Rumaki with Pineapple

With summer here, it's time to start grilling.  These easy appetizers are a quick addition to any cookout.

Ingredients

• cooking spray
• 24 (1 inch) cubes fresh pineapple
• 24 water chestnut slices
• 8 thick-cut bacon slices, cut crosswise into 3 pieces
• 24 toothpicks
• 1/2 cup low-fat sesame-ginger salad dressing
• 1 tablespoon chopped green onion, or to taste

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line the bottom section of a broiler pan with aluminum foil, top with the broiler rack, and spray rack with cooking spray.
2. Place a water chestnut slice atop each pineapple cube; wrap each with 1 bacon slice, securing with a toothpick. Arrange wrapped pineapple on the prepared broiler rack.
3. Bake in the preheated oven for 7 minutes; turn and continue baking until bacon is almost crisp, about 8 more minutes. Brush rumaki with sesame-ginger dressing and continue baking until bacon is crisp, about 5 more minutes. Garnish rumaki with green onion.

Tortellini Bacon Broccoli Salad

Ingredients

• 2 (9 ounce) packages refrigerated three-cheese tortellini
• 1 pound bacon
• 4 cups chopped broccoli
• 1 pint grape tomatoes, halved
• 2 green onions, finely chopped
• 1 cup bottled coleslaw dressing

Directions

1. Cook the tortellini according to the package directions, drain, rinse with cold water, and refrigerate until cool, about 30 minutes.
2. Place the bacon in a large, deep skillet, and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until evenly browned, about 10 minutes. Drain the bacon slices on a paper towel-lined plate. Chop the bacon into 1/2-inch pieces while still a little warm.
3. Place the tortellini, bacon, broccoli, grape tomatoes, and green onions into a salad bowl. Pour the dressing over the ingredients, and toss lightly to coat. Chill in refrigerator before serving.

Grilled Bacon Jalapeno Wraps

Jalapenos are stuffed with cream cheese, wrapped with bacon, and barbecued on the grill.

Ingredients

• 6 fresh jalapeno peppers, halved lengthwise and seeded
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
• 12 slices bacon

Directions

1. Preheat an outdoor grill for high heat.
2. Spread cream cheese to fill jalapeno halves. Wrap with bacon. Secure with a toothpick.
3. Place on the grill, and cook until bacon is crispy.

Triple Pork Sliders

With the Super Bowl coming up this weekend, you'll need some snack for the game.  While they're throwing around the old pigskin, try the triple pork sliders.  With spicy mayo and chorizo, these will definitely kick the game up a notch.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 pounds ground pork

• 1/2 pound fresh Mexican chorizo sausage, casings removed

• 1/4 cup finely grated pepper jack cheese

• 1 small shallot, finely chopped

• 1 clove garlic, finely chopped

• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

• 8 slices applewood smoked bacon, cooked crisp

• 16 small dinner rolls, sliced in half

• Curly leaf lettuce

• 3 sliced plum tomatoes

• Smoked Paprika Mayonnaise, recipe follows

Smoked Paprika Mayonnaise:

• 1/4 cup mayonnaise

• 1 tablespoon smoked paprika

• 1 teaspoon hot sauce (recommended: Sriracha)

Directions

1. Preheat a flat top grill pan to medium-high heat.

2. In a medium bowl, mix the ground pork, sausage, cheese, shallot, garlic, and salt and pepper, to taste. Form the meat mixture into small equal-sized patties.

3. Cook the burgers for 3 to 4 minutes on each side. Remove them from the pan and serve on split rolls with a half a slice of bacon, lettuce, tomato and Smoked Paprika Mayonnaise.

Smoked Paprika Mayonnaise:

Mix all of the ingredients together in s medium bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until serving, allowing the flavors to meld. Can be made a day ahead.

Feta and Bacon Stuffed Chicken Breasts

Ingredients

• 8 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• 4 cloves crushed garlic
• 1 tablespoon dried oregano
• salt and pepper to taste
• 4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
• 4 slices feta cheese
• 4 slices bacon, fried and drained

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. In a small bowl combine the oil, lemon juice, garlic, oregano, salt and pepper. Mix together. Place chicken in a 9x13 inch baking dish and pour oil mixture over chicken.
3. Stuff each chicken breast with 1 slice feta cheese and 1 slice bacon. Secure open sides with toothpicks.
4. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 30 to 35 minutes.

Bacon Wrapped Jalapenos

Ingredients

• 6 fresh jalapeno peppers, halved lengthwise and seeded
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
• 12 slices bacon

Directions

1. Preheat an outdoor grill for high heat.
2. Spread cream cheese to fill jalapeno halves. Wrap with bacon. Secure with a toothpick.
3. Place on the grill, and cook until bacon is crispy.