Fiery little pockets of deliciousness! You eat them at your favorite tavern or BBQ joint, but do you realize how easy these are to make at home...and you can make bunches for your family, friends, or just yourself! Take jalapeno peppers and hollow them out, fill with Cheddar and Cream Cheese, wrap it up in bacon and you have an awesome appetizer for the big game or your next grill-out! It doesn't stop with this version-- check out how we ROCK OUT this recipe and create amazing variations that you're going to love!

• 6-8 Jalapeno Peppers

• 8 oz. plain cream cheese, softened (Vegans: Use preferred Vegan Sour Cream)

• 1 TBSN Onion powder

• 6-12 preferred bacon slices (Vegans: Use preferred Vegan friendly bacon)

• 1/2 cup Sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded (Vegans: Use preferred Cheddar Cheese alternative)

• 1 TBSN Smoked Paprika

• 2 TBSN vegetable oil

Medium mixing bowl, colander, tablespoon, aluminum foil, sharp paring knife, toothpicks, large skillet with top

Prep: 15 minutes

Cook: 20 minutes in oven Ready: 40 minutes

Serves: 6-8 poppers

Before you handle any food, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. Clean your kitchen work area and pull back your hair or wear a cap. You want to avoid contaminating your meal with harmful bacteria that could cause food illness.

To make Bacon Jalapeno Poppers:

1. Cut each pepper down the center creating two halves.

2. Use a spoon to scrape the seeds and ribs from each half, and place them together.

4. In a mixing bowl, combine softened cream cheese, shredded Cheddar Cheese, and Onion Powder. Stir thoroughly.

5. Use teaspoon to scoop cream cheese mixture and fill each of the pepper halves and level the mixture. Place the pepper halves together.

6. Place rejoined peppers in the freezer for 2 hours.

7. Add vegetable oil to large skillet and preheat skillet on med-high.

8. Remove poppers from freezer, and wrap a slice of bacon around each stuffed pepper so it covers most of the frozen pepper. Hold bacon ends in place using a toothpick.

9. Fry each bacon wrapped pepper about 2 minutes on each side until completely browned. Keep pan covered to keep hot oil from splattering.

10. Remove from saucepan and place on serving plate. Let cool for 5 minutes and serve.

5 poppers: 360 calories, 20 g fat (10 g saturated fat), 45 mg cholesterol, 800 mg sodium, 30 g carbohydrate (3 g sugars, 7 g fiber), 7 g protein.

Most vegetables are a concentrated source of nutrients, but jalapenos are especially rich in a few nutrients your body will definitely appreciate. Vitamin C is best known as an antioxidant, which means it plays a crucial role in preventing cell damage caused by certain environmental toxins, plus reactive compounds called free radicals. But it's also important for your metabolism, supports healthy teeth, gums and bones, and even plays a role in brain function.Adding jalapenos to your meals is also an easy and delicious way to add more vitamin A to your diet. Vitamin A plays an important role in your immune system, so getting enough of this nutrient helps your body effectively fight off germs and other pathogens. It's also involved in your visual system, is especially important for night vision, and facilitates new cell growth.That fire you feel when you bite into a jalapeno? That's responsible for some of the pepper's health benefits. That heat comes from a chemical called capsaicin, which has been linked to natural pain-relieving properties. Some preliminary studies show that capsaicin might also make food more filling. So loading up your meals with a low-cal spicy food like jalapenos may make it easier to meet your weight loss goals, even though more research is required to understand how well it works.

Cabernet Sauvignon if you like dark, rich flavored wine. Pinot Noir if you prefer fruit and spice flavored wine with lighter, drier finish.

Need DINNER MUSIC?

Check out our Playlists on YouTube for perfectly themed music to set the ambiance of your meal!

Sweet Pumpkin Spice Poppers

Use Pumpkin Spice cream cheese (available seasonally), replace jalapeno peppers with mini yellow, red, or orange sweet peppers. Wrap in bacon and brush with maple syrup; sprinkle with brown sugar.

Bacon Ranch Poppers

Follow recipe and add one packet of Ranch dressing powder.

Red Hot Poppers

Replace Smoked Paprika with Cayenne Pepper. You can also replace the Jalapeno with either red chili peppers or sweet red peppers.

Parmesan Poppers

Use a Cream Cheese that also includes Chives, or simply add some to your cream cheese. Replace Cheddar Cheese with grated Parmesan Cheese. Replace Smoked Paprika with Oregano.

Smoked Poppers

Instead of baking in the oven, smoke for 60 minutes on the grill at 300 degrees F on the top rack above indirect he