Jalapeño Poppers

A bar food classic turned homemade gourmet!  You don’t even need a dipping sauce for these, they’re that good!

INGREDIENTS

10 fresh jalapenos
8 oz parmesan cheese, shredded
8 oz cream cheese, room temp
4 pieces thick cut bacon, cooked and finely chopped
2 tbsp fresh chives, chopped
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp freshly ground pepper
2 tbsp butter, melted
1 cup panko

DIRECTIONS

• Preheat oven to 350° Lightly grease a baking sheet and set aside.

• In a small bowl, combine the parmesan cheese, cream cheese, crumbled bacon, chives, garlic, salt, and pepper.

• Using kitchen gloves or a plastic grocery sack to protect your hands, halve each jalapeño lengthwise. Remove seeds and membranes using a paring knife. Spoon cheese mixture evenly into each jalapeño half.

• Melt butter and pour over panko. Toss to coat. Sprinkle evenly over each popper. Place the peppers, cut side up, on a baking sheet and bake on the bottom rack until the cheese has melted, jalapeños have softened and panko is golden brown. About 30 minutes.

• Remove from the oven and serve immediately.