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| The finished product. Oh, if only smells could be had here! |
Cheese Stuffed Dates wrapped in Bacon
Yields: 36 wrapped dates
36 medjool dates
8oz blue cheese (or other cheese depending on taste. Goat cheese also works well)
1 package maple bacon* (will need 12 strips, save leftovers for other use)
Honey, for drizzling
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray a baking sheet with olive oil spray. Pit the dates by slicing lengthwise just enough to remove the pit. Discard pits.
Gently squeeze date to open where sliced and stuff with about a teaspoon of cheese. Press gently with fingers to close.
Cut each uncooked bacon strip into three sections. Wrap, slightly stretching and overlapping the ends, each bacon strip around each date. Place in glass baking dish seam side down.
Drizzle with desired amount of honey (a single drizzled line is my preference). Place in oven and bake for 35- 40 minutes or until bacon is cooked. Remove from oven and allow to cool for 15 minutes before serving as they are uncomfortably hot to eat immediately, but they will smell oh-so-temptingly good. Enjoy!
*Maple flavored bacon is key for bringing a sweet flavor to this dish. The texture also works very well for wrapping and cooking in this wrapped shape
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| Stuffing the slightly sliced and pitted dates with blue cheese |
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| Dates are wrapped in bacon and ready for the oven |
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| These hot little numbers are ready to come out of the oven |
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| The finished product. Mmm, savory and sweet at the same time. |
