Do you remember me talking the other day about change? How I’m not good with change, but that I needed to embrace it in order to have a personal life & family time? Do you remember me saying how important it is to the hubs & I? That our decision to change careers is closely related to the lack of personal life and family time? We have lost much in the 10 ½ almost 11 years while we were running our catering company. Now this is important because I want you to do the same thing. No, not change careers silly – but have more family time! And how do we do that? By serving quick and easy appetizers for a family get together, COCKTAIL PARTY or just for the heck of it.
Anyone else remember cocktail parties from days long gone? My parents used to have glorious parties. Their guests would arrive dressed up, and my sister and I would sit upstairs looking through the banister at all the grownups having a grand time down below. There was always good food to eat, cocktails to drink and music playing on the stereo.
I long for times like that. When I was in my 20’s my friends & I used to throw fabulous parties too – full of music, drink & food, but somewhere along the line as we all got older the social gatherings like this stopped and I want them back. Not just for the social aspect but for the food of course.
My favorite appetizer? Bacon wrapped dates of course, because bacon…
I swear these little things are the bomb and are crazy easy to make. You can even assemble them the day before, keep them in the fridge and cook them off in the oven if you don’t want to get your stove top dirty. Just between us – I’ve been known to make these for dinner when the hubs has been working late at caterings, just for the kid & I. Plus if you have a handy fella at your house, you can throw these puppies on the BBQ while he’s grilling up some tri-tip CA style.
And during vacations we try to officially plan one or two nights a week with cocktail hour, complete with grown up snacks and adult beverages – sometimes if the grownups are feeling into it, we’ll even make a special appetizer just for the kids. But no matter what you do – make sure you make more of these dates than you think you’ll want because once they’re ready, EVERYONE will want to eat these. I promise.
BACON WRAPPED DATES
24 Medjool dates, pitted
12 slices of bacon, halved crosswise
Spiced Honey for drizzling
- Half each piece lengthwise, 24 total strips
- Wrap a strip of bacon around each date, secure with a toothpick
- Place bacon wrapped dates in a large sauté pan, seam side down
- Turn & sauté about 10 minutes – bacon is brown on all sides
- Drain on a paper towel
- Drizzle with spiced honey just before serving
- Serve hot
Bacon Wrapped Dates
Ingredients
- 24 Medjool dates pitted
- 12 slices of bacon halved crosswise
- Spiced Honey for drizzling
Instructions
- Half each piece lengthwise, 24 total strips
- Wrap a strip of bacon around each date, secure with a toothpick
- Place bacon wrapped dates in a large sauté pan, seam side down
- Turn & sauté about 10 minutes - bacon is brown on all sides
- Drain on a paper towel
- Drizzle with spiced honey just before serving
- Serve hot