Bacon Wrapped Dates Stuffed with Manchego Cheese and Ham (Fried in Coconut Oil)
Ingredients
For dates
  • 10 organic medjool dates, pitted
  • 10 slices of pastured bacon
  • 2 oz. Manchego cheese (or can substitute with cheddar) ** If you are at Whole Foods, the kind of Manchego cheese I purchased is called Cordobes. It's a younger aged cheese so it is much more creamier.
  • ½ slice ham (I use Applegate's Uncured Organic Ham), diced very small
  • 1 cup refined coconut oil (where to buy)
Ingredients for honey-balsamic glaze
  • ¼ cup honey (will be heated so raw is unnecessary)
  • ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tsp organic dijon mustard
Instructions
  1. Place refined coconut oil in a small pot and melt on medium-high heat
  2. Slice date in half and remove pit; do this to all dates
  3. Slice cheese into small ½ inch wide pieces and place into date where the seed was
  4. Stuff a few (5-6 pieces) of the diced ham around cheese
  5. Squeeze the opening of dates shut
  6. Place on one end of the bacon and begin rolling. Halfway through the slice of bacon, turn clockwise a half turn and continue rolling until no more bacon is left; tuck end of bacon under. **Don't worry if it doesn't stay all the way, when it is in the fryer, it will stick together
  7. Place 1-3 bacon wrapped dates into oil; cook until brown on each side (about 5 minutes); do this until all dates have been cooked
  8. When all the dates have been fried, add optional honey-balsamic reduction if wanted
  9. Enjoy with a nice glass of wine and good company
Directions for honey-balsamic glaze
  1. Combine in a small, shallow pan on high heat.
  2. Once boiling, reduce heat to low and stir until sauce becomes syrupy (5-8 minutes after boiling point).
  3. While still warm, drizzle sauce over fried dates and make a fancy design if desired.
Recipe by at https://naturallyloriel.com/bacon-wrapped-dates-stuffed-manchego-cheese-serrano-ham-fried-coconut-oil/