Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Bacon Wrapped Dates

You might look at these first few pictures and think to yourself, "this frickin' broad has lost her mind." And in part you will be correct.  Because I have lost my marbles over these bacon wrapped dates.  Word.


Allow me to begin with more of an ambiance photo so as to get your curiosity going.  I realize they may look crazy, but lemme tell you they are di-vine (and the perfect company for a 12 hour marathon of The Hills don't judge).

I first tried a similar version of these a few years ago when we were at a little tapas restaurant in the neighborhood, and they  remain one of my faves.  If you're looking for something a little different to add to the menu, or a simple addition to a barbecue these will not fail.

Here's the recipe and how-to...hope you enjoy!

Bacon Wrapped Dates
Ingredients
6 ea dates
2oz blue or goat cheese
3 strips bacon (cut in half)

Method

Preheat grill or oven to 450 degrees.

Gather the cheese and dates.


See what I mean about they look a little kooky?  Don't let that sway you if you haven't had them before because they taste delish.

Because you have to slice open one side of the dates, it's best if you can buy dates without the pit (that's what we were able to do) to save on the hassle.  If not, slice open one side and remove the pit from each.


Next, slice up the cheese into small blocks (or crumbles) that will fit into your date.  Place the cheese into the date like so:


You can over stuff each one a little because the cheese is soft and will be able to be smushed in and sealed.  The natural sugar in the date is sticky and will seal it closed.


See?  No problem at all.  So you do this with each date until you have all your little date soldiers lined up in a row.


Wish I could get this kind of order happening in my closet.  Not so much.  Aneeeeway.

So now comes the rolling process.  Lay a strip of bacon flat on your cutting board and press it onto the board so it sticks.  Place a date at one end of the bacon strip and roll it up.


The moisture in the bacon will hold it together so you don't need to secure them with toothpicks, although you can if you want and are cooking them in the oven.  The grill - maybe not due to flame issues.

So continue this process until you have all your dates in a row.  (ducks in a row, dates in a row - get it? hehe)


Mmmmm bacon.  I'm thinking all the non-meat eaters have left the building by this time.  There'll be more non-meat posts coming up ladies!

So now you can place the dates on the grill, or in an oven safe pan and transfer them to the oven.  We used the grill which, given the coming heat wave, will be getting used frequently (summer has arrived so i should be whining for cool weather and a scarf within 2 days).


Cook until the first side is crispy (about 5min) then flip and cover in grill or oven. Once crispy (another 5 min) remove from heat and eat.  Make sure your grill or oven are hot or the cheese will leak out before the bacon is crisp.

 

For my Hills brain suckage extravaganza (which I thoroughly enjoyed by the way) the Chef got out a bottle of wine so it was Bacon Wrapped Dates and Merlot for an appetizer, followed by a Cobb salad with grilled steak instead of chicken and turkey or whatever else the meat is on Cobb salad.  This is an excellent appetizer to have with red wine.  We order it frequently when we're out sharing small plates.  The blend of sweet and salty is unexpectedly tasty, and I think why I like these so much.  If you're a non-pork person the Chef said to make them with turkey bacon and they'll be just as good.

Let us know what you think if you try them!

53 comments:

Anonymous said...

OMG I adore these! (they're even on my blog, yes haha! http://cafebellini.blogspot.com/2010/05/yummy-escape.html) I've never had them with cheese but they look delicious as well. I just love the combination of flavours in the mouth, it's just... can we call it... magical?!

BeautyH2T said...

these look AMAZING, I so want them right now.

Also, a hills marathon, yes please :)

Bx

this free bird said...

OMG CAFE BELLINI!! We're, like, separated at birth! haha. You must try with cheese...you.will.LOVE!! xoxo

BH2T - I'm addicted and traumatized that the series finale is tomorrow (tonight now)!! I don't think I'm going to make it...good grief.

ale said...

mmm yamy , it looks so delicious and ingenious

Couture Carrie said...

Yummy, darling!
Thanks for the recipe!

xoxox,
CC

LifestyleBohemia said...

