Joes Screaming Stuffed Jalapeno Poppers Food

JALAPENO POPPERS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F. Set a wire rack over a baking sheet.
• If you have them, slip on some latex gloves for the pepper prep. Cut the jalapenos in half lengthwise. With a spoon, remove the seeds and white membranes (the source of the heat; leave a little if you like things HOT). Smear cream cheese into each jalapeno half and then wrap with a bacon piece (1/2 slice). Secure by sticking a toothpick through the middle. Place on the rack in the baking sheet.
• Bake for 40 to 45 minutes. (You don't want the bacon pieces to shrink so much they start to squeeze the jalapenos.) If after 45 minutes the bacon doesn't look brown enough, just keep cooking until the bacon is sizzling.
• Serve immediately, or they're also great at room temperature.

JOE'S SCREAMING STUFFED JALAPENO POPPERS

Steps:

• Mix cream cheese with chopped garlic, sun-dried tomatoes and a dash of chopped basil. Add a pinch of salt. Mix until the mixture is soft and manageable.
• Slice each jalapeno lengthwise on 1 side, being careful not to cut the jalapeno in half. Remove the seeds if you don't want them too hot -- depending on your pepper, you may have to slice around the stem of the pepper to create a manageable opening to squeeze the filling inches.
• Fill either a pastry bag or tool of your choise with the filling. Use something that will allow you to squeeze the filling into the opening of the pepper with ease. Be careful not to overfill as the filling may spurt out while cooking.
• Wrap each pepper with 1 to 2 strips of bacon, securing the opening in the pepper. Secure the bacon with a toothpick (best to soak them first to prevent burning on the grill). This also helps prevent the peppers from falling into the grill! Long metal or wood skewers work well for large amounts.
• BBQ the peppers until they are lightly roasted, or until the bacon is fully cooked. Use some foil to cook on if your peppers are cooking too fast or beginning to burn on a hot grill.
• Serve immediately.

LOADED STUFFED JALAPENO POPPERS

Steps:

• Fill a large bowl with ice and cold water and set aside. Slice a thin piece from the bottom of each pepper to stop peppers from rolling onto their sides when baking.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil over medium-high heat. Drop each pepper carefully into the water and boil 2 minutes. Remove peppers from water and place in the bowl of ice water.
• Cook turkey sausage in a skillet over medium heat until browned, about 3 minutes. Drain excess fat. Stir in Cheddar cheese, cream cheese, Parmesan cheese, ranch-flavored seasoning, and garlic.
• Remove peppers from water and drain. Fill each pepper with sausage mixture, forming a mound. Place filled peppers on a baking sheet; place in the freezer until just frozen, about 20 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Mix bread crumbs with butter. Press into the top of the sausage filling.
• Bake in the preheated oven until bread crumbs are golden brown and cheese starts to bubble, 25 to 30 minutes.

JOE'S SCREAMING STUFFED JALAPENO POPPERS

Steps:

• Preheat the grill. Mix each package of cream cheese with chopped garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, and a dash of chopped basil. Add a pinch of salt. Mix until mixture is soft and manageable. Slice each jalapeno lengthwise on 1 side, being careful not to cut the jalapeno in 1/2. Remove the seeds if you don't think your friends can handle the heat, otherwise leave'em and enjoy watching your friends shed a few extra tears. hehe... Depending on your pepper, you may have to slice around the stem of the pepper to create a manageable opening to squeeze the filling in. Fill either a pastry bag, or your choice of tools with the filling. Use something that will allow you to sqeeze the filling into the opening of the pepper with ease. I've used a plastic frosting tool, cookie press, and even just a small spoon to squeeze the filling in. However you choose, insert a liberal amount of filling into each jalapeno. Be careful not to overfill as the filling may spurt out during cooking. Wrap each pepper with 1 to 2 strips of bacon, securing the opening in the pepper. Secure the bacon with a toothpick (best to soak the toothpicks first, to prevent burning on the BBQ). This also helps the jalapenos from falling into the BBQ (you're bound to loose at least 1, oh well). Long metal or wood skewers also work well for large amounts. BBQ the peppers until they lightly roasted, or until the bacon is fully cooked. Use some foil to cook on if your peppers are cooking or burning too fast on a HOT BBQ. Serve 'em up and watch your friends squirm with delight!