Bacon-wrapped Madjool Dates W/manchego

Total Time: 25 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 10 mins

Ingredients

• 8 madjool dates
• 4 slices bacon, cooked but not crisply (we used a local applewood-smoked bacon)
• 1/4 cup spanish manchego cheese, cut into small slices to fit inside the dates
• 1 tablespoon honey (good quality!)
• 1 tablespoon apple cider
• 1 -2 tablespoon roasted hazelnuts, coarsely chopped

Recipe

• 1 cut the dates open along one side and remove the pits.
• 2 stuff with the manchego cheese pieces.
• 3 cook the bacon until done but not crispy. drain. note: the bacon needs to pliable enough to wrap around the dates.
• 4 cut bacon strips in half crosswise and wrap half a slice around each date. arrange the dates on a platter with the bacon ends facing down.
• 5 warm the honey and apple cider together and drizzle over the dates.
• 6 garnish with toasted hazelnuts.
• 7 serve warm or at room temperature.