4TH OF JULY FIRECRACKERS

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Happy 1st Birthday to Tag Sale Tastes!  One year ago today I launched the blog with Cream Cheese Spritz Cookies made with red and blue cherries for the 4th of July.  That recipe has since been pinned and repinned many times on Pinterest (including once by a mean pinner who didn’t care for my sculptural tree decorated with red and blue ornaments and declared it the “Christmas in July take on the Charlie Brown Christmas Tree,” and was so proud of her witty self that she included 9 hashtags with it).

To kick off the blog’s second year, here’s another patriotic treat that will surely make your kids smile, and only requires 3 ingredients.  The first is these red, white, and blue Twizzlers I found at Walgreen’s:

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I think it’s a bit of stretch to say that they are “raspberry, wild berry, and lemonade” flavored, but more discriminating palates (or is it less discriminating palates?) might disagree.  If you can’t find these, you can, of course, use plain old Twizzlers.

The second ingredient is Little Debbie Swiss Rolls (which I will forever call Ho Hos):

swiss rolls

The last ingredient is Pop Rocks:

Just before you plan to serve them, assemble the “firecrackers” by cutting off a 2-inch piece of Twizzler, and pulling apart the individual strands about halfway down, to create a “fuse” for your firecracker.  Using the end of wooden spoon or a skewer, poke a hole in the end of the Swiss Roll and sprinkle in some Pop Rocks, and then stick the Twizzler fuse in the end of the Swiss Roll.  Seriously — if you can stick a Twizzler in a Ho Ho (yeah, I know), then you can make a “firecracker.”  As Ina would say, “How easy is that?”  (Except hell would probably have to freeze over before she ever made Jeffrey a Twizzler/Ho Ho firecracker.)

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4th of July Firecrackers

I found another firecracker interpretation using Twizzlers — these “perfectly imperfect” Firecracker Pops from Sweet Simple Stuff:

1d71350d8bb6c917469e9db4b46c47e3[1]Something about Twizzlers brings out the kid in everyone!

DUCK BACON JALAPENO POPPERS

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Jalapeno poppers are a simple and popular appetizer.  There’s not a whole lot to them — jalapenos stuffed with cheese and wrapped in bacon, then baked or grilled.  Last year at Central Market’s “Passport to France” promotion, they took jalapeno poppers to a new level — stuffed with brie and dried apricots, and wrapped in D’Artagnan’s duck bacon.  Oh my, these things were tasty.  The duck bacon strips are thick and meaty, and add a great smoky flavor without all the fat of traditional bacon.  (I remove the small strip of fat before using the duck bacon, but you may prefer to leave it on.)  According to D’Artagnan, the USDA requires it to label its duck bacon as “uncured” because it has no added nitrates or nitrates. PSMBD002-1_VA0_SQ[1]

Smoked Duck Bacon from D’Artagnan

Speaking of French things in Texas, there is actually a city named Paris in Texas, located about 100 miles from the Dallas-Fort Worth area.  (There is a 1984 movie named Paris, Texas which, although it was supposed to take place there, was not actually filmed there).  Jokingly referred to as the “Second Largest Paris in the World” by its residents, Paris, Texas is one of 15 American cities named Paris.  The city has a 65-foot replica of the Eiffel Tower, which was built in 1993.  As the story goes, Paris, Tennessee had a 60-foot Eiffel tower, which it replaced with a 70-foot one to beat the Texas one by 5 feet.  Not to be outdone, the Texas town topped its Eiffel Tower with a giant red cowboy hat, slightly tilted, beating Tennessee for the tallest Eiffel Tower replica.  (Because everything is bigger in Texas, right?) TXPAReiffel_mwprint[1]

Paris, Texas Eiffel Tower topped with a big red cowboy hat

Paris, Texas is also home to Evergreen Cemetery, which purportedly boasts the only monument with Jesus wearing cowboy boots.  (It’s not entirely clear that the statute is supposed to be Jesus.  Some think it is an angel or a Shakespearean character.) jesusincowboyboots[1]

Jesus wearing cowboy boots

jesusincowboyboots[1] With a nod to the quirky city of Paris, Texas, I encourage you to try these Duck Bacon Jalapeno Poppers.

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DUCK BACON JALAPENO POPPERS
Author: 
Recipe type: Appetizer
 
Ingredients
  • 6 fresh jalapenos*
  • 4 dried apricots
  • 2 ounces brie*
  • 6 strips duck bacon
  • *Remember to exercise care when handling jalapenos, and avoid rubbing your eyes after handling them.
  • *Freezing the brie briefly makes it easier to slice.
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  2. Cut the stem end off of the jalapenos and discard. Slice the jalapenos in half lengthwise, and scoop out seeds and ribs with a small spoon.
  3. Cut apricots lengthwise into three pieces. Slice brie into rectangles approximately 1-1/2" x ¼". Remove strip of fat from duck bacon strips, and cut each strip in half lengthwise.
  4. Place a piece of apricot and piece of brie in each jalapeno half. Wrap a strip of bacon around the jalapeno and secure with a toothpick. Place the stuffed jalapenos in a small baking dish or pie plate. Bake for 20 minutes, or until jalapenos are soft and cheese is melted. Serve hot.

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 Jalapenos prepped and awaiting their filling

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 Dried apricot slivers and brie

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Brie and apricot getting cozy

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 Wrapped in duck bacon, it’s ready for the oven

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 Poppers, y’all!  Bon appetit!

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Can’t find duck bacon?  Use regular bacon — trust me, no one will complain!