Date sausage and rumaki

16 slices bacon, sliced thin
8 oz breakfast sausage
4 oz cream cheese
32 whole dates, pitted

1.Partially cook bacon on a sheet pan in a 350 oven for approximately 5 minutes.

2.Cook sausage to render excess fat. If the sausage is in links, remove the meat from the casings before cooking.

3.Remove cooked sausage from the pan and drain in a mesh strainer or china cap to remove excess fat. Then blend the cream cheese into the meat.

4.Cut the dates open, butterfly style. Stuff each date with a portion of the sausage mixture.

5.Wrap each date with a half slice of bacon, securing with a toothpick.

6.Arrange the rumaki on a rack placed over a sheet pan. Bake at 350 until bacon is crisp and dates are hot, approximately 15-20 minutes.