BACON-WRAPPED STUFFED DATES

This is one of my favorite appetizers to make for any celebration because it is both elegant and satisfying.

This dish also meets my criteria to be deemed a “go-to” recipe:

• fast
• easy
• delicious
• beautiful

The ingredients can be multiplied proportionally to prepare enough of this appetizer to feed a crowd of any size.  Just know that no matter how many you make, there will not be any leftovers!

BACON-WRAPPED STUFFED DATES

ingredients

• 16 oz pitted dates
• 8 oz crumbled, blue-cheese
• 16 oz package of bacon, strips cut in half
• 1/3 cup pure maple syrup
• Cayenne pepper, to taste

directions

• Cover rimmed baking sheet with foil, and place an oven-safe baking rack in prepared baking sheet.  Spray generously with cooking spray for easy clean-up.
• Make a long slice in the top of each date.  Open slit and stuff each date with a few large crumbles of blue-cheese..
• Close up each date, and wrap with a half strip of bacon.
• Place seam side down on baking rack. Use a toothpick to hold closed if it doesn’t stay sealed on it’s own.
• Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.
• Baste bacon-wrapped dates with pure maple syrup.
• Rotate pan and bake for 5 more minutes.
• Remove from oven and baste a second time with more maple syrup.
• Sprinkle with cayenne pepper according to taste.
• Let cool for at least 10 minutes before serving.  They are extremely hot.

ENJOY!