Great Balls of Bacon

1 pound bacon

½ cup chopped dates

1 teaspoon chili peppers

1 egg

2 tablespoons honey

1 small onion chopped

Salt and pepper to taste

1 cup bread crumbs

Sauce

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 shallot, chopped

1 strip bacon, chopped

¼ cup balsamic vinegar

1 cup apricot fruit spread

½ cup spicy brown mustard

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Fit a cooling rack into a rimmed baking sheet.

Grind up the bacon in the blender or food processor. Add the remaining ingredients, putting the bread crumbs in last; process until well combined. Form the mixture into golf ball-sized balls. Bake meatballs on a cooling rack on the cookie sheet for 15-20 minutes.

For the sauce: Heat olive oil in a sauce pan. Throw in the bacon and shallot cook 1 to 2 minutes. Add the remaining ingredients. Cook on medium to low heat until mixture is reduced.

Serve sauce over bacon balls

Serves four.