Hot Honey Bacon Wrapped Goat Cheese Stuffed Dates

 

Dates are highly underrated.

I think I spent about 35 years on this planet before I ever had a date. Why? I don't know. Maybe they weren't readily available in the 80's or 90's or maybe nobody knew what to make with them. Or maybe people just overlooked them and only stumbled on delicious date recipes recently. Or maybe everyone knew and I just missed out for years.

Whatever the case, you should put dates on your holiday menu! They are like nature's candy. Sweet and chewy and they go perfectly with some tangy goat cheese all wrapped up in some crispy, salty bacon with a little hot honey drizzled over them. 

These Hot Honey Bacon Wrapped Goat Cheese Stuffed Dates are somewhat of a texture and explosion: chewy, crispy, creamy, sticky, sweet, cheesy, and salty. If you love dates, then these are for you!

Hot Honey Bacon-Wrapped Stuffed Dates

Adapted from How Sweet Eats

by Jessica Merchant

Serves 10-20

2o Medjool dates

10 slices bacon

4 ounces goat cheese

hot honey, for drizzling

Preheat the oven to 400F. Slice the dates open lengthwise (do not cut the entire way through!) and remove the pits. Stuff the inside of the dates with some of the goat cheese. 

Cut each slice of bacon into half or thirds (depending on the length of your bacon). You want a length of bacon that will wrap around your dates without overlapping (overlapping bacon won't cook well). Secure with a toothpick. Place the dates on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper for easy clean up.

Bake for 10 minutes, then flip the dates over using tongs and bake for 10 minutes more, or until the bacon is crispy and crunchy on all sides.

Remove the dates and drizzle with hot honey. Serve immediately! 

 

Festive Snacks @ I Heart Cooking Clubs

Hot Honey Roasted Salmon

 This is such a fun and easy recipe! If you want to hop on the hot honey trend, this is a good way to do it. You don't need to buy any hot honey because you're gonna make it yourself! And...it's easy peasy. Just honey and thinly sliced jalapeno that simmers for about 5 minutes on the stove-top and you're all set. The honey gets a little spicy and the jalapeno slices get all candied and all kinds of delicious.

 The salmon gets seasoned with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and lemon slices, then topped with the hot honey before getting roasted and after. It's the perfect mix of sweet and spicy and those candied jalapenos are tasty as ever.

Give this one a try if you're in the mood to shake things up!

 

Hot Honey Roasted Salmon

Adapted from How Sweet Eats

by Jessica Merchant

Serves 4

1/2 cup honey

1 jalapeno pepper, thinly sliced

1 (2 pound) salmon filet

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1 lemon, thinly sliced

Preheat the oven to 425F. Line a baking sheet with foil or parchment. 

Heat the honey and the jalapeno in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Let the honey come to a light simmer then turn off the honey. Let it sit for 5 minutes. Strain the honey through a fine mesh sieve to remove the peppers and the seeds.

Place your salmon filet on the foil and sprinkle it with salt, pepper and garlic powder. Spoon a few tablespoons of the honey on top. Roast for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the salmon flakes easily with a fork.

Before serving, drizzle a bit more honey on the salmon and add the peppers if you wish. Serve with an extra spritz of lemon.