Bacon Wraps ~ Garlic Herb

These are great for little get-togethers or for watching the game. (but if there are a few fans during the game night, you'd better be ready with A LOT of these bad boys...this recipe makes approx. 16 wraps)

I took my Auntie Laila's recipe for Crispy Pineapple Cream Cheese Bacon Wraps and decided to make another filling for them. Since I love using garlic, this was the perfect opportunity to once again work it into a recipe...and with bacon! It literally took me 15 minutes to make the filling and wraps. Then there is a little care put into the baking portion, which is between 25-30 minutes on a low broil. But aside from that, this really is an extremely easy appetizer to turn out...and everyone loves them!

I start by taking a brick of cream cheese and slicing it right down the middle...at the 4 ounce marker. This allows me to also have one ready to make the pineapple wraps aswell. (saving any amount time is golden to me)

Then I take 2 garlic cloves, really only 1 is needed, but since I love garlic (and it's really good for the heart) I go with 2 cloves, and put them in my trusty garlic press.

Mincing garlic just is not my favorite thing...kinda like chopping onions. If I have to I will, but if the press is handy then there we go!

Mash it up a bit just to get those garlic juices going in the cheese.

Next I add in the onion salt...since it brings another bit of flavor to the table instead of just plain sea salt.

 

Now for the herbs in the "garlic herb" part of the cheese. A little bit of dried oregano...

dried parsley flakes...

and some black pepper jumps into the mix.
 

Time for the mashing to commence! A food processor could be used, but since mine is admittedly in storage right now, a simple table fork works just fine. (added bonus is that it is so much easier to clean than the food processor when cream cheese is part of the party)

Okay, now it's time to remove the crust from our plain old white bread. You know, the kind that sticks to the roof of your mouth when you take a bite. Thank goodness that does not happen here! Make one large crustless square out of each slice of bread.

Then I spread our garlic-herb cheese onto it in a decent layer...not too thick or all of it will just ooze out of the wrap during the cooking process.

Now cut each slice in half again. I finish off the other slices the same way and then it's time to turn my attention elsewhere. Time to address our bacon! Out of simple habit I have maple bacon...but really any type of bacon will do just fine.

Take each strip of bacon and cut it in half.

Then I roll the bread, or fold it in half, and wrap it with the bacon.

One little toothpick is all that is needed to secure everything in place.

Then onto the cookie sheet. Putting foil down will insure an easy release for turning the pieces as they cook.

Into the oven everyone goes, on the 2nd rack line on a low broil, for 2-3 10-minute intervals. Check after the first 10 minutes and turn each piece onto it's side. Allow it to bake another 7-8, check to see that nothing is burning...if they need another 2-3 minutes to brown up on that side, then let it happen. One more turn on the the opposite side to make sure that everything is nice and crispy. (I hate bacon that has any slight signs of not being done)

Then out of the oven, onto a plate for about 2 minutes...and into a very happy & salivating mouth.
Bacon Wraps ~ Garlic Herb
Makes 12-16 wraps
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time : 25-30 minutes

Ingredients:
4 oz. Cream Cheese
1-2 Garlic Cloves, minced or pressed
1/4 tsp. Onion Salt
1/4 tsp. Parsley, dried
1/4 tsp. Oregano, dried
1/8 tsp. Black Pepper
6-8 slices White Bread
6-8 slices Bacon, smoked or maple

Directions:
In a small mixing bowl combine cream cheese, garlic, onion salt, oregano, parsley, black pepper. With a fork, mash ingredients until well incorporated.

Cut off crust of bread slices, leaving a square shape. Spread cheese mix onto each bread slice and then cut each slice in half.

Take bacon strips and cut each in half. Roll or fold bread slices and place each on a slice of bacon. Wrap bacon around bread and secure with a toothpick.

Cover a baking tray with aluminum foil. Place bacon wraps onto the tray with enough room to allow for turning pieces during cooking.

Place on 2nd rack of the oven on LOW broil. Check after the first 10 minutes and turn each piece onto it's side. Allow it to bake another 7-8 minutes.

Check wraps to be sure that nothing is burns. If needed, allow them to cook an additional 2-3 minutes to brown up on that side.

Then turn once again onto the opposite side to make sure that everything is nice and crispy. Allow to cook an addition 5-10 minutes checking wraps every 1-2 minutes to avoid burning.

Remove and place on serving tray. Enjoy!