This looks delicious! You can pretty much wrap anything in bacon and it will taste amazing ;)
xx

Emilie said...

It looks good!
x

Closet Fashionista said...

Interesting...I'm not much of a fan of dates or cheese though XD
http://aclosetfashionista.blogspot.com/

k said...

hmm...i don't know carrie....i just don't know. but i will have to try it now if i can find dates here! your puns were killing me - dates in a row!! aaha=)

Anonymous said...

I can tell I would LOVE these! I think I will have to try 1/2 w/ blue cheese and 1/2 with goat. (sometimes blue cheese aggravates the migraines but it's worth it)! My kids love water chesnuts wrapped in bacon as an appetizer so I know my family would love these ~ they are pretty adventurous. (Glad you got Cuppie ~ that was fast ~ he went all the way from Nantucket, coast to coast)! xo

erica said...

Oh my goodness!!!! My college roommate use to make these all the time in the summer. We'd go to a park and cook them on a grill there since we got ours taken away at our apartment...whoops! I was totally scared of these at first. I am not a bacon or date fan. But once I tried it, anytime she made them I always ate 1 or 2. They're pretty delish!

xo

Nikki said...

O.M.G. My first thought when I read the title was " I love anything wrapped in bacon." But these look extra amaaaaaaaazing. I need to try!


xx
Nikki

Diana Mieczan said...

I really have to try this...I really sounds interesting and I am really into bacon too...Great post,sweetie:) I am hungry now:)
Happy Tuesday

Barbara von Enger said...

I don't eat pork, but I adore dates.
I shall pass this recipe unto my sister; she adores a slice of Pig;-)
Have a happy Day!

Jen said...

Oh my gosh, these look soooo good!! It's only 9am here but girl, I'd eat these right up if they were in front of me! But then again, I'd gobble up anything bacon-wrapped!! ;-)

ilovemyhouse said...

They look delicious. I'm on a small diet here ( with bikini time coming up ) so i don't think this might fit :) in. But i will make this very soon. Thanks for the clear instructions. XX

Young at Heart said...

ooh now am really hungry!!

J. said...

Looks like I will be having bacon for breakfast today! Seriously, I love bacon wrapped anything! I even got talked into trying chocolate covered bacon over the 4th and it was somehow amazing...

fashion clocked said...

oooh these sound delicious! Definately something to try... although im not so keen on blue cheese- but thinking i could swap it for something else! so good lovely!xxx
visit me soon!
fashion clocked
kisses katie.xx

Alicia Lund said...

YUM!!!! Bacon wrapped dates are such a tasty app. I am oddly obsessed with dates and my friends usually make fun of me! haha

OneCraftyFox said...

How delicious! Great blog :) I hear you are next in line for the OneCraftyFox Cupcake Challenge. Please keep in touch so that I can continue to post Cuppies adventures.

Aspiring Kennedy said...

ok- i like the version sans fromage- but we call them "angels on horseback.." and i really don't know why.

but they are addicting! who would have thought? so amazing!!

Valerie said...

Oh, Carrie! This is one of my favorite appetizers of all time! We get them every single time we go to any tapas place and they're on the menu. I've never even considered making them at home, but maybe I will now! That chef of yours really has some phenomenal tricks up his sleeve. :)

xo
Valerie

Cafe Fashionista said...

I'm not a fan of bacon, and I've never tasted a date before; yet, oddly enough, these look amazing. I must try them!! :)

Anonymous said...

f**k. my comment didn't go through and I lost that biotche. Anyway, as I was saying... I love these things to death. There's a restaurant in town that serves them and I'm always drunkenly taking photos of them with my phone like I've never had them before.

Also, wasn't it awesome to realize how tightly LC has her head screwed on? I was like, mad props for your normalness, gurl.

Leia said...

I'm vegetarian but I do love dates and I've been eating chocolate-covered ones! YUM!

Leia's Delights

Poppies and Sunshine said...

I never would have thought to put dates and bacon together, but I could see where it would taste good! I am willing to try anything. This are looking good to me right now :)

Emily said...

