Bacon Jalapeno Bites

I created this recipe for a New Years dinner appetizer by altering Pioneer Woman's Jalapeno bacon thingies. It's very easy, but very tasty!

12 Jalapenos
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1/2 Cup Mozzarella cheese, finely shredded
1/2 Cup provolone cheese, finely shredded
1 lb bacon, cut into thirds
1/2 teas onion powder
1/4 teas salt

Wash and halve Jalapenos, removed seeds and membrane. Dry on towel. Mix Cheeses and seasoning until well blended. Fill each Jalapeno half with cheese mixture. Wrap with a bacon strip and secure with a toothpick. (try to make them prettier than mine, I was experimenting to see which way the bacon worked best. Turned out to be when it was wrapped around the entire pepper and secured with toothpick!) Bake at 350 for 30 minutes, or until bacon is browned and cheese is browned and bubbly. Drain on paper towels for a few minutes before serving.

Happy New Year!

Baked Brie

Yesterday was my FIL's 50th birthday party, happy birthday FIL! I was to bring an appetizer, and after many google searches and blog searches for "Fall like appetizers that might be good with barbecued foods but are also impressive and easy to make", I settled on Baked Brie.

Really, this could not be any simpler, and it was quite impressive! I was very pleased that it was well liked!

Baked Brie

Wedge or wheel of Brie (I couldn't find a big enough wheel, so I used a wedge)
Plum Jam (Fig would be marvelous!)
1 package of crescent rolls or 1 sheet of puff pastry
1 egg

Freeze brie for an hour, then remove from freezer and cut in half. Spread Jam on 1 half of brie, then put other half back on top. Set aside.
Remove crescent rolls from carton, unroll, and lay out side by side. pinch seams together with your fingers. Roll flat with rolling pin. Spread jam in center of pastry sheet.
Place brie in center of pastry, and wrap pastry around it. (I also used a cookie cutter to stamp a shape here, but it disappeared.) Brush with egg white.
Bake at 350 for 40 minutes, on a dish with sides. Serve immediately, or stick in oven at 350 for ten minutes before serving.