appetizers for a virtual dinner party [inspired by bread & wine]

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dearabbyleigh

(insert witty tagline here)

my mom is an expert at throwing a warm and welcoming party.

she is famous for them. growing up at super bowl time, our house would expand to fit the whole church, neighbors, and anyone else who didn’t have a place to celebrate this great american pastime. we’d have dips and wings and baked goods and chili, standbys and new recipes, an endless supply of game-day delicious. for birthdays and graduations, she’d embrace a theme, make our favorite dishes, decorate to suit our style.

in a strange twist of fate, i – the girl who avoided the kitchen at all costs – now find myself coming to life at the helm of a great dinner party. a few week’s ago, we welcomed friends into our new, tiny apartment with three chairs, and a mini, malfunctioning oven. we set out a spread on the only table that would fit it, and stood snacking and chatting for hours.

that feeling – of watching people lick their fingers and reach for another bite, of hosting an evening that feels warm and smells like bacon – that must be how my mom feels, and why she keeps inviting new people to her table.

i have to admit it’s addicting – almost as addicting as these bacon-wrapped dates.

to celebrate the release of shauna niequist’s new book bread & wine: a love letter to life around the table , we’re throwing a progressive dinner party with her recipes. shauna’s book is full of fine writing on the power of food and how

gathering community around the table has been a force of good in her life.

it’s a fabulous book, and i can’t recommend the words or the recipes highly enough.

i really connected with shauna’s heart for serving the people who come to her table. i saw the same spirit in my mom, and try to emulate it in my own home. in honor of shauna’s come-to-the-table entertaining style, i’m thrilled to be hosting the first course of this virtual dinner party. enjoy and follow the links at the end of the post for the rest of the party!

for our appetizer, i’m serving the same bacon-wrapped dates we snacked on a few weeks ago. i found the recipe in bread & wine , and made it again this weekend, just for snacking. it’s the easiest thing you’ll ever make, with the greatest wow-factor return.

bacon-wrapped dates from shauna niequist’s bread & wine: a love letter to life around the table 1 8-ounce package pitted dates 4 ounces goat cheese 1 16-ounce package bacon *slice dates in half & open them up. scoop a small amount of goat cheese into the center of the dates & close them back up. *cut the whole package of bacon in half, so that each long strip is now half as long. wrap a half-slice of bacon around the outside of each date. *arrange seam side down in a baking dish, a baking sheet with sides, or a foil pan. *bake at 400 degrees for about 20 minutes, or until well browned. drain on a paper towel, and serve warm or at room temperature.

bacon-wrapped dates from shauna niequist’s bread & wine: a love letter to life around the table

1 8-ounce package pitted dates

4 ounces goat cheese

1 16-ounce package bacon

*slice dates in half & open them up. scoop a small amount of goat cheese into the center of the dates & close them back up. *cut the whole package of bacon in half, so that each long strip is now half as long. wrap a half-slice of bacon around the outside of each date. *arrange seam side down in a baking dish, a baking sheet with sides, or a foil pan. *bake at 400 degrees for about 20 minutes, or until well browned. drain on a paper towel, and serve warm or at room temperature.

it’s tough to take pictures that convey the deliciousness of these little guys. the goat cheese is subtle and the bacon crispy. i nominate dates as the perfect flavor delivery system. i’ve made stuffed dates before with an almond in the middle – and i think a tray mixing the two options would be a great choose-your-own-adventure start to any party.

i can also speak from personal experience and say that these are just as delicious cold from the fridge after a long saturday run. i highly recommend it.

as the first stop of our progressive dinner party, i would hand you a glass of champagne when you walk through the door, and direct you to the bacon post haste. snag as many as you like, no one is counting. after a few more bites, we’d hustle out the door to our next stop - fresh-baked bread, delicious harvest salad, mas y mas enchiladas, and finally the most wonderful chocolate mousse in the land.

i like this party, already.

blog-hop to a new table for every course, meet new friends and pick up a delicious recipe from shauna niequist’s new book, bread & wine: a love letter to life around the table , at every stop. we’d like to send you home with the gift of shauna’s words, so be sure to enter the giveaway at the end of the party!

Bacon-Wrapped Dates at DearAbbyLeigh.com

Sullivan Street Bread at LeighKramer.com

The Green Well’s Michigan Harvest Salad at theBlahBlahBlahger.com

Annette’s Enchiladas at SarahBessey.com

Simplest Dark Chocolate Mousse at LoveFeastTable.com

A Bread & Wine Giveaway at HollywoodHousewife.com

heads up: i was sent an advanced copy of this book for review, but all the opinions and delicious accolades are my own. this post also includes affiliate links, and lots of bacon-wrapped love.

the Blah Blah Blahger says: April 7, 2013 at 9:27 pm This post makes me so happy! I love your voice and the way you welcome readers to your table!!! Reply

This post makes me so happy! I love your voice and the way you welcome readers to your table!!!

