CHEDDAR CRACKER HACKS...YUMMY BACON APPETIZER

Whether your team or teams are in the Super Bowl or not, (still reeling about the Saints call), I think we can all agree on one thing: the snacks!! 

I like making appetizers, especially for football games and the holidays and they are always better when made with bacon! Last week, I brought you the Bacon Wrapped Date & Goat Cheese and now for the delicious, warm from the oven, Cheddar Cracker Hacks! You talk about easy! And only 4 ingredients. These cook at a low temp for a long time, blending in those flavors and making the yummiest aroma in the house. These get gobbled up quickly and will probably be one of the first appetizers to go! BEST WARM & CHEESY from the oven! Just a little Sweet and oh so savory! YUM! 

Cheddar Cracker Hacks take Cheese and Crackers to a whole different Level.

What you'll Need

CRACKER HACKS

INGREDIENTS 

48 townhouse original crackers

1 8oz Block of mild cheddar cheese

24 slices of bacon

1/3 cup brown sugar

DIRECTIONS

Preheat the oven to 250 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with tin foil and spray with cooking spray. Cut cheese into 24 slices. Cut all the pieces of bacon in half. Place a piece of cheese between two cracker and wrap in a pice of bacon. Place seam side down on your cookie sheet. After all 24 are done, sprinkle brown sugar over the top. Bake for 1 1/2 - 2 hours or until bacon is crisp. (I Baked mine for 1 hr. and 45 min)
Low and slow makes this flavors blend so well!

Into the oven they go...

I'll be making a batch of these on Sunday for sure! HAPPY TASTY TUESDAY!

Linking up with Tasty Tuesdays // Wonderful Wednesday's Blog Hop // Full Plate Thursday // Tickle My Tastebuds Tuesday // Creative Muster Party // Wow Us Wednesdays // Thursday Favorite things Blog Hop //Best Of The Weekend// Handmade Hangout // Grace At Home // Cup // The SITS Girls // Create, Make, Take // Dishing It & Digging It // Feathered Nest Friday  // Pretty Pintastic Party // Metamorphosis Monday // The Scoop  // Best Friday Features //  Meal Plan Monday  // Delicious Dishes Recipe Party  // Clever Chicks Blog Hop // Cooking & Crafting with J&J // Sweet Inspiration Link-Party

xoxo

BACON WRAPPED DATES & GOAT CHEESE

Since I promised not to bring you any sweets this month, I had to bring out a couple of the new appetizer recipes I tried recently. I mean the Super Bowl is coming up and you are for sure going to need some tasty apps. Today I’ll start with the one I couldn’t wait to pull from the oven and gobble. I love dates and I have always wanted to make a stuffed date of some sort. You can actually stuff them with sweet filling but I had my mind on a savory type with bacon of course. My mom then made these on Christmas Eve with Gorgonzola cheese, mine are a little milder if you don’t like your cheese to pungent. 

What you'll need

BACON WRAPPED DATES WITH GOAT CHEESE

INGREDIENTS 

16 Medjool dates (pitted)

8 slices of bacon (not thick)

4 oz of goat cheese

Toothpicks

DIRECTIONS 

Preheat the oven to 350°. Slice the top of the dates lengthwise on one side to create an opening. Using a small spoon stuff each date with a small amount of goat cheese and then press the sides together to close. But the bacon slices and half and wrap each date with a slice of bacon, securing it with the toothpick. Arrange the dates evenly on a baking sheet with raised edges and bake for 10 minutes remove from the oven and use the toothpick to turn over each date so it’s laying on the other side. Bake for an additional 5 to 8 minutes until browned to your liking remove from the oven and let stand 10 minutes before serving.

So easy and so delicious! 75 calories per appetizer.

HAPPY TASTY TUESDAY!

