Stuffed Baby Peppers

I had fun making the stuffed baby bell peppers appetizers! I bought the bell peppers at Trader Joes for an affordable price. I can’r remember where else (in Seattle) people can find these special little sweet bell peppers. They look like this in the package and each package costs about $3.

Wash and slice the top of the baby bell peppers using a small paring knife. Then clean out all the seeds.

The recipe calls for pancetta, which is Italian bacon, but I just used regular bacon for my filling.

Cheese-stuffed Dates with Proscuitto

These litte bites looked very elegant on the plate! Check out the photo from my Giada at Home cookbook. I’ve never had dates (no, not that kind of date. Lol.) before. The flavor combination of the (assumingly) sweet dates along with the 2 creamy cheeses and the saltiness of the proscuitto was tantalizing. I couldn’t wait to give this recipe a try!

Cheese-stuffed Dates with Proscuitto by Giada Delaurentiis

• 1/4 cup (2 ounces) mascarpone cheese, at room temperature
• 1/4 cup (2 ounces) goat cheese, at room temperature
• 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh chives
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 16 (12 ounces) Medjool dates, pitted
• 8 thin slices prosciutto, halved lengthwise

In a small bowl add the cheeses, chives and salt and pepper, to taste. Mix together until well combined.

Gently pull the dates apart and spoon about 1/2 teaspoon of the cheese mixture inside. Close the dates around the filling. Wrap a piece of prosciutto around each date and secure with a toothpick.

Arrange the stuffed dates on a platter and serve.