Bacon Wrapped Fuji Apples



Bacon Wrapped Fuji Apple

The much awaited Fuji apple season begins this Saturday, October 12 so I decided to make a unique recipe in celebration! In fact, for those of you who love bacon, this might just be the best Autumn appetizer of all time. I snuck a few Fuji out of the orchard today so I could make Chef Mickey Kittermann’s recipe for “Apple Ramaki” (I re-named it so it would sound a little more Midwestern).

 

In our classroom in late August, we hosted Chef Mickey, from Gallagher’s Restaurant in Waterloo, IL . Chef Mickey started his delicious fall menu off with this unique appetizer using Honeycrisp apples. It was a big hit with our guests that night so I decided to try it for myself using fresh-picked Fuji apples. I didn’t have any trouble getting our store staff to sample all of my bacon wrapped apples. They're all asking when I will be making more! I hope you enjoy the delicious combination of Eckert’s smoked bacon, sweet and crunchy Fuji apples and a hint of tangy mustard. This recipe certainly tops the charts for a unique way to enjoy an apple. Thank you Chef Mickey!

 

Eat Well,

Angie

 

4 Fuji apples

½ lb Eckert’s Bacon, slices cut in half

¼ cup grated parmesan cheese

2 slices of fresh bread, crusts removed

1 large egg

¼ cup maple syrup

3 Tbs whole grain mustard

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place bacon on a sheet pan and bake for 5 minutes. While bacon is baking, cut apples into 8 slices using a corer/slicer tool*. Tear bread into large chunks and process in a food processor with the parmesan. Remove bacon from the oven and wrap apple pieces securing bacon with a toothpick.  Dredge the bacon wrapped apples in the bread mixture. Pat bread mixture gently to the bacon.

 

In a small bowl, combine egg, syrup and mustard. Dip apple bundles in the egg mixture and place on baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes or until the crumbs are browned and the bacon is done.

Note: Fresh bread crumbs are a critical ingredient in this recipe. They have more moisture than dried bread crumbs allowing them to adhere better to the apples. I used my food processor turn my bread slices into crumbs. Then I whirled them around with the parmesan cheese a few times to incorporate the two ingredients.

 

*For details on apple picking and specific varieties that are available, visit us at  eckerts.com and click on the Harvest Hotline. You can also call us 618-233-0513.  Bring in this coupon to our Belleville Store and save $2 off an apple corer.