Heart Healthy Jalapeño Poppers

Yes, these homemade jalapeño poppers are absolutely healthy and here’s why:

• Lower in fat: Restaurant jalapeño poppers are often deep fried and loaded with fat. However, these homemade hot poppers are baked for a treat that’s low in fat but high in flavor.
• Lower in calories: Many jalapeño poppers recipes use a ton of full-fat cheese and are wrapped in bacon, which is a calorie (and fat) overload. But these healthy poppers are baked and stuffed with reduced fat cheese, making them just 53 calories for two poppers!
• Lower in sodium: Unlike other popper recipes that are wrapped in bacon, these healthy jalapeño poppers are lightly sprinkled with bacon crumbles, which still gives you all of the bacon taste but without all of the sodium.
• Naturally gluten-free: No fancy or hard to find ingredients are needed to make this recipe gluten-free. All of the ingredients for these homemade jalapeño poppers are completely gluten-free.

Jalapeño Peppers are easy to cut but you do need to use caution. Be sure to wear gloves when handling jalapeño peppers and avoid touching your eyes. If you do accidentally touch your eyes, you’ll need to rinse them out immediately. 

With those tips in mind, here's a simple guide on how to cut jalapeño peppers:

• Wash the jalapeños: Rinse them under cold water to remove any dirt or debris.
• Slice in half lengthwise: Cut the jalapeño in half lengthwise, using a sharp knife.
• Remove the seeds: The seeds and membrane are the parts that contain the most heat. Use a spoon or your fingers to carefully remove them. If you prefer a spicier jalapeño, leave some of the seeds in.
• Dice or slice: Once the seeds are removed, you can dice the jalapeño into small pieces or slice them into thin strips