Stuffed Pretzel Pizza Jalapeno Bites

This is a mash up recipe I created to blend two of my favorite appetizers for a contest I entered. You can also skip the boiling step, but that is the pretzel part - my favorite!

Stuffed Pretzel Pizza Jalapeno Bites

30 bites

15 jalapeno peppers

10 pepper jack or cheddar cheese sticks cut into three pieces each

1 can (13.8 oz) refrigerated classic pizza crust. (Or homemade is great)

1/3 cup baking soda 

1 egg, slightly beaten with one teaspoon of water

2 teaspoons kosher (coarse) salt

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

2 Cut each jalapeno pepper in half and remove seeds (use rubber gloves if desired)

2. Roll out pizza dough on top of a cutting board to an approximate size of 15" x 12"

3. Cut dough into 3" by 2" squares (with pizza cutter), place one piece of cheese in center of half of a jalapeno pepper and wrap in a dough square, sealing all edges.

4. Boil 6 cups of water in a medium pan, add baking soda, stir.

5. Add poppers, 6 at a time, and cook for 30 seconds.

6. Remove popper with a slotted spoon, and place on clean hand towel to drain.

6 Transfer poppers to cookie sheet covered in parchment paper.

7. Brush with of the egg on top of each popper, then sprinkle generously with salt.

8. Bake for 13-15 minutes or until golden brown. Transfer to serving dish, cool for 5 minutes and serve.

Serve with ranch dipping sauce if desired.