Recipe

		Crispy Bacon Wrapped Dates with Lemon-Basil Crema
		Serving Size - 6
		Prepared By - Cindy & Ted
		Recipe Rating	Printer Friendly Recipe

CREMA:

2 tablespoons sour cream, room temperature

1 tablespoon mascarpone, room temperature

1 teaspoon lemon zest

2 tablespoons lemon juice

3 tablespoons chopped fresh basil

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

DATES:

12 Medjool dates

2 links hot Italian sausage, casings removed

6 slices bacon (about 4 ounces), cut crosswise in half

FOR THE CREMA: Whisk together the sour cream, mascarpone, lemon zest, lemon juice, basil and salt. Cover, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to let the flavors marry. FOR THE DATES: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Make a small lengthwise slit down the center of each date. Remove the pits and open the dates slightly; make sure they stay intact. Stuff each date with 1 teaspoon of the sausage. Close the dates up and around the sausagethey won't close completelyleaving some of the sausage exposed. Wrap each date in a piece of bacon and place on a baking sheet. Bake for 8 minutes. Flip the dates, and bake until the bacon is crisp, another 8 to 10 minutes. Serve warm, with the crema on the side.