Bacon Cheese Tree Appetizers

Bacon and cheese! What a combo amirite? Give these appetizers a try for your next get together, they're sure to be a hit! 

Ingredients:

1 tsp vegetable oil

2 slices bacon, finely chopped

1/3 cup finely chopped onion

125 g (1/2 block) cream cheese, at room temperature

50 g (1/3 cup) parmesan cheese

1 tbsp chopped green onion tops (so green part only)

2 sheets puff pastry, defrosted

1 egg, beaten

12 - 6" wooden skewers

To make the filling heat vegetable oil in a medium skillet and cook the onion and bacon until onion becomes soft and the bacon is cooked, about 5 minutes on medium heat. Then set aside to cool.

In a small bowl beat the cream cheese, parmesan, green onion and cooled bacon/onion together.

Lay one sheet of puff pastry out and spread the mixture all the way to the edge. Cover with the second sheet of puff pastry and press gently.

Brush with beaten egg and cut 12 strips about 1/2" wide. Fold the strips in a Christmas tree shape (large at the bottom narrowing to the top) or if they're not for Christmastime just fold them evenly. Feed a skewer through the bottom and just out the top.

Lay on parchment lined baking sheets and again brush with beaten egg. Bake in a 400°F oven for 20-23 minutes or until lightly golden. 

These can be served warm or cold. If you want to make them ahead of time place the baked puffs on a lined baking sheet and cover with foil in refrigerator. If you want to serve them warm uncover and place in a 325°F oven for 5-10 minutes. Or just place cold puff trees on a platter and serve.

Makes 12 puffy Christmas tree nibblers!

Adapted from: destitute Gourmet

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Brussels Sprout and Bacon Skewers

Don't say "I don't like brussels sprouts" until you've tried them like this.

You'll need:

wooden skewers, that have been soaked in water

mini frozen brussels sprouts

bacon

garlic powder

black pepper

Because I was using mini sprouts I cut the bacon strips in half lengthwise. I think if I were using larger sprouts I would cut them in half, so either way cut the bacon I guess.

So defrost the brussels sprouts. Thread one end of bacon onto a skewer, add a sprout then weave the bacon around and onto the skewer and continue filling your skewer like that.

Once they are prepared give them a good sprinkling of garlic powder and fresh ground pepper.

Slip them onto the barbecue in between the meat and potatoes. They won't take up much room. We used the Cookina reusable grilling sheet here. Works great!

Barbecue (or oven temperature) around 400F for 15-20 minutes. Then discover how good brussels spouts can be.

Bacon makes everything good : )

Bacon Pepper Asparagus

Made these as a side dish for dinner but they'd totally work on your breakfast plate beside eggs and toast. You can even prepare them ahead of time and keep in the fridge until you need them.

Simply wrap 1 or 2 spears of asparagus with a slice of bacon making sure to tuck the ends underneath.  Don't forget to cut off the woody end of the asparagus first and use a vegetable peeler on the ends so they're nice and tender.

Place on a parchment lined baking sheet for easy clean-up, leaving space between each.  Grind some black pepper over the top and pop into a 400 F oven for 20 minutes.

Bacon makes everything better!

Cheesy Chicken Bacon Pasta

This recipe will serve at least 6 people.  If your cooked chicken is seasoned it will give this meal a different flavour. Also, choose whatever type cheese you like.  I used cheddar. Oh, and one other thing....don't use maple flavoured bacon!

For the creamy sauce:

1/8  +  1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup butter
1 qt. milk
1 cup chicken broth
2 tbsps jalapeno Greek yogurt dip (or cream cheese)
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper

1 lb (500 g) pasta
1 lb cooked chicken
6 slices bacon, crumbled
2 cups shredded cheese

Start with the bacon.  You could fry it in a pan or try cooking it in the oven.  Just lay the slices on a baking sheet and put in a 350F oven for 20 minutes.  Flip once.  Cool and crumble. Set aside.

Meanwhile cook the pasta following your package directions.

To make the sauce heat the butter in a pot and whisk in the flour.  Continue whisking as you add the milk and chicken broth.  When the sauce is warmed through add the dip or cream cheese and don't forget the salt and pepper.  Stir and cook until the sauce thickens.

Mix together the cooked chicken, pasta, cream sauce, half the bacon and 1 cup of the shredded cheese.

Pour into a greased 9 X 13 baking dish.

Bake covered with foil at 350F for 20 minutes.

Uncover and top with remaining cheese and bacon and bake a further 10 minutes.