Cheese-Maple Bacon Straws

Ingredients:

• 1 pack frozen puff pastry
• 1 egg, beaten
• 0.25 tbsp. maple syrup
• 2 tsp cayenne pepper
• Juice of half an orange
• 900 g uncured bacon (sliced ​​fairly thinly)
• 1 cup finely grated cheddar cheese
• 1 tbsp rosemary (or sage, or thyme)
• You will need: wooden or metal skewers 12 cm long.

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (190°C). Spray two foil-lined baking sheets with cooking spray.
2. Place a sheet of puff pastry on a cutting board and brush it with egg wash. Sprinkle with the desired amount of cayenne pepper (about 1 teaspoon) and 1/2 cup of cheese; dust with flour. Dust a rolling pin with flour and roll the dough out to press in the filling. Using a serrated pastry cutter, cut the dough into 1.5 cm-wide strips.
   
   Take the bacon and wrap it around a strip of dough. Then take each strip and fold it in half, press the ends together, and thread it onto a skewer, distributing the bacon evenly. Now twist the strip slightly to form strips. Place it on the prepared baking sheet.
3. In a small bowl, combine maple syrup, rosemary, orange juice, and 1/2 cup water. Bring to a boil, then remove from heat. Brush the bacon strips with the hot maple mixture.
   
   Bake for about 35 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through. Let cool slightly on a wire rack, about 5 minutes. Serve immediately.