Water chestnuts wrapped in bacon

1 lb. bacon
2 cans whole water chestnuts
1/4 c. soy sauce
1/2 c. brown sugar

Cut bacon in thirds.

Wrap a strip of bacon around a water chestnut and poke a flat toothpick through the bacon and water chestnut.

Continue wrapping water chestnuts with bacon until finished. Place each water chestnut that has been wrapped on broiler pan.

Broil until bacon is crisp.

At this point you have 2 choices: You can just dip them in a sauce made of the wet ingredients, or you can put them in a crock pot and cover them with the sauce and keep them warm. **I use the crock pot method.

I have also marinated them first in the stuff and then broiled them. They get caramelized that way in the oven.

The next time I try this, I'm going to cut wide layers of onion and cook them in the microwave in a little water until they are limp and pliable. Then I'm going to wrap a strip of onion (cut to size) inside the bacon before broiling. I'll let you know how it turns out.

Gorgonzola appetizers

So this is a little different, but it tastes really great.

I take smaller loaves of bread or sub sandwich buns and slice them at a slight angle to give wider slices. Don't slice length wise, but slice it like you would for a sandwich. I toast them slightly under the broiler, so they don't get chewy or mushy when you put stuff on them.

Then I take gorganzola cheese and sprinkle it on them. Add a small slice of canned pears (I reckon you could use fresh, but I'm from this little community that has a hard time getting great produce). Then I drizzle it with honey (mine is cranberry blossom honey, but I don't think that matters). Broil until the cheese starts to melt. Serve.

These were different, but they tasted so good that a couple of us stood at my toaster oven and ate them straight off the baking tray. I don't know if many actually made it to the table.