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Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Bacon-wrapped Dates

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Well, its good because its wrapped in bacon. In my book, anything wrapped in bacon is worth making.

Here is the entire recipe: Cut 1 lb of bacon in thirds. Take date, stuff with almond, wrap with bacon, secure with toothpick, bake at 375 for about 15 minutes or until crisp and brown.

Thats it. The rest of this post is fluff. But I like fluff so I'm throwing it up anyway.

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You start with some almonds. We had raw almonds and roasted them. You could really use any kind. I'd like to try some spicy ones.

There is something to be said about natural light. Although I had to hold the bowl over the garbage disposal to get this picture.

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Grab a bunch of dates. I bought these at Costco for $5. Now a lot of stores will carry the fancy, plump Medjool dates. Those are great for eating plain but the simpler, dare I say drier-looking ones are better for this.

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Now I need more recipes with dates in them. I'll have to go search. But really these things last forever and I eat them as a dessert of sorts. They are also a great source of fiber. How old am I? Shall we talk about prune juice next?

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Then you have the magic ingredient. Bacon. Cut it into thirds. Here you see the thick cut but I actually prefer the regular as it wraps around easier and you get more dates wrapped. Not to fear though, I used this whole package and a whole package of regular. If you could get your hands on peppered bacon that might be good too.

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Grab a date. Get yourself aquainted. Make sure it doesn't have any rogue stem attached.

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Now stuff an almond in it! Don't be gentle, just get to it. If the date breaks we don't care a bit.

This would be condsidered torture by a Fruitarian. The heartless murder and post-mortem torture of this innocent date.

William: And, ahm: what exactly is a fruitarian?
Keziah: We believe that fruits and vegetables have feelings so we think cooking is cruel. We only eat things that have actually fallen off a tree or bush - that are, in fact, dead already.
William: Right. Right. Interesting stuff. So, these dates...
Keziah: Have been murdered, yes.
William: Murdered? Poor dates. How beastly!

OK, I admit they weren't talking about dates but its my blog and I'm taking some artistic liberties here.

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Wrap that puppy up in a piece of bacon. Make it nice and cozy.

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Eeeeeeeekkkkkkkk! About the 34th time I walked into the living room to turn up the music I noticed this thing on the ground. Gah! Gross! He was dead on the rug. I apologize for post in the middle of our appetizer making but it couldn't be ignored.

I writhed in the kitchen for a few minutes wondering if I had inadvertantly stepped on it... multiple times... in my bare feet. Then I cursed the world of men and mountain biking and the things they drag into the apartment.

But I never dropped the date in my hand. Lets not lose our head here.

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When I stopped feeling creepy crawlys all over my body I resumed the date prep. Secure the bacon with a toothpick thru the bacon and the date. Line 'em up on a cookie sheet covered in foil. Ok its actually a jelly roll pan. You need that lip or you'll end up with an oven full of bacon grease.

Don't over crowd or you'll end up with bacon braising in grease instead of getting crisp and brown.

To save time you can actually do this ahead of time and bake them off the next day.

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Bake 'em up at 375 until they are brown and crispy. Usually about 15 minutes. Now the date does give off some sugar so the bottoms will get pretty dark. If you are OCD you can flip them and brown the other side.

This was the only clear picture I got because the first batch went so fast I had to make another one.

Thank you mom for the recipe!

Variation: You can also fill these with goat cheese and basil as my friend Tina does. So good. They are a little more time intensive and the texture will be softer.

Enjoy!

19 comments:

  1. Thank goodness I am going to the store in about 5 minutes because I so have to make these today....after I get over the weebies from seeing the picture of the spider that is. The date looks like it is sticking it's almond tongue out at you in defiance! Cracked me up.

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  2. Oh man those look so delicious... and so easy! I'm not sure how I feel about dates in general...but bacon is good :)

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  3. This looks so yummy! Anything wrapped in bacon is high on my favorites list.

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  4. Oh wow that looks good! You're right, you know. Anything wrapped in bacon has to be delicious!
    At the Iowa state fair, they were offering chocolate dipped bacon on a stick... I'm going to HAVE to try it just once, but I've missed the fair opportunity. It can't be that hard tho to try at home.
    Have a great day!

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  5. You have to try it, even if you are unsure about dates... I think you'll like them wrapped in bacon.

    McVal- go down to my post titled Oh Bacon, how do I love thee? I think you'll like it :)

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  6. That is soooo my favorite movie of all time!!!
    My favorite scene is the changing of the seasons as William walks throught the street market.
    You made me think of Banana and Date Scones.
    I will have to make some and post for you.
    Now I'm hungry.

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  7. EEEEEEEEEEEE! COOOOOOTIES!

    Not about the bacon-date-thingers, but the BIG F'IN SPIDER ON YOUR RUG.

    *shudder*

    I know The Child wouldn't eat them (almonds), but I sure as hell will.

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  8. Oh wow, those look so wonderfully delicious! I didn't even know there was an extra surprise of almond on the inside!
    That spider was gross. I was writhing right along with you!
    Elle
    PS You have nice nails. Oh, and what movie was that?

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  9. wow how simple and they look amazing! I love goatcheese I will have to try both versions! you are such a kitchen diva.

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  10. Your first sentence summed it up nicely. ;-)

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  11. So excited to try this one out on my test kitchen (husband)!

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  12. You put almonds in yours, Dawn!!!! What a great idea! My mouth is just watering ... I think I'm smelling the bacon!!!!!

    Thanks for posting the recipe!

    PS! YIKES! EWE! you think you stepped on that critter???

    Men.

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  13. The quote is from Notting Hill! I try to make sure my nails are clean in my pictures :)

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  14. Urg. Ugh. Ummm....

    Shudder.

    The spider, not the bacon dates. Well, maybe not.

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  15. I have made thes and they are soooo good as are PW's bacon wrapped jalapenos!

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  16. Giggles!! LOVE the middle of the post spider mentio!! lmao that was the BEST... Thanks again for stopping by my blog today!

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  17. YUM!!!

    Your comment cracked me UP girl... and I can't remember if I asked you this already, but what type of camera do you use? Your photos are amazing... You might have answered me on your blog, but I cant remember when I asked... if I asked. What was my name? I can't remember that either.

    I'm tired of canning tomatoes, salsa, sauce, freezing tomatoes, picking tomatoes, washing tomatoes. What was I just talking about?

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  18. Oh, I love dates, and those look absolutely worth the trouble to make!

    By the way, I'm married to a macho logger tree farmer and so understand about the creepy crawlies he manages to bring into the house! I don't even want to know what's in my vacuumn cleaner!

    Blessings,
    Dianne

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  19. i love making these but instead of an almond, stuff it with blue cheese. to die for.....

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