Patriotic Pepper Platter

Ingredients:

• 24 miniature sweet red peppers
• 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 24 bacon strips, halved lengthwise
• 2 slices white cheddar cheese
• 1 jar (9-1/2 ounces) pitted Greek olives, drained (or your olive of choice)
• Crushed red pepper flakes, optional

Directions:

• Preheat oven 400°. Cut peppers in half lengthwise and remove seeds; set aside.
• In a small bowl, beat cream cheese and Parmesan cheese until blended. Spoon into pepper halves.
• Cut bacon in half lengthwise. Wrap a half-strip of bacon around 24 of the pepper halves; place in a greased 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Place unwrapped pepper halves in another 15x10x1-in. baking pan.
• Bake until bacon is cooked and filling is bubbly, 25-30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, using a star cookie cutter, cut stars out of cheese slices.
• Arrange peppers, olives and cheese stars on a serving platter to resemble an American flag. If desired, sprinkle bacon-wrapped peppers with red pepper flakes.

This recipe is courtesy of tasteofhome.com