Cheese and Dried-Fruit Appetizers
Notes: To vary this recipe, use 20 prunes (8 oz. total) instead of dates; 1/2 cup fresh chèvre (goat) cheese instead of blue cheese; and 3 ounces thin-sliced prosciutto cut into 1- by 6-inch strips instead of bacon.
How to Make It
Step 1
1
Slit dates lengthwise down 1 side and remove pits. Squeeze fruit from ends to open slits, and fill equally with cheese. Press dates to close around cheese. Wrap a piece of bacon around each date, securing with a toothpick. Place dates in a 10- by 15-inch pan.
Step 2
2
Bake in a 450° oven until bacon is well browned, about 10 minutes (about 6 minutes in a convection oven); after about 4 minutes, use a wide spatula to ease dates loose from pan and turn over.
Step 3
3
Nutritional analysis per serving with dates.
Ingredients
12 medjool dates (about 2/3 lb. total)
3/4 cup crumbled Oregon blue or other blue cheese
6 slices (4 1/2 oz. total) bacon, cut in half crosswise