Spicy Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers
When I heard it was National Hot & Spicy Food Day August 19th, it made me think what foods do I consider spicy? I couldn’t think of anything off the top of my head that really burns my mouth and makes me reach for the first drink I could pour down my throat. This thought kinda scared me, thinking have my taste buds become so accustomed to spice that I don’t even really consider food that hot anymore, and in turn just think of those dishes as tasty? Then I thought there is no way this could be true. I thought about steak picado, chile verde, chile rellenos, and still I didn’t imagine myself fanning my tongue with little sips of air being pulled between my teeth. What was it last that really burned me good? That type of spicy food that I couldn’t get enough of even though the heat was on?
Then I remembered…Jalapeno poppers. Oh yes, those little devils are certainly spicy and always leave me with a happy chile burn. I especially like when you get closer to the top of the chile where the stem is, because that is where the hottest bite lives. It’s a magical experience to have both the spicy of the chile and the creaminess of the cheese. A pair I live to eat.
Jalapeno poppers are definitely a treat, and I enjoy making them when guests are coming over, or I have a late night of working, or for family movie night. I believe the real magic to the jalapeno popper is Cacique® queso. I like to make mine double spicy by stuffing them with Quesadilla Jalapeno! Oh yes, then I wrap a layer of bacon around the whole thing and I know that nirvana will soon be on it’s way.
WHAT YOU NEED
- 8 – large jalapenos
- 1 – package Cacique® Quesadilla Jalapeno cheese (grated)
- 16 – slices of bacon
- 16 - toothpicks
HOW TO MAKE IT
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Wash and dry jalapenos. Slice jalapenos in half (length wise). Using a pairing knife remove the seeds from the inside of each half.
- Stuff with Cacique® Quesadilla Jalapeno cheese, and really pack it in (about 1 1/2 tablespoons each half). Wrap the jalapeno in bacon, and secure the end with a toothpick.
- Place on a baking rack that is lined with a cookie sheet underneath it. Bake for 25 minutes. Then turn off the oven and place under broiler for 5 additional minutes to really brown bacon. Allow to cool for 5 minutes before eating.
