EASY appetizers. I love those two words together.

I thought I would share two super easy appetizers that are Mr. Stevenson's absolute favorite recipes ever. Every time we go to a party or a family get together, he begs me to make these and I always willingly comply because, well, they're easy and delicious. I will admit that they are not the healthiest, but an unhealthy appetizer every now and then won't kill you. Right? That's the way i see it.

Recipe # 1: Bacon and Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms.

So I normally hate bacon. I hate the way it leaves my house smelling after I cook it, I hate how greasy it is, and I hate how bad it is for your body. HOWEVER, this recipe is divine. Seriously. It was probably the food of the greek gods.

ingredients:

cheese

mayo

bacon (i use already cooked turkey bacon pieces, which may be more gross than regular bacon, but i try not to think about it)

mushrooms

step 1. Wash the mushrooms.

step 2: cut the stems out from the mushroom. this provides a nice little hole in the mushroom that holds the stuffing.

step 3: mix the cheese, bacon, and mayo together. i don't really measure the cheese, bacon, or mayo because it totally just depends on how many mushrooms you are making. Just use your judgement. You can always mix a little more together if you run out but I usually have too much. Be careful with how much mayo you use though. The mayo holds the bacon and cheese together so if you add too much, it gets really greasy and yuck. Just start with a little and add more if the bacon and cheese is not clumping together.

(sorry for the blurry, terrible pictures. I couldn't get the camera to focus and i was in a hurry! )

step 4: Stuff the mushrooms. Spoon the mixture into the carved out mushroom.

step 5: Bake at 350 until the cheese melts and the mushroom browns. (usually about 15-20 minutes)

yum yum yum! The party will love you when you show up with these, and so will your belly. :)

Recipe #2: Stuffed Jalapeno Peppers

These recipes have two things in common: they are both stuffed and they both contain bacon. I promise I wasn't lying when I said I don't like bacon. These two recipes are exceptions. This is a pioneer woman recipe so that alone should tell you it's delicious. Husbands love these.

Ingredients:

18 jalapenos

1 block of cream cheese

1/2 cup of shredded cheddar cheese

1 sliced green onion

bacon

barbecue sauce (i used rendezvous bbq sauce and it was so tasty!

toothpicks.

Step 1: Wash the jalapeno peppers and cut in half.

( i know there aren't 18 jalapenos here. I made less because I was cooking for a smaller crowd.)

Step 2: Spoon out all the seeds and light colored membrane from the pepper. Remember, the seeds contain most of the heat. If you are brave and do not get indigestion or heart burn or whatever you get from eating spicy foods, keep some seeds in there. But warning: you may be breathing fire if you do. WASH YOUR HANDS THOROUGHLY AFTER SPOONING OUT THE SEEDS! Sorry to yell at you, but touching your eyes or face or lips with jalapeno hands may cause a trip to the hospital. PW advises you to wear gloves and that's probably an excellent idea. If you don't have gloves, make sure you wash your hands religiously.

Step 4: Mix together the cream cheese, shredded cheese, and green onion. You don't have to use a mixer, I just did because I got it for Christmas from my sweet sweet in-laws and needed an excuse to use it. and I love it. It's the best power tool ever made.

isn't she beautiful? every time I look at it, i hear angels sing.

Step 5: Spoon the mixture into the jalapeno.

Step 6: Wrap the raw bacon ( i hate those two words together) around the pepper, baste with bbq sauce, and secure with a toothpick right through the middle. This holds the bacon on the jalapeno.

Step 6: Bake at 275 for 1 hour.

Step 7: ENJOY this little bundle of yumminess.