Puff Pastry Asparagus

Well, it’s spring and that means ASPARAGUS is in season!  Here’s a great appetizer for parties using puff pastry and these little green gifts from the earth.  I like to dip them in a spicy mustard.  My friends and family LOVE THESE, and yours will too!

Recipe:

Ingredients

• Fresh locally grown asparagus
• Pepperidge Farm® Puff Pastry Sheets
• 1 farm fresh egg

Instructions

1. Defrost pastry sheets. Trim the bottom of the asparagus stems, rinse, drain on towel.
2. Preheat oven @ 375⁰.
3. In small bowl or cup, mix egg and set aside.
4. Unfold pastry sheets, separate at perforations, cut each strip into 3 inch sections.
5. Place asparagus spear at end of cut pastry sheet, roll to close, pinch together at seam.  Place on parchment lined baking tray seam side down. Brush pastry portion lightly with egg wash.
6. Bake for 10-15 minutes until puffy & golden brown.
7. Serve warm with Dijon mustard or dipping favorite dipping sauce.

Devils on Horseback

Summary: “Sweet meets Savory in Heaven…OHHHHH MY GOODNESS!”

Ingredients

• 24 large prunes, pitted
• 24 cubes of Manchego cheese
• 12 slices bacon, cut into 2-inch lengths

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
3. Place a small cube of cheese into each pitted prune then wrap with bacon and place on baking sheet seam side down. Make sure that the seam of the bacon overlaps so it can seal together.
4. Bake until bacon is cooked through, about 20 -25 minutes.

Quick notes

You can use figs or dates instead of prunes. Instead of cheese, stuff with almonds or pecans!

Sweet Piggies

Summary :“Perhaps the sweetest piggy I have ever tasted.”

Ingredients

• 2 tsp vegetable oil
• 1 1/2 cups packed light brown sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• 1 pound thinly sliced bacon

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a broiler pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil, and position broiler rack on top of pan. Brush the rack with the vegetable oil.
2. Combine the brown sugar, cinnamon, cayenne pepper and garlic powder in a bowl, stirring to mix well. Coat each side of bacon firmly into the spiced sugar. Arrange the slices of bacon on top of the broiler rack in a single layer.
3. Bake until the bacon is crisp and the sugar is bubbly, 16-18 minutes or until bacon is very dark and crispy. Transfer to paper towels to drain, then to a plate or serving dish to cool. (Can be made several hours ahead) Serve warm or at room temperature.

Number of servings (yield): 6