Bacon Pimento Cheese Cherubs

After what feels like the longest no win streak in the history of forever, I'm happy to say that  these gorgeous bites are 1 of 4 finalists in the running for a really amazing prize! Nature Sweet Tomatoes asked for innovative tomato recipes for their Tomato-Vators contest and my Bacon Pimento Cheese Cherubs caught the judges eye! The recipe that earns the most votes will win a grilling experience for the winner and a guest at the Weber Grill

Academy at the Weber Grill Restaurant in St. Louis, MO, a Weber Spirit II E-210 LP gas

grill, and a Weber iGrill3 wireless thermometer!!!!

I don't have a gas grill and would really love the chance to go to BBQ school too!

If you have a moment, I would appreciate every vote I can get! The voting is open until July 10th and each email address can vote once a day

VOTE HERE

My recipe was a spin on the classic Southern Tomato and Pimento Cheese Sandwich but in bite size form. I took their super sweet cherub tomatoes, rolled them in pimento cheese then in crispy panko bread crumbs and bacon. They are the perfect summer bite especially with a chilled glass of wine. My kids helped me roll them out and form them. Good messy fun!

Bacon Pimento Cheese Cherubs

1 cup panko bread crumbs

4 slices cooked bacon, chopped very finely

1 ½ cup pimento cheese spread, well chilled

40 Nature Sweet Cherub Tomatoes

Heat oven to 400 degrees. 

Place the panko on a cookie sheet and lightly spray with cooking spray. Toast in the oven for about 5 minutes. Watch closely to prevent crumbs from burning.  Once panko is golden and toasted, mix with the bacon and place in a small bowl. 

Place the pimento cheese in a mini food processor and pulse until smooth.

Mold about 2 teaspoons of the pimento cheese around each tomato shaping it into a ball and then roll in the breadcrumb bacon mixture pressing lightly to help them stick.  

Set on a serving platter, refrigerate for 15 minutes, or until firm and serve immediately. 

Just a few tips when making these: make sure the pimento cheese is well chilled when rolling and that the tomatoes are completely dry. The firmer the cheese mixture is, the easier it is to form it around the tomatoes. I did the cheese part and then plopped it on the pan of bacon breadcrumbs and had my kids roll them in that. The assembly line made it much quicker!