Tomato Bacon Squares

One of my favorite things about the holidays is entertaining. Making tomato bacon squares is one of our family's favorite holiday appetizers. From the time my kids were little they loved to be in the kitchen helping make this delectable treat.

If your family has small children, there are several parts of this recipe that can be delegated to kids in elementary school or done with supervision of younger kids. Kids love to get their hands involved so allow them to press the biscuits into the bottom of the pan, or line the muffin tins with crescent rolls. If the kids are old enough them can also fill the muffin tins with the bacon tomato mixture. Cooking is always more fun when you can make it a family affair.

If you like to make mini muffin sized treats, you can line mini muffin pans with crescent rolls rather than the flakey biscuits and fill it with the tomato bacon mixture for a variation. If you choose to use the muffin pans, be sure to not over fill. It will also be important to let them stand and set before removing them from the pan or they will collapse.

I like to use the mini muffin pan alternative when I'm taking them to a covered dish meal. They can be made the day before and refrigerated. They travel well in this form as well. Everyone loves to be able to grab an individual bite and move down the buffet line.

Ingredients

• 8 Slices of bacon, crisply cooked
• 1 Medium tomato, seeded
• 1/2 Small onion
• 3 Ounces Swiss cheese
• 1/2 Cup mayonnaise
• 1 Teaspoon basil
• 1 Can (10 ounces) refrigerated flakey biscuits. Note: Crescent rolls can be substituted for the flakey biscuits.

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Coarsely chop bacon, tomato and onion in food processor.
3. Grate cheese.
4. Mix all ingredients except biscuits.
5. Set aside.
6. Separate each biscuit into 2 thinner halves.
7. Press biscuit halves into bottom of a 9 x 13 greased pan. Push biscuits together to cover bottom of pan. Note: You can also prepare these with mini muffin pans. When I use mini muffin pans, I substitute the flakey biscuit for crescent rolls; they have less bulk and cook up nicer in the muffin pans.
8. Spread bacon mixture over top of biscuits.
9. Bake 25-30 or until puffed and browned.
10. Cut into 24 squares.

Yields 24 appetizers.