Bacon Guava Cream Cheese Bites

This is a compensated campaign in collaboration with Farmland® and Latina Bloggers Connect. But, of course, all opinions are my own.

Recipe Development - let’s discuss this for a moment.

When I hear the term, “Recipe Development,” I think of scientist types in an expansive, pristine kitchen, clothed in white lab coats and safety goggles. Because “Recipe Development," you see, is probably something that's best left to the professionals.

At least that’s the way this plays out in my mind. However…

I’ve had an idea for an appetizer-type recipe rattling around in my brain for a while. It has some of my favorite ingredients with the delicious addition of bacon. It would be ideal for a game day snack.

And serendipitously, I’ve been tasked to develop a recipe using Farmland® Bacon.

Full confession: My first reaction was, “Seriously? I’d so love to.” My second reaction, “I don’t really know if Recipe Development is part of my particular skill set.” Of course, I didn’t say this out loud, but that's not important right now.

It had to be something that appealed to my Cuban sensibilities. And incorporated bacon.

“Seriously? I’d love to!”

The best ingredients are key for this recipe to taste like I wanted it to. Farmland^®Bacon has that whole “slow smoked over real wood” thing going for it so that was a no-brainer. (I buy it at Walmart.)

From the Farmland^®Bacon website: For decades, Farmland^®has taken pride in perfecting their curing and smoking technique – a difference you’ll taste in every delicious bite. (Emphasis mine.)

The Farmland^®Bacon is what takes this recipe to that next level. So much so, that I thought about calling this recipe, “Every Delicious Bite.” Yep. It’s that good.

Ladies and Gentlemen, without further ado, let me present to you my latest recipe (drum roll, please).

Bacon Guava Cream Cheese Bites.

Let’s just observe a moment of silence, please. Thankyouverymuch.

I have had cream cheese wontons before and I think they’re perfectly lovely. Of course, when my thoughts turn to cream cheese, you know I will be thinking of adding guava somehow very soon. But then, I still needed to incorporate bacon into this mix.

That’s right when the whole thing went from Pedestrian to Sublime, the Heavens opened and an Angelic Choir burst into a Song of Great Celebration and Joy. That, or I got really, really excited.

Bacon. Guava. Cream Cheese. Wontons. Together at last.

Believe me when I tell you that this is a pretty brilliant combination of textures and flavors. And you’ll be floored by how these beautiful little creatures can be put together so quickly and so very deliciously.

The guava is what gives it the sweetness. Paired with the cream cheese it takes this to the Next Level of Cubanity. The bacon? Well, the bacon is what makes it other-worldly. And when you deep-fry these little bundles you get crunch. Everything you want in a Cuban-style appetizer or game day treat.

INGREDIENTS

1/2 lb. (half a package) Farmland® Classic Cut Bacon
Square wonton wrappers (I used the small ones.)
4 oz. cream cheese
4 oz. guava paste
Cooking oil (for deep frying)
Water (to glue the wontons)

1) Slice the entire package of bacon down the middle so you have shorter pieces to cook.

2) Fry these in a hot skillet until they are crispy, but not burned.

3) Drain on paper towels and chop roughly into smaller pieces.

4) Separate the thin sheets of wonton. I used both 1 and 2 sheets. Two sheets add more crunch. This will depend on your personal preference. I tried some both ways and I was equally happy.

5) Cut up the guava into small pieces.

6) To build the wontons, place small pieces of guava in the center of the wonton.

7) Spread with cream cheese, drop a few pieces of the roughly chopped bacon into this little cream cheese nest.

8) Dip your fingertip in water and run a tiny bit of water around the edges of the wonton. This acts like glue. You can also use egg white for this. Grab the corners of the wonton and squish (<—yes, that’s the technical term for it) corners together to create a little pouch.

9) Heat your oil in a deep skillet. The depth of the oil should just cover the wontons.

10) Fry quickly in the very hot oil. It should only take about 10-15 seconds, if that. Work in small batches. Don't do more than 3 or 4 at a time. They cook very quickly.

11) Drain cooked wontons on a paper towel.