3ouncesbulk fresh chorizo(not the cured/dried kind)
2ouncescream cheeseor soft goat cheese
6stripsthinly sliced baconcut in half to make 12 short strips
12toothpicks
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 400ºF if you're baking these right away.
Then preheat a cast iron skillet over medium high, and brown the chorizo.
Drain off any extra grease, and mash the chorizo with the cream cheese or goat cheese in a small bowl using a fork or the back of a spoon.
Spoon the chorizo/cheese mixture evenly into the dates, packing all the filling into them as much as possible. You may also need 1-2 additional dates.
Wrap each date with a piece of bacon and insert a toothpick through the center of the date from the side to secure the ends together.
At this point, you can refrigerate these for a couple of days if you'd like. Remove the dish with the dates from the refrigerator while the oven preheats.
When you're ready to serve, preheat the oven to 400° F. Place your dates on a parchment-lined baking sheet or in an ovenproof container, and bake for about 20 minutes, turning over once in the middle of the cooking time.
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Notes
To pit the dates, use a paring knife to make a slit lengthwise down the dates but not cutting through. Remove the pit and use your fingers to open the date up so it's easier to stuff with the cheese filling.