naughty or nice appetizers

(li'l devils)

With the Kentucky Derby just around the corner on May 3, I finally have an excuse to make those super-kitschy '60s-party staples: devils on horseback and and angels on horseback. Now, I don’t have a clue about horse racing (it involves mint juleps, right?), but it would be fun to bet on which bite of bacony goodness my guests choose first: angels or devils?

What are these intriguingly named appetizers? “Devils” are cheese-stuffed prunes wrapped in bacon. “Angels” are marinated oysters wrapped in … bacon! Trust me, it’s yummy in a retro martini-swigging, horse-betting kind of way. Guests will be making a run for the appetizer tray.

(li'l angels)

Devils on Horseback

• 20 pitted prunes
• Crumbled blue cheese
• 10 bacon slices, halved crosswise

Preheat oven to 400°. Stuff each prune with blue cheese and wrap with a bacon slice, making sure to cover the hole where the cheese is. Transfer to a foil-lined baking sheet and bake, turning once, about 15 minutes or until bacon is slightly crispy and golden.

Makes 20

Angels on Horseback

• ¼ cup dry white wine
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 12 raw oysters, shucked and cleaned
• 6 bacon slices, halved crosswise
• 1 lemon

Preheat oven to 400°. Mix together white wine and garlic in small bowl. Add oysters and marinate in refrigerator for half an hour. Remove oysters from marinade and sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper. Wrap bacon slice around each oyster and secure with a toothpick. Transfer to a foil-lined baking sheet and bake, turning once, about 15 minutes or until bacon is slightly crispy and golden.

Makes 12

Comments

Love the names...but what's the horseback part?

The bacon is the, uh, "horse" (??)... All I can say is British Victorians invented this appetizer, and they loved their horses, so there you go.

UGH! You need better pics or something, they look like amputated finger parts.

GAG!

I know...these don't photograph so well. But they're tasty little devils.

Ohhhh! I'll have to try these. I love stuffing dates with Parmesan cheese and wrapping them in bacon (and then baking them). These sound like an interesting twist.

hi they look yummy