Sweet bell peppers are filled with cream cheese, bacon, and crab, then topped with crispy pork rinds and baked until golden and bubbly.Â
Welcome to Week #2, Day 4 of Seafood Week. I have some of my very best blogging buddies guest posting for me so I can take some time off. It's my daughter's first week of summer vacation so we're pretty much lounging about and being lazy all week. It's been a long time coming, university does not leave much time for hanging out with the 'rents. So we make the most of her breaks. And by making the most of them I mean a lot of lounging about and being lazy, with the odd trip out to see movies here and there. Epic right!
Since we're allergic to shellfish I figured it would be the perfect time to get some seafood recipes on the blog. Guest posts are great for things you might be lacking on your site. I know how much folks love seafood so it just made good sense to me to organize seafood week. Next up will be Booze Week. That's hitting you in May and June. I cannot drink due to health issues so I've organized a week for cocktails and a week for boozy eats. I'm a giver. Without, you know, actually doing any of the work. *winks*
Today's seafood recipe is bell peppers stuffed with crab and bacon. I know right. My incredibly talented, and super cool friend Becca of It's Yummi is guest posting for me today. I adore Becca, we've been friends for ages. We met through our blogs and just became fast friends. I would classify our friendship as silly and snarky to the core, if you're a regular you know how much I dig those two attributes. We both also really love bacon, to the point of obsession. That's what true friendships are made of folks, giggles and bacon. Word!
Hi everyone! I'm Chef Bec from It's Yummi, and I'm a little giddy that Lunie asked me to come over to hang out with you today! This blog of hers is so laid back and fun, and everywhere I look, I see pistachios and Turtles and other deliciously awesome food. It's enough to make me swoon! I know that Kim is supposed to be relaxing this week, so I hope that she was able to put down her mouse long enough to get in a ride on Horsey or hang out with K a bit.
Over in my virtual kitchen, I usually try to focus on creating recipes that are low carb and a little bit lower in calories, just so that I don't have to go out and buy new stretchy pants every 3 months, but occasionally I like to whoop it up and go for the gusto, which is exactly what I'm doing today. Although this recipe for Crab 'n Bacon Pepper Sliders is definitely low carb, it's NOT low in calories. I'd say that I'm sorry, but I'm really not. These are SO flipping amazing and delicious that they're worth every extra walk around the block to burn off the calories.
I started off by prepping some fresh, crispy mini-sized bell peppers. If you come over to my site for a visit (and I hope that you will!), you'll see that I love to make "poppable", miniature sized foods. I suppose the real reason for that is to help with portion control, but if I'm being totally honest, I'd have to say that there's no way I could stop after eating just one of these crab 'n bacon pepper sliders. They're just too good, and besides, they're filled with my very favorite ingredient in the universe, bacon! These sort of remind me of that old jingle for Lays potato chips... "Once you pop, you just can't stop!" 🙂
So, after you're cored and seeded the peppers, you'll crisp up some bacon, saute a bit of onion, and mix them together with cream cheese, mayo, crab meat, and some seasonings. Fill up those cute little peppers with the crab mixture and top them off with some crushed fried pork rinds (yup, more pork fat!) Pop 'em in the oven until they're bubbly and let the party begin!
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Crab 'n Bacon Pepper Sliders
Ingredients
- 6-8 mini bell peppers washed, seeded, and sliced in half from top to bottom
- 6 ounces fresh or canned crab meat finely chopped
- 3 slices uncooked bacon diced
- ½ yellow onion diced small
- 3 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1.5 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon cracked black pepper
- kosher or sea salt to taste)
- ¼ cup crushed pork rinds
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Arrange bell peppers cut side up on a rimmed baking sheet; set aside.
- Place bacon into a medium sized skillet over medium heat. Cook for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add onions and continue to cook 4-5 minutes more, until bacon is crisp and onions are translucent. Remove from heat, transfer onions and bacon from pan, and drain on paper towel. Discard grease.
- Add all additional ingredients except pork rinds to a mixing bowl. Use a large spoon to stir and combine everything until creamy. Add onions and bacon and stir to combine.
- Place 1-2 tablespoons of filling into each of the bell pepper halves. Top with crushed pork rinds and place pan into oven. Bake for 15-20 minutes, until peppers have softened and mixture is hot and bubbly.
- Enjoy!
Notes
Thank you so much to Becca for invading Chez Lunatic today. Becca I love you, and you are welcome any time. On the blog, or for dinner. I really hope we can get you to the Food & Wine Conference this summer. It would be so nice to meet you in person. I would freaking love that. We could tear up Orlando, and by tear up I mean grab takeout and hole up in our hotel room eating junk food till the wee hours of the morning. That's how foodies roll right. I have to say I'm super stoked you whipped out a fat pants recipe. It made me swoon all the way to the moon! Calories be damned, this is straight up good mood food.
Make sure you stop by Becca's blog It's Yummi to check out all her latest and greatest eats. You can follow her by signing up for Email Subscriptions, which is a fabulous way to keep up with your favourite blogs. You can also keep up to date with her through her Facebook Fanpage, it's how all the cool kids search for recipes these days. She is also on Twitter, so be sure to follow her there too. Becca is also on Pinterest, which is my very favourite way to follow my bloggy peeps. Be sure to swing by and follow her on Instagram as well, it's my newest obsession.
As the week plows on I continue my quest to fully embarrass myself with photos of my childhood. I'm not sure how this started but at this point it's too late to stop. I hope you are all getting a good chuckle out of all these old, silly photos.
