Dates Wrapped in Bacon with Green Olive Sauce

• 40 whole almonds, with skin
• 40 dates, about 1 1/2 pounds, pitted
• 20 bacon slices, halved
• Extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 shallots, sliced
• 1 dried red chile, minced
• 1/2 pound green Spanish olives, pitted
• 1/4 bunch fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 2 tablespoons sherry vinegar

1. Preheat the oven to 350F.
2. Lay the almonds on a cookie sheet in a single layer.
3. Bake for 10 minutes or until the nuts are lightly toasted.
4. Remove from the oven.
5. When cool enough to handle, stuff an almond inside each date.
6. Wrap a piece of bacon around the date so the ends stick together.
7. Put them on cookie sheets and bake until the bacon is crisp, 20 to 25 minutes.
8. While that is happening, make the olive sauce.
9. In a small skillet, heat a 2-count drizzle of oil.
10. Saute the shallots and chile over low heat for 8 minutes, until caramelized.
11. Let them cool a bit and then scrape them into a food processor.
12. Add the olives, parsley, vinegar, and 1/2 cup of oil.
13. Puree a good 3 minutes, until totally smooth.
14. Serve the dates with the olive sauce for dipping and some funky toothpicks.
15. Delicioso!

almonds, dates, bacon, extravirgin olive oil, shallots, red chile, green spanish, flatleaf parsley, sherry vinegar

Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/dates-wrapped-in-bacon-with-green-olive-sauce-372648 (may not work)