These bites used to be the hottest appetizer of the 70s and are way overdue for a comeback. Possibly named after Norman warriors who terrorized southern England, these little treats are ugly as sin but oh so delicious. They will be hoovered up in a minute so definitely have some extra floating around. The toothpicks, while kitsch, also make them an extremely convenient hors d'oeuvres. Enjoy!
20 medjool dates (or any large date), pitted
10 strips of bacon, cut in half crosswise
1 small log of fresh chevre
toothpicks
Preheat the oven to 375 F. Poke your finger in the pitted dates, creating a little hole. Take a small junk of chevre (between 1/2 and 1 teaspoon) and push it into the date. Don't overfill them, otherwise you'll get a mess in the oven. Wrap each filled date in one half-slice of bacon and secure with a toothpick. Place them on a rimmed baking sheet (I put mine on top of a silicone pad or wrap in aluminum and top with parchment) and bake for 20-30 minutes, or until the bacon is fully crisped. There will be some grease on the pan, so before plating, pat the dates on a paper towel. Plate and serve after they've cooled for a few minutes. They're hot!
DEVILS ON HORSEBACK: BACON WRAPPED DATES FILLED WITH GOAT CHEESE
