Candied Bacon

Kerry makes these for the Maman annual chili cook-off and they are always so popular.  

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

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix brown sugar, rice vinegar, maple syrup and black pepper in a small bowl.

Place bacon slices on cooling rack over a baking sheet.

Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes, turn slices, and bake another 5 minutes.

Remove bacon and brush both sides with brown sugar mixture.  Return bacon to the oven and bake another 5 minutes.  Repeat basting every 5 minutes until bacon is browned and crisp, about 35 minutes.

adapted from allrecipes.com