Kick It Up a Notch Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Jalapenos

We have nearly given up on Walmart produce because it's over-priced and lacking in quality; however, they do offer such things as jalapenos, squash, and bok choy, which Sam's Club simply does not carry...ever.  We found some jalapenos that were worthy of stuffing.  Some of them were probably near 6" long. 

Over the weekend of the Super Bowl, we obviously wanted such things as wings and nachos and the whole shebang.  In an effort to be calorie-conscious we swapped out some ingredients and came up with healthier choices.  One of these choices was Buffalo Chicken Bites. I cut up chicken breasts into strips and marinated it in Hot Wing Sauce overnight and then baked it the next day.  Amazing when dipped in a blue cheese sauce made of light Ranch Dressing and Blue Cheese Crumbles. 

That being said... we had leftover Buffalo Chicken.  For this recipe you could easily substitute some plain chicken mixed with hot sauce.

Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Jalapenos

12 Jalapenos
1 1/2 cups Buffalo Chicken (chopped into small pieces)
1 package Cream Cheese
1/3 cup Blue Cheese
1/3 cup Hot Sauce (Texas Pete or equivalent)
1 tbsp Garlic Powder
1 tsp Salt
Bacon Bits

Spray a foil lined baking sheet with cooking spray, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Chop jalapenos in half.  Leave the top on.  Remove seeds (not to make them less hot, but as a necessary evil for making room for the stuffing.) Mix softened cream cheese, chicken, blue cheese, and hot sauce together.  Spoon into the jalapenos. Sprinkle bacon bits on top.  Bake until peppers become tender (approximately 15-20 minutes). 

Note:  The ratios may not be exact.  I wasn't really paying attention when I mixed it up.  Just make sure it's pretty thick so that it stays put in the peppers.  You may want to have extra chicken or start with less cream cheese. 

This was inspired by a sample we had at Sam's Club and is a big leap for a certain Mr. Brammer, because he is adamant that he definitely, completely, and surely does NOT like cream cheese. After sampling a Jalapeno Popper at Sam's, stuffed full of ONLY cream cheese... I think he may further progressing towards recovery from his cream cheese phobia.  Of course in his defense, those jalapenos were coated with a deliciously crunchy panko breading (and for people who don't eat breaded items very often - we're easily spoiled by anything breaded). 

The point the story is Just Keep Tasting - different combinations, things you think you may not like... because it's when that one thing you don't like is paired with one thing you REALLY like that you think it might at least live up to the okay-mark and give it a shot once more!