Recipe by Chef John McConnell
Serrano Ham wrapped Dates
Ingredients:
24 dates, preferably Medjool
4 oz. Manchego cheese, sliced in 1 inch batons
2-3 oz. Clif Family Napa Valley Smoked Spanish Pimenton Almonds
8 oz. Serrano ham, thinly sliced
24 sprigs of fresh rosemary, trimmed to serve as skewers
Method:
Use a paring knife to cut a slit to open one side of the date. Use your thumbs to open the date slightly and remove any pits or pit fragments. Add a slice of cheese and press 2-3 smoked almonds into the dates depending on their size. Press the date closed. Cut strips of Serrano ham the approximate width of your dates and wrap each date with the meat and secure with a rosemary twig skewer or toothpick.