Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Dates

These were found while on a trip to DC.  This is the basic recipe for these sweet and flavorful bite sized snacks.  Bacon Wrapped Dates are actually a favorite snack dish from Spain.  But these are ramped up a bit by stuffing them.  Also this recipe isn’t quite the traditional recipe because in Spain these would be breaded and deep fried.  We are trying to keep this a little healthy right!

This makes 32

Ingredients

• 16 slices of thin sliced bacon
• 32 pitted dates
• 32 thin slices of apricot (about 6 dried apricots)
• 1/2 cup shelled pistachios (at least 64)

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.  Cut the bacon slices in half.  Slice up the apricots.  Stuff each date with the slice of apricot and at least 2 pistachios.  Then wrap this in the half slice of bacon and secure with a toothpick.  Line a baking pan with foil or parchment to catch the grease that will come off these while cooking and then place a baking rack on top of the pan.  Place each of the stuffed bacon wrapped dates on the rack with the toothpick horizontal.  This all goes into the oven for 10 minutes.  Then flip each date by the toothpick and cook for another 8 minutes.  Remove and these are best served at least warm.

If you want to make these even better serve them with a dipping sauce.  Make a quick and easy Chutney Mustard Sauce by mixing 6 tablespoons of a Dijon Mustard or Beer Mustard with 6 tablespoons for Chutney in a pan over medium heat for about 5 minutes.