Pepper, Popper, Whatever.

You know what I really, really, ridiculously cannot stand? Bad dreams. Yep, you know, dreams that are so bad that you wake up with an aching feeling in your chest like you've been crying. Or, how about those "cray" "cray" dreams where you hang out/date a guy that you went to high school with? Whoa, whoa...hold the phone, where in the heck did that come from? Out of left field, that's where. What a nightmare. 

Yea, so, anyway, I have been taking a 24 hour allergy pill, because, you know, I am allergic to life, and the end result is a mixture of bad, crazy, wild dreams where I wake up and ask myself, "Really, did that just happen?" Yep, sure did. Maybe they are called "dreams" for a reason...maybe they are a mixture of fears, joy, delight, or crazy things that will soon manifest themselves, or on the other hand, never happen. Lord knows I will hopefully never, ever, date this kid in my dream. Oh.mah.gawd. 100% no. 

Anyway, those dreams are neither here nor there. Let's talk about what I dreamt about all day yesterday...Jalapeno Poppers. You know, the jalapenos that you get at a restaurant that are either deep fried, wrapped in bacon, or if you are lucky...both. Oh, oh...and just oozing with cheese. Instead of dreaming about them all day, I made my own version, or shall I say, versions...yep, two different kinds people.

First, I stuffed the jalapenos with a mixture of goat cheese, honey, and orange juice.

Then I stuffed the second set of peppers with a Greek yogurt/fig jam mixture.

In the words of Michelle Tanner..."Whoa, Baby!"

These things are a combo of all my favorite things, a little spicy, a little sweet, crunchy, and ooey, gooey, melty magnificence all in one bite.

 Little pieces of heaven wrapped in a hog.

Just look at that cheese.

Boo-yah!

Give me pork or give me death!

Now, who is bringing over the mojitos? My mouth is on fire!

Bacon-Wrapped Honey-Citrus Goat Cheese Stuffed Jalapenos

Ingredients:

4 large jalapeno peppers, sliced in half vertically, and de-seeded

4 oz. of goat cheese, at room temperature

1 T. honey

1/2 small orange, juiced

1/2 pound of bacon

freshly cracked black pepper, to taste

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. 

2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

3. Place the halved jalapenos on the baking sheet.

4. In a small bowl, mix together the honey, goat cheese, and orange juice until smooth.

5. Stuff each jalapeno with 1-2 teaspoons of goat cheese.

6. Carefully wrap each jalapeno in one slice of bacon (i started at the tip of the jalapeno and worked my way up).

7. Season each jalapeno with a pinch of black pepper. and bake (along with the second recipe for jalapenos) for 18-20 minutes, or until the bacon is slightly golden brown and the cheese is oozing out of the jalapenos.

Bacon-wrapped Fig and Yogurt Stuffed Jalapenos

Ingredients:

4 large jalapeno peppers, sliced in half vertically, and de-seeded

6 oz. container of plain Greek yogurt (I used chobani)

1/2 c. fig preserves (I found mine at World Market if you can't find in your local grocery store)

1/2 pound of bacon

freshly cracked black pepper, to taste

Instructions:

1. Place the halved jalapenos on the same  baking sheet as the already stuffed and wrapped jalapenos (from the first recipe).

2. In a small bowl, mix together the Greek yogurt and fig preserves until well combined (you want this mixture to be smooth, but it's okay to have a few chunks of fig preserves in the mixture as well ;) )

3. Fill each jalapeno with 1 teaspoon of the yogurt/fig mixture.

4. Wrap each jalapeno in bacon just like the recipe above.

5. Season each jalapeno with a pinch of black pepper, and bake (together with the jalapenos from the first recipe) for 18-20 minutes, or until the bacon is slightly golden brown and the cheese is oozing out of the jalapenos.

Note: Just eat these off the pan directly from the oven...no need to wait for them to cool. Just stuff into your mouth and enjoy!

Makes 16 stuffed jalapenos (for both recipes together). 

MANGIA!!!