Asiago Stuffed Dates With Bacon And Smoked Paprika Food

BACON WRAPPED DATES STUFFED WITH MANCHEGO

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Make an incision on one side of each date and insert a block of Manchego. Squeeze the date shut in your hand to secure. Wrap each date with a bacon strip and secure with a toothpick. Place all the dates on a sheet tray lined with a silicone mat or parchment paper. Roast the dates in the oven until the bacon on top is starting to crisp, 5 to 6 minutes. Turn the dates over and cook the other side until the bacon crisps.
• Remove the dates from the oven and brush both sides with maple syrup. Return the dates to the oven until they are really crackly and sticky, 1 to 2 minutes. Serve hot.

ASIAGO-STUFFED DATES WITH BACON AND SMOKED PAPRIKA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°F. Using small knife, make small cut in side of each date; remove pit. Insert 1 piece of cheese into each date. Brush bacon slices generously on 1 side with smoked paprika. Wrap each date with 1 piece of bacon, with paprika side against date. Secure bacon with toothpick. Arrange dates on rimmed baking sheet. Roast until bacon is browned on bottom, about 6 minutes. Turn dates; roast until bacon is cooked, about 6 minutes longer. Transfer to plate; cool slightly. Remove toothpicks.

MANCHEGO-STUFFED DATES WRAPPED IN BACON (TAPAS)

Steps:

• Preheat broiler (high setting).
• Cut your cheese into small rectangles just large enough to fill the cavity of your pitted date.
• Stuff 1 piece of cheese into each date.
• Wrap each date with a piece of bacon.
• Place on baking sheet, seam side down, and broil for 4 minutes. Turn dates over and broil another 4 minutes.
• Serve hot.
• NOTE: you can put a toothpick in each AFTER cooking for the convenience of your guests (but they won't look as pretty).

STUFFED ASIAGO CHICKEN BREASTS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease a baking dish.
• Combine Asiago cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, bread crumbs, parsley, and Kalamata olives in a bowl for the filling. Place about 1/4 of the filling on the center of each chicken breast. Roll up jelly-roll style, securing the edges with toothpicks to keep the chicken breasts from unrolling. Rub the top of each chicken breast with olive oil, place seam-side down in the prepared baking dish, and sprinkle with salt, pepper, and paprika.
• Bake in the preheated oven until chicken is no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, about 30 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). Remove from oven, tent loosely with foil, and allow to cool for about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, melt 1 tablespoon butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add mushrooms and garlic and cook until mushrooms start to brown, about 4 minutes. Add thyme leaves and white wine, stirring and deglazing the skillet, and cook for 2 minutes.
• Reduce heat to medium-low and stir in the heavy cream, salt, and pepper. Cook until sauce starts to slightly thicken. Add 1/2 cup Asiago cheese and stir until melted and smooth. Remove from heat immediately; overcooking the Asiago cheese will create a lumpy, stringy sauce.
• Slice each chicken breast into 1/2-inch thick slices, and drizzle with Asiago sauce. Garnish with thyme and serve immediately.

BACON WRAPPED DATES STUFFED WITH BLUE CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Slice dates in half, and open them up. Pinch off pieces of blue cheese, and place them into the center of the dates. Close the halves of the dates, and wrap a half-slice of bacon around the outside. Secure each one with a toothpick. Arrange in a baking dish or on a baking sheet with sides to catch any grease.
• Bake for 30 to 40 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the bacon is crisp. Turn dates over after the first 20 minutes for even cooking.