Recipe: Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Dates

Holy cow, these are good.  The dates are chewy and sweet and the bacon is wonderful (because... it's bacon).  I stuffed them with smoked cheddar cheese, but you couldn't really taste it.  I think an even stronger cheese would be good - like gouda, gruyere, or something of the sort.

But try these!  They are totally addictive!

Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Dates

10 oz pitted dates
6 oz strong cheese, such as smoked cheddar, gouda, or gruyere
1 package bacon

Preheat oven to 350 F.  Line a baking sheet with foil, and put a cooling rack on top, in order to allow fat to drain away.

Dates, meet smoked cheddar...

Cut cheese into small pieces just big enough to fit inside the dates.  Stuff each date.

Push the cheese all the way into the dates.

All stuffed, ready for wrapping (I didn't put the rack on until after the bacon wrapping)

Cut the strips of bacon into thirds, and wrap each date with a piece of bacon.  Place on rack, with the bacon seam side down, and cook until bacon is crispy, about 20 minutes.

The dates are on the top (below, PW's jalapeno thingies, and some stuffed with cream cheese and buffalo sauce)