Instant Cocktail Party: Bacon-Wrapped Dates

These salty-sweet snacks are absolute musts for any party. 1) Because they're delicious. 2) Because they're quite possibly the easiest appetizer in the world to make. Roasted salted almonds are stuffed into sticky-sweet dates, wrapped in bacon, and baked until crisp and brown. What's not to love??

For a holiday party on the fly, make some crostini (cut a baguette into thin slices, brush with olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt, and bake at 375°F for about 8 minutes or until golden and crisp) and serve with good quality jarred olive tapenade, a few nice cheeses (I like a combination of a soft goat cheese, an aged blue, a creamy cow's milk, and a hard cheese like aged Gouda), and my Tuscan white bean dip with some crudités–radishes, carrots, thinly sliced fennel, and raw haricots verts. With this spread of tasty nibbles–plus your bacon-wrapped dates–your friends will think you're a party-planning pro. Just don't forget the bubbly!

BACON-WRAPPED DATES WITH ALMONDS

Serves 8 to 10

Approx. 30 almonds
Approx. 30 seedless dates
1 pound bacon, each slice cut into thirds

Preheat the oven to 375°F.

Cut the dates open, remove the seeds, and slip the almonds into the center of each. Wrap each date in 1/3 slice of bacon, tucking the loose ends under the date. Arrange the dates in rows on a baking sheet.

Bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown and crisp. Place on a paper-towel-lined-plate to soak up some of the grease; let cool slightly before serving.

VARIATION: Substitute blue cheese for the almonds, or try prunes instead of dates.