Vera Cruz Tomatoes
Description
A creamy bacon, spinach, and cheese filling turns ordinary tomatoes into a terrific appetizer, side dish, or light entree.
Ingredients
•
4 firm ripe tomatoes
•
3 slices bacon
•
1/4 cup chopped onion
•
8 ounces fresh spinach, stems snipped
•
1/2 cup sour cream
•
1/4 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
•
salt to taste
•
1/2 cup shredded Mexican cheese blend
Directions
1
Preheat an oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease an 8x8 inch baking dish.
2
Cut tops from tomatoes; remove seeds and membranes. Place tomato shells upside down on paper towels to drain until filling.
3
Place the bacon in a large, deep skillet, and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until evenly browned, about 10 minutes. Drain the bacon slices on a paper towel-lined plate, reserve drippings. Crumble bacon and set aside. Return 2 tablespoons of drippings to skillet.
4
Cook onion in the bacon drippings until tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in spinach; cook and stir until wilted, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in sour cream, reserved crumbled bacon, and hot pepper sauce.
5
Sprinkle tomato shells with salt; fill evenly with bacon and spinach mixture. Place tomatoes in prepared baking dish.
6
Bake in preheated oven until hot, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove, and top evenly with the shredded cheese. Return to the oven; bake until cheese is melted, about 5 minutes.