Ana says: April 7, 2013 at 10:10 pm Oh goodness that looks so yummy! Reply

Oh goodness that looks so yummy!

shawnsomerfield says: April 8, 2013 at 5:30 am As one who has eaten at your mom’s table and counters and coffeetable many times, I give a resounding “Here here!!” to what you said about her gifts for throwing a welcoming and yummy party. Reading this has stirred up my squelched longing to do more of the same. And these recipes sound divine! Thanks for the memories, the ideas, and the recipes! Hope that 20 miles went fabulously on Saturday–you sure look like it did! Reply

As one who has eaten at your mom’s table and counters and coffeetable many times, I give a resounding “Here here!!” to what you said about her gifts for throwing a welcoming and yummy party. Reading this has stirred up my squelched longing to do more of the same. And these recipes sound divine! Thanks for the memories, the ideas, and the recipes! Hope that 20 miles went fabulously on Saturday–you sure look like it did!

Melissa (@MelissaBeaver) says: April 8, 2013 at 5:36 am yummm….can’t wait to try them! Reply

yummm….can’t wait to try them!

LoveFeast Table says: April 8, 2013 at 7:07 am You cannot go wrong with bacon and goat cheese! These little babies must be a bit addicting. Reply

You cannot go wrong with bacon and goat cheese! These little babies must be a bit addicting.

emmaleighrose says: April 8, 2013 at 7:50 am Yay yay yay this is the best Monday suprise :) Reply

Yay yay yay this is the best Monday suprise :)

Sarah at All Manner of Inspiration says: April 8, 2013 at 7:50 am I found this ‘virtual dinner party’ whilst reading Leigh’s post on bread last night – LOVE IT!!! I’ve been wanting to try the dates recipe in particular with ‘Bread & Wine’ because it looks easy with ALOT of yummy payoff! ;) Wonderful post, and seriously –one of my favorite bloghop parties ever. (Can you tell I’m a fan of Bread & Wine? :) Oh, and I need to email you about my blog – thanks for your card and info at Blissdom. Reply Abby says: April 8, 2013 at 8:38 am happy you found your way here – looking forward to working with you! Reply

I found this ‘virtual dinner party’ whilst reading Leigh’s post on bread last night – LOVE IT!!! I’ve been wanting to try the dates recipe in particular with ‘Bread & Wine’ because it looks easy with ALOT of yummy payoff! ;) Wonderful post, and seriously –one of my favorite bloghop parties ever. (Can you tell I’m a fan of Bread & Wine? :) Oh, and I need to email you about my blog – thanks for your card and info at Blissdom.

Abby says: April 8, 2013 at 8:38 am happy you found your way here – looking forward to working with you! Reply

happy you found your way here – looking forward to working with you!

hopefulleigh says: April 8, 2013 at 8:35 am You are an excellent hostess, Abby! I have no doubt you inherited your mom’s gifts. This appetizer is one of my favorites. Reply

You are an excellent hostess, Abby! I have no doubt you inherited your mom’s gifts. This appetizer is one of my favorites.

Robin Dance (@robindance) says: April 9, 2013 at 6:38 am I’m not lying…dates are not my first choice :). But wrapped in bacon? You might just reel me in. But I love everything I’ve heard surrounding this book and can’t wait to read it to the end. You make the loveliest host :). Reply Abby says: April 9, 2013 at 7:23 am they are just sweet pillows of yum! Reply

I’m not lying…dates are not my first choice :). But wrapped in bacon? You might just reel me in. But I love everything I’ve heard surrounding this book and can’t wait to read it to the end.

You make the loveliest host :).

Abby says: April 9, 2013 at 7:23 am they are just sweet pillows of yum! Reply

they are just sweet pillows of yum!

Stephanie says: April 9, 2013 at 7:05 am This is so cool. Renewed my desire to entertain in my tiny apartment. Who says people can’t stand and eat just as well as sitting at a large table! :) Reply Abby says: April 9, 2013 at 7:22 am they can, and in fact, it makes them more fun :) no corners to hide in! Reply

This is so cool. Renewed my desire to entertain in my tiny apartment. Who says people can’t stand and eat just as well as sitting at a large table! :)

Abby says: April 9, 2013 at 7:22 am they can, and in fact, it makes them more fun :) no corners to hide in! Reply

they can, and in fact, it makes them more fun :) no corners to hide in!

Mary Carver says: April 9, 2013 at 8:49 am Ohhhh, I can’t wait to read this book! I LOVED her other two and have heard SO many great things about this one!!! Reply

Ohhhh, I can’t wait to read this book! I LOVED her other two and have heard SO many great things about this one!!!

sniequist says: April 10, 2013 at 6:58 am Thank you SO much–what a beautiful post. :) XO Reply

Thank you SO much–what a beautiful post. :) XO

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