Recipes: Grilled Appetizers

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Summer is all about grilling, and we always think of burgers, meat or fish on the grill. But what about appetizers? Tony Stallone with Peapod came into our ABC 7 Eyewitness News studio to show us how to grill mussels and jalapeno poppers.

Tony's Recipes:

1. Mussels on the Grill
Ingredients:

2 lbs Cultured Fresh Mussels

2 Tbsp. Cilantro

1 tsp. Garlic finely minced

3 Tbsp. Olive Oil extra virgin

1 Lemon, freshly squeezed

2 Tbsp. White Wine of choice

Salt and Pepper to taste

Preparation:

Pre Heat grill to medium high (400 to 450 degrees).

Combine all ingredients except mussels, stir and set aside.

Thoroughly rinse mussels and place on grill spreading evenly, close lid and cook 2 to 3 minutes, open and spread again, close lid cook an additional 1 to 2 minutes, open lid and remove all open mussels, discarding any closed ones.

Let cool slightly and remove top shell and loosen mussel in shell.

Place on serving platter and top mussels with mixture and serve immediately.

Variation: Cook Mussels as instructed and top with Frontera Tomatillo Salsa.

2. Grilled Jalapeno Poppers
Ingredients:

12 large jalapenos, cut in half, seeded and scraped

8 oz. Monterey Jack Cheese cut into matchsticks the length of the jalapeno

12 Bacon strips (thinner bacon works better)

Preparation:

Cut jalapenos in half and scrape out all the seeds and white membranes.

Cut Monterey cheese into matchsticks the length of the jalapenos.

Place cheese in Jalapenos and wrap with bacon starting on narrow end of pepper and folding over to stay in place.

Place in refrigerator for 30 minutes to chill.

Place on medium grill (350 to 400), with indirect heat method (to avoid flare ups from bacon drippings), cover and cook 10 to 15 minutes or until bacon begins to crisp and cheese is molten, remove and let cool slightly, then serve.

TIP:

To speed up cooking time render bacon first by placing on cooking sheet and baking in a 350 degree oven for 5 minutes.

Then let cool and wrap jalapenos.

This will speed up cooking time and make bacon crispier.