Maple-Roasted Bacon

Ingredients:
3/4 pound thick-cut smoked bacon (16 slices)
1 to 2 T good maple syrup

Variations: Grind freshly ground pepper onto the bacon after basting in maple syrup; a heaping teaspoon of dijon mustard mixed into the maple syrup before basting

Preparing the bacon:
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Place a baking rack on a sheet pan and arrange the bacon in 1 layer on the baking rack. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until the bacon begins to brown. Remove the pan carefully from the oven; there will be hot grease in the pan! Brush the bacon slices with maple syrup and bake for another 3 to 5 minutes, until the bacon is a warm golden brown. Transfer the bacon to a plate lined with paper towels and serve warm.

Serves 4 to 8