Bacon Wrapped Dates

Its the recipe many of you have been waiting for. I keep insisting you don't need a recipe, I tell you all how to make these all the time. But, alas, here is the written version for you.

INGREDIENTS:

12-13 oz Pitted Dates (about 50)
1 Pound Bacon (about 16 slices)
2-3 Tbsp Brown Sugar (optional)

 DIRECTIONS:

Cut bacon slices into thirds. Wrap each date with a piece of bacon and secure with a toothpick. Place on foil-lined jelly roll pan (any baking sheet is okay, but make sure it has shallow sides so you don't drip bacon fat into your oven). Lining the pan with foil is not necessary, but it makes clean-up much easier. I also spray the foil lightly with non-stick cooking spray. I have no idea if this helps or not, but its what I do. (And this is my recipe, so I do what I want.)

Sprinkle with brown sugar. Bake in a hot oven (375-400 F) for 20-30 minutes, or until bacon is well done. Turn each piece half-way through baking.

Many recipes include stuffing the date with something before wrapping in bacon. You can use almonds, water chestnuts, goat cheese, mozzarella, etc. However, I find that just the simplicity of the sweetness of the date combined with the smokiness of the bacon and the caramelization of the brown sugar is enough to make these great. Anything else can just be overwhelming (particularly the goat cheese).