Bacon, Date & Pistachio Encrusted Mac & Cheese

An accidental success gave birth to this unusual recipe.  My roommates and I threw a party where we served homemade macaroni & cheese and bacon-wrapped dates, alongside many other finger foods.  The next day, I heated up some leftover mac n' cheese and, as happens from time to time, it got mixed into the candied dates.  Naturally, I just ate them all together.  BOOM!  A creamy, luscious, taste-bud popping classic was born.

This twist on your everyday mac n' cheese replaces the quotidien bread crumb topping with a mixture of smoky bacon, sweet dates and salty pistachios.  Elevate your next bowl of mac n' cheese with these decadent ingredients for a TO.DIE.FOR comfort meal.

Bacon, Date & Pistachio Encrusted Macaroni & Cheese

Your Favorite Macaroni/Pasta & Cheese
5 Slices of Bacon, cooked
5-6 Pitted Dates
1/4 C. Pistachios, shelled (almonds would also work well)
Something green for garnish, like thyme

Preheat the oven to 350.

Place your cheesy pasta into a greased baking dish.  Set aside.

Roughly chop your bacon, dates & pistachios into similar sized pieces.  Mix them together in a small bowl.  Evenly cover the pasta with the bacon mixture.  Bake for about 15 minutes until the pasta is heated through and the topping has ever so slightly browned.  Garnish with thyme to finish.

Wrapped Dates

Thank you to Kelly for this tantalizing party appetizer.  This is the EASIEST recipe you'll ever make that EVERYONE at your next party will rave over.  These date bites are sweet and salty and delectably addicting. 

36 pitted dates

12 slices bacon, cut in thirds

24 whole smoked almonds

24 toothpicks

Cooking spray

Preheat oven to Broil.  Cut each slice of bacon in half.  Stuff each date with an almond and wrap with a slice of bacon.  Skewer each date with a toothpick and place on a lightly sprayed cookie sheet.  Broil the dates on the middle shelf until the bacon is browned, turning every couple of minutes. 

*As an alternative, stuff the dates with goat cheese instead of an almond