Before Brian became my husband, he was my forever boyfriend. No, he was not my high school sweetheart, but I did meet him when I was still in college. So, he robbed/saved me from regaling you with horrific dating stories, of scrambling around trying to find a date for some holiday party or another. But I do have one.
I was 18, had just moved out from under my parents roof, and I had my first real, honest-to-goodness boyfriend. A Frenchmen we’ll call M. With a penchant for fast-talking, heavy black framed glasses, and a haircut like Tin Tin, M was the man of my post-adolescent dreams. We met on the subway, and a romance was quickly born. We lasted a handful of months, one of which was December, that month of candy canes, egg nog, and holiday parties.
I brought M home with me to attend a family holiday party. He got out of the car, snuffing out his Gauloises cigarette, in skinny, scuffed suede pants, and smelling faintly of sweat (although I’m not sure why, he was not in the slightest bit athletic). My parents were gracious enough, and welcoming of course, but I think they were shocked to see their youngest’s paramour.
Now watch this segue…
Yes, dates (the non-edible kind) can be tough around the holidays, while dates (the edible sort this time around) can be a perfect holiday match made in buffet heaven. The dulcet sweetness of an innocent-looking, knobby, brown fruit pairs so well with salty foods. I have eaten them all sorts of ways: stuffed with goat cheese, or wrapped in bacon, or stuffed with goat cheese and wrapped in bacon. But I had never eaten them prepared in these perfect little holiday packages.
A few simple ingredients: salted roast peanuts, paper thin prosciutto slices, and plump dates, all rolled into a savory packet. Pit the dates, then stuff them with a few salty peanuts. Roll each date in a portion of prosciutto, securing them with a toothpick. Then into a lightly greased pan they go, to crisp up the ham. When finished the prosciutto crackles, the dates are warm and sumptuous, and the peanut offers the slightest bit of salty resistance. Now that is what I call a fine holiday hors d’oeuvres!
Go ahead and bring these dates, along with your date to your next holiday party. (Suede pants optional.) Have a lovely holiday season!
