Everything's Better with Bacon

At least according to my husband Corey, that is. I thought with football season in full swing that a couple of game-watching appetizers might be in order. Both of these involve bacon and BOTH are delicious! The first recipe comes from The Little Kitchen That Could....Ashlea posted some Sweet and Spicy Bacon Chicken Wraps a few weeks ago that I served at a dinner party and they were yummy! Click (here) for the recipe....they are a crowd-pleaser! Here's a picture of Ashlea's finished product:

The second recipe comes from my friend Sidney's kitchen. Sidney happens to be my friend Shelley's twin, so they are now both contributors to my blog! Sidney is a terrific cook and fabulous hostess who is often throwing parties and showers, so she has a recipe file full of wonderful appetizers. This recipe might sound like a strange combination, but the result is actually quite delicious. She made this recipe for Bacon-Wrapped Chorizo-Stuffed Dates back when she was testing recipes for a new Junior League Cookbook. I was skeptical myself, but I am so glad that a tried them because they are terrific and very different!

BACON-WRAPPED CHORIZO STUFFED DATES

Recipe Notes

Great party appetizer! In case you are not familiar with chorizo, it is a spicy Mexican sausage that works well with many breakfast dishes and Hispanic dishes. Chorizo can be found in your butcher's case very easily.

Ingredients

• 1 lb. chorizo sausage
• 20 pitted, dried dates
• 10 slices bacon (I recommend center cut)
• 5 oz. apricot jam

Instructions

1. Remove casings from chorizo. Cook in a large skillet over medium-high heat until browned, stirring until crumbly. Drain well.

2. Cut a slit in the side of each date. Stuff with the cooked chorizo.

3. Cut bacon slices in half and wrap around each stuffed date. Secure with a wooden toothpick.

4. Arrange stuffed dates on rack in a broiler pan and back for 30 minutes at 375 degrees.

5. Melt apricot jam either over low heat on the stove or in a microwave-safe bowl in the microwave. Brush each date with jam and bake an additional 5 minutes.

6. Brush additional jam over the dates prior to serving.

Thank you, Sidney, for your contribution! And thank you, Ashlea, for so many great recipes!