Bacon-Wrapped Dates with Goat Cheese and Rosemary

Sweet, savory & creamy, all in one bite. These little appetizers are guaranteed to be a crowd pleaser.

Dates. I'm not talking about dinner and a movie; although, these little appetizers would fit the occasion perfectly for a romantic evening at home alone. I'm talking about those little bitty, sweet, dried fruit things that are too good it's nearly impossible to eat just one. I LOVE dates.

Did you know they're good for you? Many think that since they're high in natural sugars, that means they must be bad for you. That's not the case and like everything else, moderation is key. Dates are also high in antioxidants and potassium, and just 1/4 cup provides 12% of your recommended daily fiber intake. Now, I'm sure once you add all the bacon and goat cheese, we take it back just a teeny bit on the "health food" scale, but, hey, that's not the point...haha!

This recipe is very simple, much like most of what I cook around here. But, simple does NOT mean it's any less delicious. Warm dates with melted goat cheese is a hint of sweetness mixed with a hint of cream and pretty much my dreams come true when it comes to appetizers. Just take a rimmed pan lined with parchment paper, pop some dates on the pan, stuff them with some goat cheese and move on to the bacon!

Everything tastes better when it's wrapped in bacon.

Seriously, name on thing that doesn't taste better with bacon. Tomatoes? Nope, tastes better. Potatoes? No-way, load mine up with some bacon bits. Ice cream? For real, if you haven't yet tried some ice cream with bacon and a little maple syrup, you are missing out on one of the finer things in life.

I once tried to grow my own food, but I couldn't find any bacon seeds.

At this point, I think we are all in agreement that bacon should always be on standby in your kitchen, and you definitely don't want to skimp on it for this recipe.

Directions:

Once you've stuffed all the dates with goat cheese, simply take a piece of bacon and wrap it around the dates. You will not need to secure it with a toothpick because it will stay nice and tight while it's baking. Before popping them in the oven, take several sprigs of fresh rosemary and sprinkle on top of the dates. Also, add some crushed black pepper if you'd like.

Bake on 375 for 15 minutes, and serve immediately when finished. I get the feeling you don't need that warning though because they will be devoured before you allow them to cool off.