"Absolutely love this recipe and it's easy to make. Alton is right... there is nothing like the taste of making your own bacon. I know that the recipe calls for no nitrates (Pink Salt) but I usually add a little. I've made it with and with out. With out.... it will taste like bacon but won't have the "red" color that we are use to with bacon. With pink salt.... it will maintain the red color. Also, I used liquid smoke in my latest batch instead of actually cold smoking with great results. In my smoker, it's hard to control the temperature when it begins to warm up outside which gave me the idea of liquid. I got a huge "thumbs up" from the family."