I am pretty sure anything wrapped in bacon or that just has bacon in it must be totally amazing. Thanks for sharing.

Iva Messy said...

OMG!!!! that looks incredibly good!!!! YUMMY!!!!

Maria at Bachman's Sparrow said...

ooohhhhmgeeee, I'm drooling over here! Shouldn't have looked at this right before lunch lol

xoxo Maria

thingsIlove said...

YUMMY!! Thank you for sharing.

Unknown said...

Well, I don't know about the Dates part, but I'd eat anything wrapped in bacon!

Mary @Delightful Bitefuls said...

Oh, YUM! This looks divine!!! A must try!

xxMK
Delightful Bitefuls

Lisa Lisa Lisa said...

I must make this for the boyfriend (you know, when I get to see him again in October...)!! We love dates and eat them plain often. I don't eat bacon, but the whole time I was trying to come up with something else to wrap on the outside.... Any non meat suggestions from Chef? It probably would be good with just cheese, but I bet I'd be missing something special without a third ingredient. Maybe nori??

TheOnlineStylist said...

Bacon? Dates? Blue cheese? What's not to love? Oh and Merlot too? You are indeed a woman after my own heart! Just showed this Other Half and he made a noise something akin to what Homer Simpson makes about beer! Must be good! xx

Blair McLeod said...

these look amazing! i've had prosciutto wrapped figs. i'll have to try these now!

xo,
your newest follower

p.s. check out my new giveaway from Pretty Things by Meg www.wild-and-precious.com

Nadia said...

Oh my. Delicious.

Will you be watching the finale tonight? :)

Ahh, guilty pleasures :)

Corey said...

There is a place in Seattle called Tapas that has bacon wrapped dates..coined The Cheap Date, this is the best combination of flavors EVER! I need to come visit so I can experience first hand all these amazing concotions you guys make...

Style, She Wrote said...

Yum! That looks tasty. If I can eat a fruit/veggie covered in bacon and cheese, I will! xo style, she wrote

Bring Pretty Back said...

I am having a bra party Thursday night , and i am making these! Thank you for the recipe!
Have a pretty night!
Kristin

this free bird said...

Pretty - double or triple up the recipe girlfriend - I could eat 6 or 7 myself! mmmmmmmbras and dates!!

Unknown said...

Ummm, don't be modest....bacon-wrapped dates are manna of the gods! They're probably the only thing that could get me through the Hills season finale, too.

I can't believe you made those, you domestic goddess!

xx,
Anna Jane

Josie said...

Okay, anything bacon-wrapped is bound to be spectacular. These look so delicious!
xo Josie
http://winksmilestyle.blogspot.com

Abby said...

Bacon wrapped stuff is so good.

alli/hooray said...

I just saw these on a cooking show recently! We were all watching + saying how seriously anything wrapped in bacon tastes good. Great post.

TASHA BANKS said...

YUM YUM YUM!!!!!!!!!!!

http://noirxxxx.blogspot.com

Kate said...

Mmm, these look amazing! Any other suggestions for cheeses? I've tried, but just can't handle goat cheese. Not sure what else would mix well with the overall flavor of these! They look heavenly. And now I really, really want bacon.

& re: your comment on my blog, I so agree... I feel like cheaper versions of the skinny cargo will come out (I posted the AE ones, which are cheap, but I tried them on and don't love them) so I am trying to hold off until then! The J brands are awfully tempting though!!

{tig} said...

adore dates, and adore bacon -- delicious!

Sarah said...

Bacon. Sometimes we just make a plate of bacon and eat that for dinner. Is that bad?

abby said...

wow these look amazing!

Kristen said...

Mmmmm. I need to try this!
I'm a HUGE fan of dates, though I often just eat them as is. I want to start trying them out different ways!

Ren- Lady Of The Arts said...

Yum!

I always order these at a restaurant- when they have a similar variation!

I made some bacon wrapped 'water chestnuts' they had a nice texture to them and they were easy to make and I was trying to make a million-

Danielle (elleinadspir) said...

I just added these to my must make list. They look perfect.

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