Smoky Jalapeno Bites

luvn-n-the-oven's Note:

I LOVE a jalapeno popper, but I always hate when I bite into the peppers that are cut in half lengthwise and all the yummy cheese pulls off, or you don't get a piece of bacon in every bite, etc. The 2-3 bite process really ruined the deliciousness for me, so my husband came up with a great solution. The flavors in this tasty treat are much the same as many other jalapeno appetizers, but these are cut to be perfectly bite-sized. Note: these can be fully assembled a day ahead of time and baked when it's time to serve.

• Total Time: 1 hrs 5 mins
• Prep Time: 45 mins
• Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients:

Serves: 12-15

Yield: 45.0 jalapen ...

• 15 -20 fresh jalapeno peppers
• 8 ounces cream cheese
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 2 (16 ounce) packages bacon, slices cut in half
• 40 -50 toothpicks, soaked in water 15 minutes

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Prepare broiler pan by spraying with a non-stick spray.
2. Remove stems from peppers and cut each pepper into 1/2" to 3/4" rounds (you should get about 3 from each pepper).
3. Using a paring knife or an apple corer, remove seeds and ribs from the inside of each pepper round (rubber gloves will be your best friend during this step). I rinse off the pepper after they're seeded to remove some of the spicy oils. (Alternate method: you can also slice in half lengthwise, clean out the seeds and ribs, then slice crosswise. This is a little quicker.).
4. Lay out the halved bacon slices. Place a pepper round in the middle of each one.
5. Stuff each pepper round with cream cheese and top with a sprinkle of cheddar cheese.
6. Fold each end of bacon over the pepper round, overlapping the ends and securing with a toothpick.
7. Place on broiler pan and bake for 20-25 minutes or until bacon is fully cooked.

Reviews

[Peachie Keene]

Outstanding says it best! Although this is quite a tedious recipe, the result is WELL worth the wait :) Definitely not for the health concious, because you can't stop at one. I took at least one short cut though, I put the cream cheese and cheddar (I used soy Veggie Shreds) in a sandwhich bag and put it in the microwave for 25 seconds and then smushed the bag with my hands(nice stress reliever too!). Do this long enough and it mixes the two cheeses together thoroughly with out getting your hands or any dishes dirty. And then I snipped off the corner of the bag and used that too squeeze the mixture into each pepper round. The only other thing I recommend for the next cook is to be sure you have the LONG bacon slices so that they will fit securely around the round, and don't over stuff because it will ooze out during cooking ;) Thanks luvn-n-the-oven!

[Patticake24]

These were so good! If you are making these for a crowd, you had better make a LOT as they go fast! I served these as appetizers with B.L.A (bacon, lettuce, apple) Bites # 252447 and everyone LOVED it! The two complimented ewach other nicely!