Nine times out of ten, when you want to take a dish from good to unforgettable, you just need to add bacon — its magical combination of crunchy, salty and savory can make just about anything irresistible. So in the spirit of our indulgent January, why not have a whole evening devoted to our favorite pork product?

Here are three dishes to get your bacon-fueled dinner party started. 

Baked Brie with Bacon and Apples 
Start your bacon-forward dinner with this impressive-looking appetizer that can be whipped up in a snap. The key to this dish's presentation is parchment paper, which does double duty in both lining the baking pan and acting as the perfect way to transport the gooey brie wheel from oven to platter flawlessly. 
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Smokey Bacon and Black-Eyed Pea Salad
Who says a bacon dish can't be healthy too? A combination of bacon, black-eyed peas, peppers, red onions and celery makes this crunchy salad a hearty yet somewhat healthy. You can serve this salad right after assembling it, but if you have a little time, let it cool in the fridge to let all of the flavors settle in nicely. 
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Bacon-Jalapeño Mac and Cheese
Bacon and cheese make the perfect pair, bringing just the right amount of indulgence to your dinner, and adding jalapeño to the mix gives this recipe a perfect kick of heat to make it a standout dish. Feel free to make this recipe the day before; just let the completed dish cool at room temperature and then store in the fridge until you're ready to serve up some mac and cheese goodness. 
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Photo credit (Smokey Bacon and Black-Eyed Pea Salad): Lisa Lotts
Photo credit (Bacon-Jalapeno Mac and Cheese): Ideabar Austin