Makes 12 pieces, or 6 servings Patricia Hall, a native of Hendersonville, Tennessee, wants guests to savor dinner rather than fill up on appetizers. Her solution is to offer a pre-dinner tidbit like Bacon-Date Bites. “It’s a great little cocktail bite,” she says. “It has a bit of elegance without the effort. And you don’t fill up on it like other heavy appetizers.” Hall says that when you’re serving a small appetizer, plan on serving dinner within 30 minutes. Have dinner mostly prepared as guests arrive, then set out the Bacon-Date Bites. They take the edge off your guests’ appetites while you put together last-minute details like tossing a salad or heating bread.
12 pitted dates
¼ cup cream cheese
6 slices bacon (center cut works best)
Ground black pepper, to taste
Cut a slit lengthwise in each date. Fill each date with 1 teaspoon of the cream cheese. Press to close the date over the filling.
Cut the bacon slices crosswise into halves and trim the excess fat. The key to the flavor is using mostly bacon meat with little fat. Wrap each date with a piece of the bacon, making sure there is overlap. Sprinkle generously with pepper.
Heat a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Place the dates in the pan and cook, turning once, for about 2 minutes per side. Let cool slightly before serving.
Makes 12 pieces, or 6 servings