Turkey-Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Dates

Cabot Creamery is a family-farmer owned cooperative of 1200+ farms located all throughout New England & New York. 100% of its profits go back to the farmers, and their cheddar cheese is a protein-rich snack that’s naturally lactose-free (which was especially wonderful for my possibly-lactose-intolerant-self).

This month, Cabot Creamery challenged Recipe ReDux members to create a healthier snack. I received a bunch of awesome cheese samples from them, including Seriously Sharp Cheddar, Extra Sharp Cheddar, Vermont Sharp Cheddar, Pepper Jack, and also their specialty aged cheddars (Alpine, White Oak, and Farmhouse Reserve). It was pretty intense, and I’m going to have a lot of fun dreaming up recipes for the next month! :]

You can also find a lot of different resources on their page (everything from lesson plans to fundraising to earning patches for health) to teach kids about healthy habits! (This is especially fitting at the moment because I’m on my pediatrics rotation, so I definitely applaud them for that! :)

Find out more about Cabot Creamery + connect with them on their social media platforms!

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest

Since I’ve been on my crusade to finish off everything in my apartment before buying anything else, I decided to finally put my giant tub of dates to use. This simple recipe includes just 4 ingredients, and each component hangs out in a different  food group (unless you want to lump the seeds in with the “protein” category)! I shared it with a couple of my friends from med school and they loved em’!

They’ve also been referring to these as “Hot Dates From Farrah,” which, by popular vote, may have to be the unofficial name for these! We’re so very clever. :O It’s probably how we got into med school! (…kidding…)

Image from Cabot Cheese

In the interest of full disclosure, I should mention that cheddar is actually my least favorite cheese. I actually avoid it whenever possible. You may be wondering, “Well then, what in the world was she thinking when she decided to cook with it?!” and I wouldn’t fault you for it at all.

Basically, I’ve been trying to broaden my horizons and to challenge myself to get out of my comfort zone, and trying a food I thought I hated was a good start!

The conclusion?

I absolutely love the way these turned out! For the record, these are very strong words for a former cheddar-avoider. The combination of sweet and salty from the dates and turkey bacon perfectly balance out the cheddar, and there’s also a fun little crunch from the sunflower seeds. These were super easy to make, didn’t take long to bake, and would be awesome as appetizers or snacks. :]!

By posting this recipe, I am entering a recipe challenge sponsored by Cabot Creamery and am eligible to win prizes associated with the contest. I was not compensated for my time.

Turkey-Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Dates

• 24 dates
• 2 tbsp sunflower seeds
• 3 oz. Cabot Farmhouse Reserve White Cheddar
• 12 slices turkey bacon, cut in half

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 400.
2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Cut each of the dates lengthwise and stuff it with a small rectangle of cheese and a few sunflower seeds.
3. Pinch each date to close, and wrap each one with a strip of turkey bacon.
4. Arrange them with the open side down onto the baking sheet.
5. Bake for ~20 minutes (turn the dates at 10 minutes), or until turkey bacon is crisp.
6. Serve hot!

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