Bacon Wrapped Dates Stuffed With Manchego Cheese Food

BACON-WRAPPED DATES STUFFED WITH CREAM CHEESE AND ALMONDS

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Stuff 1 piece of cheese and 1 almond into each date, then wrap one piece of bacon around each date and secure bacon with a toothpick if desired. Arrange dates, bacon seam down and 1 inch apart in a shallow baking pan.
• Bake 5 minutes, then turn dates over with tongs and bake until bacon is crisp, 5 to 6 minutes more. Drain on a paper towel or parchment. Serve immediately.

PARMESAN-STUFFED DATES WRAPPED IN BACON

Steps:

• Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 450°F.
• Stuff 1 piece of cheese into each date, then wrap 1 piece of bacon around each date, securing it with a pick. Arrange dates 1 inch apart in a shallow baking pan.
• Bake 5 minutes, then turn dates over with tongs and bake until bacon is crisp, 5 to 6 minutes more. Drain on a paper bag or parchment. Serve immediately.

PANCETTA-WRAPPED DATES STUFFED WITH MANCHEGO CHEESE AND MINT

Steps:

• Cut small slice off 1 short end of each date and discard. Using tweezers or needle-nose pliers, carefully remove pits from dates through small opening; discard pits. Place 1 mint leaf across opening of 1 date, covering cavity. Using 1 cheese strip, push mint leaf and cheese into date cavity. Using fingers, pinch date opening closed. Repeat with remaining dates, mint leaves, and cheese strips. Wrap 3 pancetta slices securely around each date, enclosing date completely. Place pancetta-wrapped dates on baking sheet, spacing slightly apart. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.
• Preheat oven to 375°F. Bake dates uncovered until pancetta is crisp and bottoms of dates caramelize, about 30 minutes. Using tongs, transfer dates to platter and serve warm.
• A Spanish cheese made from sheep's milk; sold at some supermarkets and at specialty foods stores.

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).

BACON-WRAPPED CHEESE-STUFFED DATES

Steps:

• Cut bacon strips in half widthwise. In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until partially cooked but not crisp. Remove to paper towels to drain; keep warm., Cut a lengthwise slit down the center of each date, being careful not to cut through completely. Fill each with 1/2 teaspoon cheese and 1 almond. Wrap with 1 piece bacon; secure with a toothpick., Place in foil-lined 15x10x1-in. baking pans. Brush tops with honey. Bake at 375° for 9-11 minutes or until bacon is crisp. Sprinkle with pepper.

BACON-WRAPPED PARMESAN-FILLED DATES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Cut each piece of Parmesan cheese into 12 chunks, making 24 total. Carefully put a chunk of cheese into each date. Wrap each date in a bacon slice and place on a lined baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven for until bacon is crispy and browned, 12 to 15 minutes.

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.

BACON WRAPPED STUFFED DATES WITH BALSAMIC REDUCTION

Steps:

• Simmer balsamic vinegar in small saucepan until reduced by half. Syrup will be thick. Set aside.
• Mix almonds into goat cheese.
• Cut small slit in dates and stuff with small amount of cheese mixture.
• Cut each bacon slice into 3 pieces. (Par-cook if thick sliced.) Wrap piece of bacon around each date, and secure with toothpick.
• Place on foil-lined baking sheet.
• Broil for about 10 minutes, turning over when browned on first side. Be careful as they can burn quickly.
• Arrange on serving platter and drizzle with reserved balsamic reduction.