From My Cookbook… Dave’s Bacon-Wrapped Stuffed Jalapeno Poppers
Jalapeño poppers are just a special kind of appetizer. Now, if you want to make them extra special, grow your own jalapeños, add half of a Little Smokie, and then wrap them in bacon. Oh Yeah! Now you’re talking!
There are over 300 recipes in my recently published cookbook, Everyday Cooking for Everyday People Like Us (Click on the link in Note 1 to get your own copy). Even in these inflationary times, we can prepare delicious meals for our family and do so in a way that does not break the budget. And it’s all in the cookbook!
Introduction
It’s summer, and if you have a garden, I hope you plant jalapeño peppers. They are so easy to grow, and then, when they start coming in, typically in late summer, you are going to have more than you can eat. I like to pickle them, freeze some for omelets, give some away, and then, of course, make poppers!
There are two popper recipes in my cookbook; the other one is by my son, Tony. Why not get the cookbook? You can have not only these two recipes but also 305 other delicious recipes for your family and friends. And like today’s poppers, they will be a hit when you prepare them.
David Giustozzi’s Stuffed Jalapeno Poppers
I’ve been making and eating jalapeno poppers for a long time now. If you buy them at a restaurant or even frozen in the store, they will likely be breaded and fried. They are good, don’t get me wrong, but if I can make good food that is not breaded and fried, then I typically choose to do that instead. Now, don’t accuse me of going all health food on you! You will note these are bacon-wrapped, have Little Smokies, and lots of cheese. Anything bacon-wrapped is going to be good; that’s just a fact. So, while I’ll take credit for not frying these, I will take my lumps for wrapping them with bacon and having other delicious stuff in them. Look, life is short, and you only live once, so it’s OK to enjoy these on special occasions. And, YOU WILL ENJOY THEM, make no mistake!
These are really a hit and very simple to make. If you remove the ribs and seeds, they tend not to be hot, so they are kid-friendly. Probably. I say "probably" because with jalapeños, some are hot and some are not. It’s just the way they are. Did I ever tell you about the time I planted jalapenos next to habaneros? No? Well, that’s another story for another time… Feel free to cut in half for a smaller crowd. Enjoy!
Ingredients
12 jalapeno peppers, large
12 little Smokie sausages, cut in half lengthwise
12 slices of thin-sliced bacon, cut in half
1 cup smoked Gouda cheese, shredded
8 oz. cream cheese, warmed to room temperature
Directions
Cut and core the jalapenos (Note 1). Cut them in half lengthwise.
Mix the cream cheese and Gouda cheese in a glass bowl.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Fill the jalapeno half with cheese mixture. Press ½ of a Little Smokie on top.
Wrap with a bacon slice, pull it to stretch, and secure with a toothpick.
Place the poppers on a cookie sheet and bake 25 minutes or so until the bacon is crisp.
Notes
Here is an easy way I’ve found to core the jalapenos. After cutting the top with the stem off, use a vegetable peeler (there are two basic types of vegetable peelers: the “Y” type and the straight type; here we are using the straight type) and insert it into the pepper through the opening at the large end. Rotate it around, cutting the ribs against the inside of the flesh. Swirl it around once or twice to get all of the ribs. If you did it correctly, you most likely will remove the bulk of the ribs and seeds when you pull the peeler out. Shake the pepper over the trash can to get the remaining seeds out. Caution: I like to wear gloves when I do this, as the pepper juice can get on your hands and burn them. Some people like to leave the stems on to prevent cheese from oozing out. It’s harder to clean the peppers this way, so I don’t do it.
We first had a similar recipe at Leon’s restaurant, which was located at 3301 S. Peoria in Tulsa, OK. It closed in 2016.
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Dave’s Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Jalapeno Poppers
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Call to Action
Show someone how much you love them by preparing a delicious meal for them. Later, enjoy the time and money you save by relishing your leftovers, either for lunch at work or dinner at home. Take comfort in knowing you are eating hearty food you prepared. All because you made a good decision to follow the recipes and tips in the cookbook I developed just for you.
Besides getting a copy of the cookbook for yourself, it makes an excellent gift for those you love and care for, especially for those with a young family who are looking to save time and money in the kitchen. And learn a few things in the process! What a great idea!
Recommended Resources
Everyday Cooking for Everyday People Like Us by David Giustozzi (Note 1).
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Notes
Please note that as an Amazon Affiliate, I may earn a small commission on the sale of any of these recommended resources.
Everyday Cooking for Everyday People Like Us by David Giustozzi: https://amzn.to/437OhVQ
Achieve Your Dreams: A Complete Guide to Live Your Best Life by David Giustozzi: https://amzn.to/3IxEFgy