Linking up with Tasty Tuesdays // Wonderful Wednesday's Blog Hop // Full Plate Thursday // Tickle My Tastebuds Tuesday // Creative Muster Party // Wow Us Wednesdays // Thursday Favorite things Blog Hop //Best Of The Weekend// Handmade Hangout // Grace At Home // Cup // The SITS Girls // Create, Make, Take // Dishing It & Digging It // Feathered Nest Friday  // Pretty Pintastic Party // Metamorphosis Monday // The Scoop  // Best Friday Features //  Meal Plan Monday  // Delicious Dishes Recipe Party  // Clever Chicks Blog Hop // Cooking & Crafting with J&J // Sweet Inspiration Link-Party

xoxo

CREAM CHEESE & BACON CUCUMBER BITES

Tasty Tuesday is BAAACK!! Of all the recipes I mentioned I was creating in my Fall Preview, this was the one that got the most buzz so I decided to showcase it first. Plus, it’s cucumber city in most local gardens and I’ve made these numerous times. It’s a great little app for parties and not loaded with tons of calories and fat. I like to serve them for lunches with croissant sandwiches. In fact, I am serving this very lunch to a friend coming over today. 

I think the yummy cream cheese gilling would make great little tea sandwiches too.

What You'll Need

CREAM CHEESE & BACON CUCUMBER BITES

Ingredients

2 large cucumbers

8 oz cream cheese, softened (I always use a 1/3 less fat)

1 cup Italian mix shredded cheese

2 crushed garlic cloves or 2 tsp minced garlic

2 teaspoons chopped chives

1-2 Tbsp Ranch seasoning

Salt  

1/2 cup bacon crumbles 

Directions

Wash the cucumbers very well and peel them in a zebra pattern. Cut the cucumbers into about 1-inch thick rounds. Using a small spoon, scoop out some of the cucumber pulp to form little cups. Combine cream cheese, shredded cheese, garlic, chives, ranch seasoning and salt in a mixing bowl. Mix very well until all ingredients are thoroughly combined. Spoon the cheese mixture into the cucumber cups. Top off with some bacon crumbs.

Linking up with Metamorphosis Monday // The Scoop  // Best Friday Features //  Meal Plan Monday // Delicious Dishes Recipe Party  // Clever Chicks Blog Hop // Cooking & Crafting with J&J

xoxo

And I must acknowledge this...Remember!

BAKED BRIE BITES

What a winner in the appetizer department! You will find me making these throughout the holiday season! They are the perfect size to pop the whole thing in your mouth.....and wait for it.....there will be a party flavor explosion happening when this app hits your taste buds!! 
Yum  

I first bought Bacon Jam to use for my Brie and Bacon Jam Dip but when I found this new one, I decided to try it for this recipe and I'm so glad I did. The boys liked these even better than the dip. Best part....these are so easy but look so elegant and taste so scrumptious! You can literally assemble these in 10 minutes, pop em' in the oven and bam...10 minutes later you have the BEST apps to place in  front of your family and guests.

What you'll need

BAKED BRIE BITES

Ingredients

2 (15 count) mini phyllo pastry shells

I Jar Bacon Jam (you could use other savory jams or red pepper jelly)

1 (8 oz) wheel of Brie cheese, rind removed

30 whole Pecans as desired

Course Sea Salt

Parsley

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°. Remove phyllo shells from the freezer and arrange on a baking sheet. Fill each she'll with 1/2 teaspoon of the jam. Cut the Brie into 30 small pieces and place on top jam. Top with pecans as desired (I do half with pecans and half without). Bake until cheese is melted, about 8-10 minutes. Sprinkle with course sea salt, garnish with parsley if desired and serve immediately. 

JAM ON IT! 

BUY SOME OF THIS JAM GOODNESS HERE FOR YOUR APPS & TASTEBUDS!!
This Sweet Chili Jam and Hot Pepper Jelly would be great with the Brie in these too.

HAPPY TUESDAY SWEET FRIENDS!

Linking up with Weekend Potluck // Tasty Tuesdays // Tuesday Talk // Wonderful Wednesday's Blog Hop // Full Plate Thursday // Tickle My Tastebuds Tuesday // Creative Muster Party // Wow Us Wednesdays // Thursday Favorite things Blog Hop //Best Of The Weekend// Handmade Hangout // Grace At Home // Creativity Unleashed // Two Cup Tuesday // The SITS Girls // Snickerdoodle Sunday // Dishing It & Digging It // Feathered Nest Friday // Weekend Potluck // Pretty Pintastic Party // Metamorphosis Monday // The Scoop // Flaunt It Friday // Best Friday Features 

xoxo