Lunch: Cherry-Jalapeño-Cream Cheese Tartlets

Kick up the flavor of an easy cream cheese crescent appetizer using chiles and cherries.

This recipe includes fertility superfoods such as:

Cinnamon

Health and fertility benefits of Cherry-Jalapeño-Cream Cheese Tartlets

Cinnamon is one of the best ingredients that someone with insulin sensitivity can eat. Half a teaspoon of cinnamon per day has been shown to be very effective at normalizing blood sugar levels. Cinnamon contains hydroxychalcone, which is thought to enhance the effects of insulin. It has also been suggested that Cinnamon prevents post-meal blood sugar spikes by slowing the gastric emptying rate - meaning that food digests slowly. (Reference: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11506060).

Ingredients

1 jar (12 oz) cherry preserves
1/4 cup pickled sliced jalapeño chiles, drained
1/2 cup Progresso™ panko bread crumbs
1/2 cup pecan chips
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon celery salt
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground turmeric
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon butter, melted
1 can Pillsbury™ refrigerated Crescent Dough Sheet
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup chives-and-onion cream cheese spread
2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
Jalapeño chiles or sweet cherries with stems for garnish, if desired

Instructions

In blender container, place preserves and jalapeños; blend until almost smooth. Set aside. In medium bowl, combine bread crumbs, pecans, cayenne pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, celery salt, cinnamon, turmeric, salt and butter; mix well. Set aside.
Heat oven to 350 °F. Unroll dough sheet; press into 12x8-inch rectangle. Cut into 24 squares. Press 1 square in each of 24 ungreased mini muffin cups. Firmly press in bottom and up sides of cups, letting points of dough extend over edges of cups; brush points with beaten egg. Spoon 1 teaspoon cream cheese spread into each cup; top with 1/2 teaspoon cherry preserves mixture. Sprinkle each tartlet with 1 teaspoon of the bread crumb mixture.
Bake 11 to 16 minutes or until golden brown. Cool in pans 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, in 8-inch skillet, cook remaining bread crumb mixture over low heat 4 to 6 minutes, stirring frequently, or until golden brown.
To serve, sprinkle platter with toasted bread crumb mixture; place tartlets on bread crumbs. Sprinkle with chives. Serve with remaining cherry preserves mixture. Garnish with jalapeño chiles or cherries.*

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