CHORIZO STUFFED DATES WRAPPED IN BACON

There's this great restaurant in town, that I love, because they serve food that's Farm To Table.  Meaning, they shop at the farmer's market like me and they buy locally, they call that a locavore. That's me, that's this restaurant.  5 Stars, in my opinion. Sontes. And they also have my art hanging up in there. : )

So when they first opened 6 years ago, they had on their menu Chorizo Stuffed Dates.  They were wrapped in bacon and served with a simple tomato sauce.  They took them off a few years ago and brought them back on on their anniversary date this year.  Well, since I had some left over dates from the Date, Goat Cheese, Proscuitto and Caramelized Onion pizza and some Chorizo and Enchilada Sauce from the Chorizo and Bison Enchiladas, I thought I would try my own version.

CHORIZO STUFFED DATES WRAPPED IN BACON

8 oz chorizo
8 Medjool Dates
8 slices of bacon
1 cup leftover (or not) enchilada sauce

Cook chorizo in a frying pan.

Cut dates in half.

Remove pit and separate.

Fill date with cooked chorizo.

Wrap with bacon and secure with a toothpick.

Place a little sauce in a baking dish and place filled dates in.  I put some sauce on top and then after baking it realized it would be better to pour some heated sauce over the top after broiling.

Broil in the oven for 5-10 minutes or until nicely browned.

Enjoy!

 CHORIZO STUFFED DATES WRAPPED IN BACON

8 oz chorizo

8 Medjool Dates

8 slices of bacon

1 cup leftover (or not) enchilada sauce

Cook chorizo in a frying pan

Cut dates in half.

Remove pit and separate.

Fill date with cooked chorizo.

Wrap with bacon and secure with a toothpick.

Place a little sauce in a baking dish and place filled dates in.

Broil in the oven for 5-10 minutes or until nicely browned.

Pour some heated sauce over the top after broiling.

Enjoy! 

GOAT CHEESE, DATES, CARAMELIZED ONION AND PROSCUITO ARTISANAL PIZZA

As I sure I have mentioned before, I LOVE goat cheese!  One of the main reasons I bought a goat, so I could make chevre.  I know, I know, buy it from the store it's easier, but then - that wouldn't be me.  I like to make my own stuff.  So every now and them I get a craving some some great pizza, and usually it doesn't involve pepperoni.  At least not anymore, it used to…. but I've grown up.  No, not really, I just like new kinds of pizza.  Growing up is overrated anyway…

So I made the crust Gluten Free - cuz that's what I like to do (not because I have to, but because I want to).  And then I added the fabulous toppings to make the best pizza EVER!  Well, close to ever - because my favorite pizza ever is the one I'm gonna show you in a couple days.  I won't tell you the total ingredients now, but I will tell you it involves chevre goat cheese.  Surprised?

GOAT CHEESE, DATES, CARAMELIZED ONION AND PROSCUITO ARTISANAL PIZZA

Ingredients:

1 pizza crust ( I prefer this Gluten Free Recipe from the Gluten-Free Goddess®) or if you prefer regular 'ol pizza crust, try this recipe.  I've used it before and it's great with a little added garlic.

Toppings:
1/2 cup chopped Medjool dates
1/2 cup chopped proscuitto
6 oz chevre - soft goat cheese

caramelized onion:

1 large onion - chopped
1/8 cup balsamic vinegar
2 tbs butter, divided

chop onion - or you can cut in strips (I did both - sometimes I am indecisive)

melt 1 tbs butter in pan

sauté onions in pan until brown and totally caramelized (wait patiently - this can take up to 45 minutes - but it's worth it!

add balsamic vinegar and reduce, takes about 2-4 minutes

add 1 tbs butter and melt in

Take the caramelized onions and use as your 'sauce', then top with the other ingredients.

If using regular crust recipe- bake at 400 degrees until crust is golden brown, about 20 minutes.

If you are using the Gluten-Free crust, heat broiler and bake for about 4-5 minutes until toppings are brown.

Walah!  Awesomely good PIZZA!

GOAT CHEESE, DATES, CARAMELIZED ONION AND PROSCUITO ARTISANAL PIZZA

Ingredients:

1 pizza crust (I prefer this Gluten Free Recipe from the Gluten-Free Goddess) or if you prefer regular 'ol pizza crust, try this recipe.  I've used it before and it's great with a little added garlic.

Toppings:

1/2 cup chopped Medjool dates

1/2 cup chopped proscuitto

6 oz chevre - soft goat cheese

caramelized onion:

1 large onion - chopped

1/8 cup balsamic vinegar

2 tbs butter, divided

 

chop onion - or you can cut in strips

melt 1 tbs butter in pan

sauté onions in pan until brown and totally caramelized (wait patiently - this can take up to 45 minutes - but it's worth it!)

add balsamic vinegar and reduce, takes about 2-4 minutes

add 1 tbs butter and melt in

Take the caramelized onions and use as your 'sauce', then top with the other ingredients. 

If using regular crust recipe- bake at 400 degrees until crust is golden brown, about 20 minutes.

If you are using the Gluten-Free crust, heat broiler and bake for about 4-5 minutes until toppings are brown.