This month, I’ve joined a fantastic group of ladies to share recipes and tips to help you enjoy a real food Thanksgiving feast. We’ve come together for a virtual progressive dinner, so today I’m sharing a favorite appetizer from my upcoming cookbook, The Grain-Free Family Table (only two weeks until the release!).
Apricot Zingers are simple to make and are such a crowd pleaser. My mom, owner of The Festive Kitchen, in Dallas, Texas is the creator of these little bites and sells thirty thousand pounds of them each holiday season. The apricot has a melty-sweet quality, there’s a small bite from the jalapeño, and it’s all wrapped in salty bacon. It’s truly the ultimate appetizer.
There are lots of recipes in my new cookbook that you can enjoy at your holiday celebrations!
You can make the zingers ahead of time and freeze them, unbaked in an airtight container. No need to thaw them – you can bake them straight from the freezer. Just increase the baking time to 25-30 minutes. I make a large batch of these before the holiday season begins so I have a quick and delicious appetizer for friends and family.
Keep an eye out for more upcoming Real Food Thanksgiving recipes and ideas from this amazing group. I’ll share their recipes each day on Facebook, so make sure we are connected over there!
- Once a Month Meals
- Super Healthy Kids
- 100 Days of Real Food
- Kitchen Stewardship
- Simple Green Smoothies
- Keeper of the Home
- Fresh 20
- Weelicious
- $5 Dinners
- Mama and Baby Love
Makes 20 appetizers
Save RecipeIngredients
- 20 dried apricots
- 20 jarred organic jalapeños
- 7 bacon slices, cut into thirds (organic and pastured preferred)
- 20 strong toothpicks
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400ºF and adjust the rack to the middle position. Line a baking sheet with unbleached parchment paper .
- Using a paring knife , cut a slice horizontally down the apricot. Cut almost but not all the way through, so that it will open like a book. Place a jalapeño slice inside the apricot, wrap the apricot in a piece of the cut bacon, secure it with a toothpick , and place it on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining ingredients.
- Bake for 10 minutes. Using a pair of tongs , flip the zingers and bake 10 minutes more, or until the bacon is golden brown. Serve immediately.
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