Blue Cheese-Date Salad

• 12 medjool dates (about 2/3 lb. total)
• 3/4 cup crumbled Oregon blue or other blue cheese
• 6 slices (4 1/2 oz. total) bacon, cut in half crosswise
• 1 1/2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 1/2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 2 quarts (about 8 oz.) baby spinach leaves, rinsed and crisped
• Salt and pepper

1. Slit dates lengthwise down 1 side and remove pits. Squeeze dates from ends to open slits, and fill equally with blue cheese. Press dates to close around cheese. Wrap a piece of bacon around each date, securing with a toothpick. Place dates in a 10- by 15-inch pan.
2. Bake in a 450u0b0 oven until bacon is well browned, about 10 minutes (about 6 minutes in a convection oven); after about 4 minutes, use a wide spatula to ease dates loose from pan and turn over.
3. Meanwhile, in a bowl, combine oil and vinegar. Add spinach and mix gently, seasoning to taste with salt and pepper.
4. Spoon spinach mixture onto plates. Remove toothpicks from dates and set an equal number on each salad.

dates, oregon blue, bacon, extravirgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, baby spinach leaves, salt

Taken from www.myrecipes.com/recipe/blue-cheese-date-salad (may not work)