Bacon Wrapped Dates with Marcona Almonds

Remember Rocky IV?  It is one of my favorite movies of all time with the best music montage ever… Hearts on Fire.   I always get chills watching Rocky and Drago’s training montage with the juxtaposition of East vs. West, Natural vs. Man-Made, Talia Shire vs. Brigitte Nielsen (I might have made up the last part).

These appetizers give me the same amount of joy as a good music montage. The combination of salty bacon, sweet dates and a crunchy marcona almond is like a symphony in my mouth.  Who needs candy when you have a natural paleo version right here?  We’ll leave the artificial sweeteners for Drago.

Ingredients
Makes 18 pieces
18 dates (pitted)
18 marcona almonds
9 pieces of bacon

Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Stuff each date with one marcona almond.  Cut each strip of bacon in half.  Wrap each date with a piece of the cut bacon and place the seam side of the bacon wrap face down on an oven-safe tray lined with parchment paper or aluminum foil.  Repeat for all of the bacon and dates.

Place in oven and bake for 10 minutes or until bacon is browned crispy throughout.  Take out to cool and serve warm or at room temperature.