My First ABT's, First Course of Canadian Thanksgiving

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disco

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Oct 31, 2012
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We went non traditional for Canadian Thanksgiving again. No turkey. Also, a friend had given me a bag of jalapenos. I decided to do ABT's for appetizers. I use Jeff's book, The Essential Guide to Real Barbecue, Smoking Meat. If you don't have it get it. It is a good quick reference.

I started by making the cheese mixture

.


I filled the jalapenos.


In his book, Jeff wrapped the bacon lengthwise and used toothpicks. I just wrapped 1/2 slice of bacon around each and did not use toothpicks.


I heated the mini up to 240 F with some bourbon barrel oak chunks and put them on.


Here, I'm afraid, Jeff let me down. His book said they would take approximately 3 hours. I put them on 2 1/4 hours before my guest was to arrive. They were ready in 2 hours. I cranked the vents shut and tried to keep them warm but the bacon over crisped a bit.


That said, they were delicious and were gone almost instantly.

I will have a better idea of cooking times the next time and there will definitely be a next time.

Disco
 
They look tasty to me.

I havent tried to make them yet.
 
they look tasty Disco... let me ask... cooking at that temp how were the pepper's themselves... crunchy (not cooked) ? soft (perfect)? fall apart (over cooked) ?

Myself I like to cook em slow (225`)... that let's the pepper itself get cooked (soft) before the bacon get's to over done
 
 
They look tasty to me.

I havent tried to make them yet.
Thanks, Adam. I always shied away from them because She Who Must Be Obeyed doesn't care for spicy food. My buddy who was coming over for Thanksgiving dinner does so I decided it was time to try them. I was amazed at how little heat there was from the jalapenos. The cheese and bacon just mellowed them right out. Even SWMBO like them. I recommend you give them a try.

Disco
 
they look tasty Disco... let me ask... cooking at that temp how were the pepper's themselves... crunchy (not cooked) ? soft (perfect)? fall apart (over cooked) ?

Myself I like to cook em slow (225`)... that let's the pepper itself get cooked (soft) before the bacon get's to over done
The peppers were very soft but not fall apart. I would have liked to have taken them off the heat 1/2 hour earlier. I think they would have been soft perfect then. As it is, they still held their shape and tasted wonderful.
 
Nice Smoke Disco! Glad you you liked those poppers! Time to branch out and try some other fillings, or use the sweet mini peppers too.
Don't be fooled, sometimes the jalapeños are hot and sometimes they're not! Batch to batch can be different. The last batch we made were smoking hot!

One of my favorite ways to eat the leftovers is to use a couple ABT's as the filler for an omelette! Yumm!
 
Nice Smoke Disco! Glad you you liked those poppers! Time to branch out and try some other fillings, or use the sweet mini peppers too.
Don't be fooled, sometimes the jalapeños are hot and sometimes they're not! Batch to batch can be different. The last batch we made were smoking hot!

One of my favorite ways to eat the leftovers is to use a couple ABT's as the filler for an omelette! Yumm!
Thanks, Case. 

I will keep that in mind about the heat. I am already thinking of sausage in them but one thing at a time.

You have leftovers of these? You obviously make more than I did or have way more self control.

Disco
 
 
Disco, try italian suasage,smoked cream cheese, with a little sprinkle of parm, then top with yor bacon!
Thanks, Java! I'll add it to my list.

Disco
 
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Lookin good Disco, I'd take a handful of them ABT's anyday !
drool.gif
Very nice !
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Thanks, Brew, another new treat from the forums.

Disco
 
Looks great Disco!! I love ABTs and I'm not a big spicy food fan. I've tried the mini sweets as Case mentioned, but I really like the flavor of the jalapeños. I just make sure to remove all the whitish veins and then scrape the inside of the pepper with a teaspoon to remove the satiny membrane. All the jalapeño flavor and almost zero heat. I've also learned to wear gloves and goggles. The pepper oil gets under my nails and burns all day, and scraping with the spoon almost always squirts pepper juice directly in my eyes. My wife always has a good laugh when I don my protective gear for making ABTs. She calls it my hazmat suit.
 
Looks great Disco!! I love ABTs and I'm not a big spicy food fan. I've tried the mini sweets as Case mentioned, but I really like the flavor of the jalapeños. I just make sure to remove all the whitish veins and then scrape the inside of the pepper with a teaspoon to remove the satiny membrane. All the jalapeño flavor and almost zero heat. I've also learned to wear gloves and goggles. The pepper oil gets under my nails and burns all day, and scraping with the spoon almost always squirts pepper juice directly in my eyes. My wife always has a good laugh when I don my protective gear for making ABTs. She calls it my hazmat suit.
Thanks, MD! 

When your cutting jalapenos, if you can keep from touching your face, you can wash your hands with a scrub brush afterwards at least 3 times and you are good to go. However, do not urinate until you've washed your hands. You will regret it.
 
A little trick I learned from a few different cooks. After handling peppers, take a lime, cut in half rub all over your fingers. Takes care of the hot fingers better than soap!
 
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