Bacon wrapped dates are basically meat candies. They’re crispy, sweet, savory, and wrapped in a tiny little package. I stuffed Deglet Noor dates with the cheapest blue cheese I could find at Nugget. I used thick cut bacon, and wrapped a third of each strip around each stuffed date. I used toothpicks to hold the little packages in place, and baked them on a rack (You know, to allow all the grease to drain onto a pan. It’s healthy.) at 400°F until crispy. 

I made a quick salad with baby kale and celery. For a vinaigrette, I whisked together some apple cider vinegar, whole grain mustard, honey, lemon, salt, pepper, and olive oil. I topped the salad with some red onion, crushed pistachios, shaved Pecorino Romano, and segments of the last few oranges from our backyard tree. 

While the bacon cooked, I brushed a few baguette slices with olive oil and grilled them on a grill pan. When toasty, I rubbed some raw garlic on each side. If only you could smell what I’m smelling!

This salad hit the spot. It hit all the spots.