BACON CIABATTA CROSTINI WITH PIMENTO CHEESE AND CANDIED JALAPEñOS

Bacon Ciabatta Crostini with Pimento Cheese and Candied Jalapeños image

Provided by @MakeItYours

Number Of Ingredients 15

4 jalapeno peppers, sliced
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
1 3/4 cups sugar
1 teaspoon garlic powder
6 slices bacon
1 ciabatta baguette, sliced (you can use whatever kind of baguette!)
Pimento Cheese:
12 ounces sharp white cheddar cheese, freshly grated
1 (4-oz) jar of pimentos, drained
4 ounces (1/2 block) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper

Steps:

To make the candied jalapeños, Add the vinegar, sugar and garlic powder to a small saucepan over medium heat and whisk until the sugar dissolves. Allow the mixture to boil for 2 to 3 minutes, then add in the peppers and stir with a wooden spoon, making sure all of the slices are submerged. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Remove the peppers with a slotted spoon and place them in a jar or a bowl. Continue to cook the liquid for another 5 minutes until it has reduced by half, then pour it over the jalapeños. Allow the peppers to cool completely - you can do this a day ahead of time too.
Heat a large skillet over medium-low heat and add the bacon. Cook until completely crispy and the fat is rendered. Remove the bacon and place it on a paper towel to drain. Preheat the broiler in your oven to high, with the over rack in the center of the oven. Place the baguette slices on a baking sheet. Using a pastry brush, brush each slice with the bacon grease in the skillet from the cooked bacon. Place the baking sheet in the oven and broil for just 1 minute or so until the bread is golden. Don't take your eyes off of it!
Let the crostini cool slightly. Crumble the cooked bacon. Spread each bread slice with a spoonful of pimento cheese. Add some bacon crumbles on top. Add one candied jalapeno on each crostini and serve.
Pimento Cheese
Add all ingredients together in a large bowl and mix well until combined. You will have some leftover, so store it in a sealed container in the fridge.