Bacon Wrapped Dates With Green Olive Sauce Recipes

BACON-WRAPPED DATES

Steps:

• Using scissors, cut each slice of bacon in half crosswise at a diagonal, like cutting ribbon. (This will help secure the bacon to the date.) Starting at the straight end of the bacon, roll the bacon around the dates. Tuck the point under the wrapped bacon to secure. Place seam side down on a baking sheet.
• Place in the oven, and heat the oven to 400 degrees. Cook for 10 minutes, then flip and cook until golden brown all over, another 5 to 15 minutes, depending on the thickness of your bacon.
• Season with black pepper (if desired), then transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to crisp and cool slightly.

BACON-WRAPPED DATES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Stuff each date with 1 to 2 almonds. Wrap each date with half a piece of bacon and secure with a toothpick.
• Bake, turning the dates halfway through so the bacon is evenly cooked, 15 to 18 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

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.