced in the big game 11 long years ago. So let's try the coq au vin. Let me be clear: This is neither tailgate food nor a dish that requires a varsity letter in culinary arts.

An Poitin Stil offers the least expensive bison burger I've seen in these parts, at a penny under 10 bucks. I planned to check it out during this trip to the Timonium Irish pub. But then I saw the Backyard BBQ Burger ($8.99). The Backyard offers two types of cheeses, bacon, caramelized onions and homemade barbecue sauce for a dollar less than the bison burger. Those extras can cost you 75 cents apiece if you add them to the Stil's bison or angus burger. To keep this meal under $10 and still enjoy the civilizing effects of cheese and bacon, the Backyard was an easy choice.