Grilled Jalapeno Poppers Are Simply Delicious!

Whether you call 'em ABTs or jalapeno poppers, these bacony, cheesy grilled jalapeno treats are fun to eat!

And depending on how they're prepared, they can be spicy hot, or cooler to the tongue, if you prefer to take a walk on the mild side.

The Jalapeno - A Pepper With Variety

Jalapeno peppers also vary in the amount of heat contained. Growing conditions can affect the heat level of the peppers, as can the variety.

Some varieties have been developed that have very little heat. Try one before you prep them so you know what you're working with.

Jalapenos are also available in the ripe form. Bright red, they have a richer flavor than their green brethren.

Pepper Prep Steps

Chop Off The Stem Ends

Nothing complicated here! Use a sharp knife and whack the tops off. If your hands are sensitive to capsaicin (the stuff that makes peppers hot), wear rubber gloves when prepping the jalapenos.

And don't touch your face after you begin handling peppers. One of my most vivid memories as a 3 year old was experiencing the painful after-effects of getting pepper juice in my eyes.

My dad didn't grow hot peppers again until us kids were much older!

Remove The Jalapeno Cores

To reduce the heat, be sure to remove all the seeds when removing the seedy pepper core. Also, scrape out any whitish membrane you see.

Some use a narrow bladed knife for this chore. I discovered long ago that a carrot peeler can do more than just peel carrots! The curved blade of the peeler follows the interior walls of the peppers perfectly!

A quick rinse of the pepper interior with running, hot water will pull out a bit more of the heat.

How completely the peppers are cooked also affects the heat. The more done they are, the less tongue-tingling they'll be.

If you want them to be hot, allow a few of the seeds to remain inside the jalapeno popper pepper, and cook them until just barely tender.

In the produce section, I often see jalapeno peppers that are rough and shriveled up, or that are covered with brown spots. Even though they'll be covered with that glorious grilled bacon, be sure to find nice, fresh peppers for the best flavor.

Jalapeno Poppers Recipe - Cheese, Bacon, MMMmmmmmm!

The cheese mixture in these holds up pretty well to heat. I've had very little problem with that gooey goodness escaping.

INGREDIENTS

• 20 jalapeno peppers, with smooth, shiny skin
• 1 8oz block of cream cheese
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 20 slices of bacon
• 40 or so wooden toothpicks, soaked in water

Start by cutting the tops off of all the peppers. Then remove the seedy cores, all seeds and membranes you can see.

I've used small knives to remove the cores, and the handle ends of teaspoons too.

One tool that's really effective is a vegetable peeler. Stick it in and give it a twist, and the seed core comes right out. 

Mix the mozzarella and cream cheeses up in a medium mixing bowl. Fill each pepper to just overflowing with the cheesy conglomeration, just so there's a little mound over the open end.

Now for the bacon. You can get by with a half slice wrapped around each pepper, but why? A full slice makes them twice as good!

Start by covering the cheese mound with a short wrap of bacon, then spirally wrap the rest around the pepper, ending at the tip.

Use a couple of toothpicks to hold the bacon in place. Stick them through the peppers in the same direction, so they lay nicely on the grill.

Indirect grilling is the way to go for these babies. You don't want the to cook too fast, or the bacon will become too crispy, possibly burning, before the flesh of the pepper is done. Medium or medium low heat is perfect.

Remove the toothpicks and serve your jalapeno poppers when done. Don't get too excited about the little rascals and eat one right off the grill.

You'll burn your tongue like my buddy Jared did the other night. Might have been the beer that made him careless...

Jalapeno Poppers In An Alternate Universe

You can certainly be creative with your little spicy snacks. I like to fill 'em with fresh sausage for a change of pace.

I like to fill them with mild Italian sausage, but if you like things a little hotter, use hot Italian sausage.

Buy fresh sausages in link form and remove the casing of one or two. Try filling some with your favorite variety of brats!