happy new year!

Well hello, hello!!!! Long time no chat! Well! The rest of my 2015 was pretty busy and lots of fun. The highlight of the year was the trip to Italy the hubs and I took. Seventeen glorious days in Rome, Sorrento and Florence. The best of Rome  were the Roman ruins, St. Peter's, pizza and the Trastevere neighborhood (best restaurants ever). Sorrento was relaxing after the hustle and bustle of Rome. Absolutely stunning coastline scenery and seafood! The best lunch was in Positano at Da Vincenzo, fresh caught Mediterranean prawns with a tomato sauce over linguini, wow! I had no idea prawns could taste like that! We loved Florence, it is truly one of the prettiest cities I've ever been to. We took a guided tour of two wonderful wineries in Tuscany where we had the opportunity to try the first pressing of olive oil at a Tuscan estate. John's favorite thing in Florence was probably the Florentine steak, which comes from a local Tuscan beef and is served rare and delicious! Speaking of Tuscan beefcakes, Michaelangelo's David is stunning, from every angle if you know what I mean...  ;)

So I am hoping to have a bunch of fantastic recipes inspired by the trip for you. I'm still working on them though. In the works, but not yet perfected is a red wine marinated steak with balsamic sauce, pasta Amtriciana, Cacio e Pepe, and pasta carbonara. 

Today, however, I have a simple recipe for you that is quick and easy and perfect for a holiday party as an appetizer that everyone will love. Bacon wrapped dates. You can stuff them really with anything blue cheese or almonds or maybe even a bit of spicy sausage, but I like to keep it simple and go for the manchego cheese.

Bacon Wrapped Dates

This recipe is for two people, three dates each. Be warned, these are really good and you may want more than three per person. Adjust accordingly.

6 medjool dates

6 chunks manchego cheese (about 1" x 1/4" chunk) 

3 slices bacon, sliced in half lengthwise

6 toothpicks 

Preheat oven to 425. Cut a slit along the length of each date and remove the pit, replace with chunk of cheese. Squish the date closed around the cheese. Roll up each date in a half slice of bacon. Secure with toothpick, piercing the loose end of bacon

and going all the way though the date. Place each date on a cookie sheet leaving about 1-2 inches between. Bake in preheated oven for 15-18 minutes until bacon looks done. Place dates on paper towel to dry some grease away then transfer to serving plate. 

Happy holidays and have a delicious New Year!!