For a long time now, I’ve wanted to cure my own bacon. A lot of that desire came well before I lost the ability to consume bacon in amounts approaching a regular person’s consumption of it, but I can still gnaw on a small piece or two while everyone is chowing down like there is no tomorrow on a plate of fried porky goodness.

Finally, in the spirit of the new year and getting things done, here we go. The first thing we need is a decent sized piece of pork belly, skin on.

Check.

Next, the cure – and not the Robert Smith kind. Basic: salt, pink salt, brown sugar, and maple syrup.

Is this not going to make some kickass bacon? Just look at it. You can tell its potential by a single glance, where this belly longs to be made into something even more glorious it is right now.

Rub your belly well with the cure.

Bundle it up, and into the fridge it goes, turning every other day.

In about a week, it should be ready to go on the smoker.

When I ordered the belly, I also ordered some back fat.

Why, you ask, would anyone willingly order pork fat like this?

One word: sausage.