A Month-of-Appetizers: Bacon-Wrapped "Stuff"

I was watching an episode of Chopped in which every round had to feature bacon. It reminded me of an upscale version of what has been happening at State Fairs the last few years: How many weird ways can you serve bacon?

On Chopped they had bacon that can sell for $600 a pound in Spain? $600? I’ll never complain about bacon prices at the grocery ever again! And here I thought varieties of bacon meant which company packaged it or whether it was smoked with apple wood! Just goes to show you!

DH is very health conscious, so we don’t have bacon often. In a sop to more healthful eating, I only buy nitrite-free/nitrate-free bacon. Still.

Bacon is addictive--the smell, the taste, the crackling in the pan. There is no flavor comparable. And appetizers made with bacon disappear first from my table. Don’t forget to include Date Bites for Date Nights posted earlier this month if you are doing Bacon-Wrapped Stuff for your party.

Bacon-Wrapped Stuff (makes about 30)

10 strips nitrite-free/nitrate free bacon

1 tablespoon brown sugar

30 “stuff” to wrap: ideas--medium shrimp, whole water chestnuts, tiny potatoes--see Note-, Lil’ Smokies sausages, medium mushrooms, or something else!

[Choose one item or make a combo for a prettier plate]

Set oven to broil and place rack 3-4” from broiler.

Cut bacon strips into third, cross-wise. Toss with brown sugar and set aside for a few minutes.

Wrap “stuff” with bacon. Place on rimmed baking sheet, not touching, seam-side down.

Broil for 8-10 minutes (or until bacon is crispy), turning once. Secure bacon on the “stuff” with toothpicks and serve immediately.

NOTE: If using tiny potatoes, get the smallest you can. You might have to cut bacon strips in halves instead of thirds to cover. Prepare potatoes before wrapping with bacon by cooking 2 minutes in microwave. Cool enough to handle before wrapping. Continue as above to broil.

DH’s Rating: 5 Tongues Up for everything but the Lil’ Smokies. He thought the bacon and sausage together was too much. The slight brown sugar sweetness was a nice surprise that he liked a lot, especially on the shrimp.

A Month-of-Appetizers: Date Bites for Date Nights

Daughter-in-law, London, shared this recipe with me at Christmas time. They had served it at one of their appetizer parties, so I had to try it, too.

I believe any appetizer party, or even appetizer spread, needs all five tastes if possible: salty, sweet, sour, bitter, and umami (more on umami in another post). Having the range allows for full participation of your taste buds. Today’s appetizer recipe gives you salty and sweet.

Before we go out to dinner, we like to have a small appetizer and some wine. Sort of prime the pump for date night, right? These Date Bites for Date Nights fill the bill because unlike some of the recipes here, you can modify this for the number of servings you want. This recipe serves two.

2 slices of bacon, cut in half

4 dates

4 whole almonds

1 tablespoon cream cheese

Fry the bacon to render some of the fat. Only partially cook it so it is still very flexible. Remove from skillet and drain.

Make a slice in each date. Put a schmear of cream cheese on each almond and stuff it into the date. Wrap each date with one bacon piece, holding together with a toothpick.

Broil 5 minutes (or until bacon is crispy and brown all over). Serve immediately.

DH’s Rating: 3 Tongues Up. “It tastes fine, good, but I don’t like sweet appetizers.” Fair enough. I do! More for me.