Manchego Stuffed Dates Wrapped In Bacon Tapas Food

BACON WRAPPED STUFFED DATES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• With a small sharp knife, make a lengthwise slit in one side of each date and remove the pit.
• Stuff about 1 teaspoon of cheese into the cavity.
• Wrap 1/2 slice of bacon around each date. Secure with a toothpick.
• Place on a rimmed baking tray (lined with parchment paper) and bake for 10 min.
• Remove from oven, turn each one over and bake for a further 6-8 minutes. Repeat this step one more time, or until bacon is cooked. Cook longer if you prefer crispier bacon.
• Drain on paper towel. Cool for 5 minutes before serving.
• Refrigerate leftovers.

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).

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.

RICOTTA-STUFFED BACON-WRAPPED DATES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
• Cut the bacon in half lengthwise to make twice as many slices. Set aside. To remove the pits from the dates, cut the tips off each end of the dates and insert the flat end of the skewer until it pushes the pit out of the date. Repeat with remaining dates.
• Place the ricotta in the bottom corner of a strong plastic bag and seal tightly. Use scissors to cut a small hole in the tip of 1 of the corners. Now use the bag like a piping bag to fill the dates with the cheese.
• Wrap the ricotta stuffed dates with a slice of bacon and secure with a toothpick through the belly of the date. Arrange all the prepared dates on a parchment-lined baking sheet, allowing at least a little space between each one for good browning. Roast for 15 to 20 minutes or until bacon is browned and crispy. Remove from the baking sheet and gently remove toothpicks. Serve immediately.

TAPAS: BACON WRAPPED DATES AND SWEET RED BELL PEPPER SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Soak round toothpicks in water for 15 minutes, this will prevent burning when baking.
• RED PEPPER SAUCE:.
• Place garlic cloves w/ peels on a baking dish and bake for 15 minutes.
• Rub pepper and onion with olive oil.
• After baking the garlic cloves for 15 minutes, add the red bell pepper and onion to the baking sheet and bake for an additional 15 minutes, or until tender and roasted. It may take a bit longer.
• Squeeze the roasted garlic out of it's paper into a blender along with the roasted onion and bell pepper. *use a blender or small food processor.
• Blend until smooth. Slowly add olive oil until blended. * you may use more or less.
• Add salt.
• Slowly add half and half until creamy while blending.
• Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. Warm in the microwave before serving.
• BACON WRAPPED DATES:.
• Cut bacon strips in half (making them 1/2 as long approximately 3").
• Microwave the strips for 2 minutes.
• Wrap each date with a 1/2 strip of bacon and secure with a toothpick.
• Spray a 4 sided cookie sheet with nonstick spray.
• Place all prepared dates in the cookie sheet.
• NOTE: If you have mini muffin pan, suspend the bacon wrapped date over each opening and the bacon fat will drip off into the muffin pan. This is my preferred method.
• Bake for approximately 15 minutes, turning once. *Important to turn.
• After turning, continue baking for an additional 10 minutes or until bacon brown and crispy or as desired.
• BAKING TIME may vary. Just be sure to watch carefully.
• Serve with sweet red pepper sauce for dipping or puddle the sauce on a plate and place the wrapped dates in the sauce.
• Note: Everything can be prepared and baked ahead of time and served later. Just warm through in the microwave for about 30 seconds.