Bacon-Wrapped Dates with Duck Sauce →

Yield: as many as you want up to 36
Ingredients

16-ounce package of bacon (regular thickness, not thick cut), cut into thirds
8-ounce package of pitted dates
Peach jam

Directions

• Preheat the oven to 350°F. Position the oven rack in the center of the oven. Cover a cookie sheet with tin foil.

• Cut each date in half lengthwise and spread a 1/2 teaspoon of peach preserve on each half.

• In a skillet, cook the bacon on both sides for about 2 minutes each side. You want it partially cooked, but still flexible so you can wrap it around the dates.

• Wrap a piece of bacon around a date. Make sure the bacon seam is placed facing down on the cookie sheet. Press firmly on the bacon-wrapped date, so it is less likely to unravel. Repeat until all of the dates are wrapped in bacon.

• Bake for 20-25 minutes until the bacon is crisp, but not burned. Let cool for 10-15 minutes before serving.

Duck Sauce:
Makes about 1/4 cup

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon Rice Wine vinegar
2 teaspoons Hoisin sauce
1 tablespoon orange marmalade
1 tablespoon peach jam
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1/8-1/4 teaspoon hot sauce like Cholula brand. (optional and to taste)
Add all the ingredients to a bowl and mix well. Serve with Bacon-Wrapped Dates, sliced veggies, or egg-rolls, etc.

Guacamole and Black Beans Cup →

Individual Guacamole and Black Beans Cups...avocado, lime, tomato, black beans, minced habanero pepper. Use the empty avocado skin for the individual cups and don't worry about double-dipping.
For Mexicans, guacamole recipes are kind of like spaghetti sauce recipes for Italians, everyone has a family recipe that they prefer. Easy to make and delicious, the basic ingredients for an authentic guac are:

1. Avocado
2. Fresh lime juice
3. Salt
4. finely minced white onion (optional)
5. chopped cilantro
6. minced fresh Serrano or Jalapeno pepper (optional: sub bottled Jalapeños)

I happen to love the simple mix of avocado and lime juice with a little salt to bring out the flavors, garnished with chopped cilantro and finely minced orange Cubanelle pepper, or seeded, diced tomato to add color and texture. Serve with crunchy corn chips.

Guacamole

serves 6 as an appetizer

Ingredients:

• 4 medium ripe Hass avocados, halved and pitted (see *Note)

• 3 tablespoons lime juice or more to taste

• 1 teaspoon kosher salt, more to taste

• ¼ cup finely chopped fresh cilantro

• 2 tablespoons finely chopped Cubanelle pepper

  Optional:

• ½ small white onion minced

• minced Serrano or Jalapeno to taste (start with 2 teaspoons and add more if you want more heat)

• 1/2 diced, seeded tomato

Directions:

1. Use a spoon to scoop out the avocado into a bowl.
2. Mash the avocado with a fork.
3. Add the lime juice and salt and mix (see *Note)
4. Sample on a corn chip and adjust lime or salt to taste.
5. Mix in the cilantro
5. Garnish with minced Cubanelle.
6. Serve with corn chips.

* Note: if you are adding onion and or Serrano pepper or tomato, add with the lime juice and salt and mix well
* Note: you can tell an avocado is ripe if you press on the fat end of the avocado and it is just slightly soft.

The following website has a good recipe for guac. Check it out, compare it to mine, and develop your own family recipe for guacamole and impress your friends. Buen provecho!
https://cookieandkate.com/best-guacamole-recipe/