Dates Wrapped In Cheese Pastry Food

WARM DATES WITH BLUE CHEESE AND PROSCIUTTO

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• With a small paring knife, slit each date lengthwise and spread open just enough to remove the pit while leaving the date intact. Fill the cavity of each date with a small piece of blue cheese and fold the date over the cheese, pressing it back into its original shape.
• Cut a strip of prosciutto as wide as each date is long and wrap it around twice, enclosing the date almost completely. Place the dates on a sheet pan and bake for about 8 minutes, until the prosciutto is browned and the cheese starts to melt.
• Cool slightly and serve warm.

WARM GOAT CHEESE IN PHYLLO

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Unroll the sheets of phyllo dough on a flat surface and cover them with a slightly damp towel. (If the towel is too wet, the dough will get sticky.) Working quickly so the dough doesn't dry out, place one sheet of phyllo on a board, brush lightly with melted butter, and sprinkle lightly with bread crumbs. Place a second sheet of phyllo on top, brush with melted butter, and sprinkle with bread crumbs. Continue until you have 4 sheets stacked up. Cut the sheets in half crosswise to make 2 almost-squares.
• Cut one of the goat cheeses in half horizontally, making 2 thin discs. Place each disc in the center of one phyllo square. Starting at one corner, fold the phyllo up over the cheese and continue folding and pleating the phyllo around the cheese, as though you're wrapping a round gift that's tied on top. You will end with extra phyllo dough on top; twist the excess into a topknot. Brush the discs all over with melted butter and place on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper. Continue with the remaining phyllo dough and 2 goat cheese discs to make 4 additional packages.
• Bake for 20 minutes, until the phyllo is lightly browned. Allow to cool for 5 minutes.
• While the cheese packages bake, place the salad greens in a large bowl. Whisk the vinegar, mustard, garlic, salt, and pepper together in a small bowl. Still whisking, slowly add the olive oil, making an emulsion. Toss the salad greens with enough vinaigrette to moisten.
• Distribute the salad among 6 plates and place one warm goat cheese package in the center of each plate. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and serve.

DATES WRAPPED IN CHEESE PASTRY

Steps:

• Let the cheese and margarine stand in a bowl at room temperature until softened.
• Cut in the flour and pepper as for pie dough.
• Slit the dates; stuff with the pecan halves.
• Flatten a small amount of dough in the palm of the hand.
• Wrap a date in the dough, sealing completely.
• Repeat with the remaining dough and dates.
• Place on a baking sheet and bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes or until light brown.
• Store between sheets of waxed paper in an airtight container.

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.

EASY BACON-WRAPPED DATES

Steps:

• Heat broiler with rack 4 inches from heat. Stuff dates with almonds. Cut bacon into thirds crosswise. Wrap each date with a bacon strip. Place seam side down on a slotted broiler pan.
• Broil until crispy on one side, 3 to 5 minutes. Turn; cook until bacon is crispy throughout, 3 to 5 minutes more. Transfer to paper towels to drain.

GOAT CHEESE, DATE, AND BACON STRUDELS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400°F. On a work surface arrange a 20-inch-long sheet of wax paper with a long side facing you. Put 1 sheet of the phyllo on the wax paper, brush it with some of the butter, and sprinkle it with about 2 teaspoons of the sesame seeds. On this, layer, brush, and sprinkle 1 more sheet of the phyllo in the same manner and lay a third sheet of phyllo on top. Spread 1/2 cup of the goat cheese along the pastry in a 1-inch strip about 2 inches above the near long side, leaving a 2-inch border at each end. Arrange half the date pieces on the cheese and sprinkle them with half the bacon, half the scallion, and 2 teaspoons of the remaining sesame seeds. Using the wax paper as a guide, lift the bottom 2 inches of the pastry over the filling, fold in the ends, and roll up the strudel tightly. Transfer the strudel carefully, seam side down, to a lightly buttered baking sheet and brush it with some of the remaining butter. Make another strudel with the remaining ingredients in the same manner.
• Bake the 2 strudels in the lower third of the oven for 15 to 20 minutes, or until they are golden, and let them cool to warm on the baking sheet on a rack. The strudels may be made 1 day in advance and kept covered loosely and chilled. Reheat the strudels in a preheated 357°F. oven for 10 minutes. Serve the strudels warm, cut into 1-inch pieces with a serrated knife.

BACON WRAPPED DATES STUFFED WITH ALMONDS AND GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Move oven rack to upper third of oven and preheat to 500°F.
• Stuff each date with an almond, then fill the remaining space with softened goat cheese using a pastry bag.
• Wrap a piece of bacon around each date and secure with a pick.
• Place dates on baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake until bacon is golden and crispy, 6-8 minutes.
• Set aside to cool briefly before serving.
• For presentation, insert picks into half a pineapple sliced lengthwise.

GOAT CHEESE AND SALAMI STUFFED DATES

Steps:

• Toast pistachios in a dry small skillet over medium heat, tossing occasionally, until golden brown, 5-8 minutes. Let cool slightly, then finely chop.
• Mix goat cheese, salami, and lemon zest in a medium bowl.
• Slice dates in half lengthwise, taking care not to cut all the way through, and open like a book. Stuff each date with a small scoop of goat cheese mixture.
• Arrange dates, filling side up, on a large plate or platter. Drizzle honey over and top with pistachios.