Jalapeño Poppers

• 24 fresh jalapeno peppers (about 2 lb.)
• 1 pkg. (8 oz.) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
• 1 pkg. (8 oz.) KRAFT Shredded Cheddar Cheese
• 8 slices cooked OSCAR MAYER Bacon, crumbled
• 1/4 cup flour
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 40 RITZ Crackers, finely crushed (about 1-2/3 cups)
• 2 cups oil

1. CUT lengthwise slit in top of each pepper; scrape out seeds and veins. Combine next 3 ingredients; spoon into peppers.
2. ROLL peppers in flour; dip in eggs, then roll in cracker crumbs to evenly coat. Place in single layer in shallow pan. Refrigerate 15 min.
3. HEAT oil in medium saucepan to 375u0b0F. Add peppers, in batches; cook 3 min. or until golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Serve warm.
4. Variation
5. To serve as stuffed jalapeno halves instead of the stuffed whole peppers, cut peppers lengthwise in half; scrape out seeds and veins. Fill peppers with cheese mixture, then coat and refrigerate as directed. Cook, in batches, in hot oil as directed, reducing the cook time to 1 to 2 min. or until golden brown.
6. Substitute
7. Prepare using PHILADELPHIA Neufchatel Cheese.

fresh jalapeufo peppers, philadelphia cream cheese, cheddar cheese, bacon, flour, eggs, crackers, oil

Taken from www.myrecipes.com/recipe/jalapeno-poppers (may not work)