Post-Gym Bacon Obsession

Confession: This household is officially obsessed with bacon.

Last semester, when we were still stranded in the dorms, after a long and seriously exhausting trip to the gym we would crave one thing: sushi. Or should I say "sushi" in quotation marks. The gym has a health-food bar that includes California rolls, Philadelphia rolls, Eel rolls, etc. and after a long workout, these "sushi" rolls used to be heavenly in comparison to what awaited us at the diner--lukewarm fries, dried out chicken tenders, and grease-dripping pizza.

But now, with the addition of our kitchen, the love of our lives, to our gym routine came the addition of something else: BACON. Yes, that's right, bacon. After missing our yoga class by 15 minutes due to an unannounced time change, we resorted to two hours of ellipticals, abs, "racquetball" (again, in quotation marks. We don't play by the rules. There's far too much thinking and running involved. Our one rule: hit the ball if it comes near you / if you feel like it. But I digress...) After two long hours at the gym, there was only one thing on our minds: BACON. We had just restocked our bacon supply after finishing that 3lb box. Our solution? Bacon Cheese Dogs.

So, upon arriving back at the homey warmth of our kitchen--I mean apartment--our first order of business: get that bacon cookin'. And by first our order of business, I really mean the FIRST order of business. This was pre-showers. Unsanitary? Maybe. Disgusting? Yes. But absolutely crucial and probably our best decision that night? Most definitely.

We don't think a recipe is needed in this post. Cook your bacon, cook your hot dogs, melt cheese on those buns (our choices: cheddar, Gouda, or Provolone), and put it all together. The awesomeness that will ensue when that first bit hits your tongue can only be described as a gastronomical miracle, a foodgasm, and/or the greatest thing that you have ever created at 10:30 at night. Most of us know the feeling of being starving after the gym. But not many of us have the luxury of finding that ideal food to perfectly fit the craving mold. THIS IS THAT FOOD.

The soft crisp of the bun as your teeth pierce it's golden brown edges is followed ever-so-smoothly by the warm velvety ooze of the perfectly melted cheese. The pop of the hot dog edges signals the release of that salty brine we all know so well. But the perfect end to the slow-motion bite is the crunch and crisp of the bacon itself--the perfect textural complement to the softness of the rest of the composition. All this is topped off by the sour-spiciness of a thin coat of Dijon mustard spread ever-so-gently on the inside of the bun and the sweet-tanginess of a squiggle of ketchup along the side of the hot dog.

We must warn you: some common side effects of viewing the following photos may include uncontrollable salivation potentially ending in full-on drooling, seriously loud stomach growling, and the sudden urge to stand up from your desk and run to your nearest source of bacon-y goodness. Enjoy.