Today's theme is "Hey Kim, sit like a lady". You're welcome:
Hey Kim, sit like a lady. Bite me! Don't tell me what to do or I'll sick Sorta on you. This is Sorta, my grandparent's dog. Why Sorta? Because he's sorta this and sorta that!
Apparently I didn't care, even if it was my Aunt who visited:
Hey Kim, sit like a lady. Hey Dad, bite me. You can't tell me what to do. I sit how I want. Plus this looks good. Just like my hair. And my stupid top. And my velvety corduroy pants. In your face fashion police!
Ah good times, sitting un-lady-like while annoying everyone:
Hey Kim, sit like a lady. Hell no Dad, have you learned nothing at this point. I'm going to drape my leg over Sharron's till everyone freaks out and their eyes bug out of their heads! Bam, take that!
More Seafood Week Recipes from my Awesome Buds:
Movita Beaucoup’s Lobster Pasta Salad
Cooking in Stilettos’ Coconut Almond Crusted Cod
Dinners, Dishes and Desserts Brown Butter Seafood Risotto
Crazy Foodie Stunts Braised Salmon with Mushrooms, Potato Purée and Watercress
Crumb’s Saganaki Shrimp
That Skinny Chick Can Bake’s Sea Bass with Tomatoes, Olives and Capers
Try Anything Once's Stuffed Clams
Curry and Comfort's Shrimp and Asparagus Biryani
Rants from My Crazy Kitchen Cajun Crab
Toodles and smoochies! xx
Ramona W
I am all over these stuffed peppers. They work great on my low-carb diet. 🙂 Yippy!! I love the name "Sorta".... brilliant. 🙂 MY uncle had a St. Bernard when I was a kid named Uno. When people asked what the dog's name was he would respond "Uno". Love that gag. 🙂
Kim Beaulieu
These are perfect for healthy living. Plus stuffed peppers are just delicious.
I always thought it was the cutest name ever. Such a cute dog. I love Uno, that's actually hilarious. We had a little pomeranian we named Killer years ago, I named it that for the sole reason of fooling people when they came to the door. Get back Killer, it was so funny when they saw him and how tiny he was.
Becca from It's Yummi!
I had so flippin' much fun making these for you, Lunie! You know I'd totally cook for you any time, but you'r right... take out all the way, Bayyybay! Holed up in a hotel room, or the back seat of a car. Wait, that didn't sound right. Oh, hells bells, you know what I mean, right? <3 I puffy heart you to the moon and back!
Kim Beaulieu
I peed my pants over the back seat thing. I can't stop laughing. Literally fell on the floor.
Puffy heart to the moon and back for you too. Thanks so much for doing this for me. I really appreciate it. I actually slept in today, got up at like 1 pm. And only because the phone rang. Feeling very well rested today. xx
John@Kitchen Riffs
Great guest post! Love the recipe. Love the pictures from yesteryear, too. Good stuff -- thanks.
Kim Beaulieu
Thanks John. I'm having far too much fun going through old photos.
Karen @BakingInATornado
Jumped over here from Becca's blog to check out this recipe and so glad that I did. Enjoy the time with your daughter, my son's finishing up his Freshman year now.
Kim Beaulieu
So happy you swung on by Karen. I love Miss Becca.
University is a challenge. Even the ones who stay home are so busy with class and work you never see them. I'm excited to finally have her around more. My son is done too but he's staying out in Alberta. We'll buzz out there in August to visit him. Should be fun.
Angie
What a great idea! I love stuffed peppers and I love crab, so these would be perfection!
Kim Beaulieu
There's just something about stuffed peppers that make me feel like summer is on it's way. Slow going here, I still have our heat on. Gotta love Canada.
Ashley @ Wishes & Dishes
What a great idea - stuffed pepper sliders?!! This is genius 🙂
Kim Beaulieu
Becca really outdid herself. It's such a cool recipe.
Elizabeth@ Food Ramblings
YUM! I'm having a dinner party tomorrow, and I definitely found our new appetizer!
Kim Beaulieu
Yeah, I'm sure Becca will be thrilled to read that. Stuffed peppers rock at dinner parties. People just love them.
Marly
I would seriously love to make a vegan version of this recipe. Love stuffed peppers!
Kim Beaulieu
You totally should Marly, and let us know how it turns out. I bet it would be delightful.
Rose | The Clean Dish
A crowd pleasing appetizer for sure! Yum!
I love these old photos - hilarious! Being lady like is overrated 😉
Thanks for the awesome recipe!
Kim Beaulieu
Nothing like a good appetizer.
Thanks. I concur wholeheartedly.
xx
Angie | Big Bear's Wife
oooo YES! My dad will love these stuffed peppers!
Kim Beaulieu
Yeah, I love when people feed the papas. I miss being able to cook for my dad. He was such a good eater. Sounds weird but when you have a picky eater at home you come to appreciate people who are not. Ha.
Nancy P.@thebittersideofsweet
Have a great week off Kim! I love all the flavors going on here in these peppers! Wonderful!
Susan
There is so much awesome going on. Individual crab cakes, the peppers, the bacon but mostly the fact that they are topped with pork rinds. Well done Becca!
Bernadette
I saw these 20 times before I got around to reading the recipe, and Becca outdid herself here! I'm going to be making these soon!
Nutmeg Nanny
Why have I never thought to use peppers as sliders? This is a nice twist to the usual! I love that last picture of you. You looked very sassy....haha.
Kim Beaulieu
I know right. Healthy sliders, who knew. Becca is a genius.
Ha, I was such a little brat I swear. I have a whole whack of them where I'm yelling into the camera too. My dad was a photo addict, we constantly had a camera in our faces growing up.