Bacon, Leek, and Tomato Poppers

This one won awards!! Bet it will with your crew, too!!
(makes 12)

1 lb. smoked uncured* bacon
1 lb. triple crème brie
12 sheets phyllo dough
Dijon mustard
12 cherry tomatoes
1 leek
EVOO
Kosher* salt and freshly* ground pepper, to taste
1/2 lb. Kerrygold* butter, melted

Place the bacon on a wire rack on top of a cook sheet, and bake at 350 for 20-30 mins. Bacon should be cooked thoroughly, but not crispy. You want it flexible. Remove bacon form the oven and let it cool for a few mins. Then, slice it into ribbons the short way. Don't discard the bacon grease!!! At the same time, cut each tomato in half and place them on a baking sheet. Rub the tomatoes with oil and season with S&P, and place them in the oven with the bacon. After 10 mins., turn the tomatoes and cook another 10 mins. They should be done about the same time as the bacon. Slice the leek into rounds and put in a colander. Run water over the leek to remove any dirt. Pat dry or use a salad spinner. Saute the leek in butter til it's translucent. Cut the brie into 12 chunks, roughly 1/2" long and 1/4" thick. Remove the rind from each piece. Put a small dollop of Dijon on each brie chunk and spread it evenly over the top of the cheese. Put about 1/2 slice of bacon on top of the mustard, then then top with about 1/4 t. of leeks and 2 slices of tomato. Melt the butter in a small saucepan. Add the rendered bacon grease to the butter. Remove the phyllo from the fridge and lay it on top of a piece of plastic or parchment. Put another piece of plastic or parchment over the top of the phyllo and put a damp towel on top of that. This should keep your phyllo from drying out. With a pastry brush, liberally brush some butter/bacon grease mixture over the bottom of a baking sheet. Lay one sheet of phyllo down and brush it with the BB mix. Fold the sheet of phyllo the long way and brush with butter again. Put about 1/2 slice of bacon ribbons about 2" from the bottom of the phyllo. Top that with one of the dressed cheese chunks. Fold the bottom of the phyllo up over the entire thing and roll it all the way up to the other end. Tuck the ends under and put the bundle seam side down on a piece of parchment on a rimmed baking sheet. Brush the top with butter. Now repeat the process for the remaining 11 bundles. Don't worry is a piece of phyllo rips or isn't exactly flush with the other sheets. Phyllo is delicate, but it's also very forgiving, as long as you use a lot of butter. Place in the oven (that you have had on all this time) for 10-15 mins. or until the tops of the bundles are beautifully browned. Serve immediately.

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Love,

MM