Bacon wrapped dates + meatballs

It all started on date night at Avec (hands down best food I've had a looong time).  We had the "chorizo-stuffed medjool dates with smoked bacon and piquillo pepper-tomato sauce" and never wanted them to end.  Recreating them was definitely a no brainer.  These are not nearly as delish as the ones at Avec, but they are still pretty damn good!

Ingredients:
6 Medjool Dates, halved
6 slices of bacon
1/2 pound ground beef (or ground turkey)
1/4 small onion diced
2 cloves garlic
1 8 oz can tomato sauce
1 6 oz can tomato paste
Pinch of salt
Pinch of pepper
Pinch of dried basil
Pinch of crushed red pepper flakes




I cooked the bacon half way on a baking sheet in the oven (about 10 minutes). After the bacon has cooled cut each one in half. Wrap the bacon around the date and place it seam side down in a frying pan. Cook them until they are crispy on both sides. Remove from the pan and let them cool. 


Next, prepare the meat. Mix in a couple tablespoons of the tomato paste, a sprinkle of salt, pepper and red pepper flakes.  Once the bacon wrapped dates have cooled, form a meatball around the date.  Add the meatball to the same pan you cooked the bacon in and cook the meatballs until they are browned on each side and cooked through.

To make the sauce, saute the chopped onion and garlic for 4-5 minutes. Add the tomato sauce and remaining tomato paste. Sprinkle in the salt, pepper, basil and crushed red 
pepper flakes.  Stir well until the paste has blended into the sauce.

Add the meatball to the sauce and they are ready to eat!