Madie's Kitchen

While dining at one of my all time favorite restaurants in Palm Springs I stumbled upon jalapeno bacon. Tara the owner of Cheeky’s makes a Cheeky’s BLT with bacon she marinates with jalapeno and serves with pesto fries. I had to come home and try this out. My husband doesn’t like jalapeno but he did enjoy this bacon. You can put this on just about everything. Burgers, Bacon/lettuce/tomato BLT sandwiches, crunch it up on a cobb salad ++ ENJOY! While you are at it, please go visit Cheeky’s. You won’t be disappointed. You go can for breakfast, lunch, brunch or late night enjoy flat bread pizzas at their restaurant next door called Birba.

Ingredients:

1 package of your favorite bacon – I used Uncured Apple Smoked Bacon from Trader Joe’s

1-2 Jalapenos

2 tablespoons of Liquid Smoke

1 tsp of sugar

1/2 tsp of smoked Paprika

1-2 pinches of Cayenne pepper (spicy)

1 Jalapeno

Your favorite Burger Seasoning – I used Garli Garni by Garlic Foods: http://www.garlicfestival.com/detail.php?prodid=gs-ga2.8

1 sleeve of Ground Turkey Breast or 1 pound of Lean Ground Beef – I used Foster Farms (1.25 lbs)

BBQ Sauce – I used Kraft Thick & Spicy with Brown Sugar

Cheese – I used Lactose Free Jalapeno Yogurt from Trader Joe’s & Shreaded Colby Jack

6-8 Hamburger Buns

1/2 cup of melted Butter

Directions:

Dice up 1 jalapeno, removing seeds if you don’t want it too spicy into long slivers

In a tupperware, add sugar, liquid smoke, parika, and cayenne. Mix together then add Jalapenos and Bacon

Store the tupperware in the fridge overnight. Shake it up when you get a chance.

Mold your burgers and add melted butter to both sides of the burgers (this keeps it juicy).
Add your favorite burger seasoning.
You can mold these the night before or just before grilling.

Lay your bacon and jalapenos on a baking sheet in the oven on 350 for 15-20 minutes until crispy.

Heat and clean BBQ. Add your burgers. When they are close to being done, add your favorite BBQ sauce and cheese. Lay your buns on the grill or oven 2 minutes before you are ready to serve.

Lay your bun on a plate, add the burger, jalapeno bacon, and extra BBQ if needed. Serve with a side dish of your choice (fries, chips, salad).

*** You can also use Jalapeno Bacon to make BLT’s. I had the best Jalapeno Bacon BLT in Palm Springs at Cheeky’s. Go by next time you are in the dessert.