Farm Family Recipes

Place the bacon in a large 14-inch sauté pan on medium heat and cook until crispy, remove from pan. Using the same pan, remove all but 3-4 tablespoons of the bacon grease, add halved brussels sprouts. Cook, turning frequently until the brussels sprouts are light golden brown. Add the shallots and continue cooking until shallots are soft and brussels sprouts are golden brown. Stir in chopped bacon and sliced Fresno chilies, remove pan from heat. Sprinkle with chopped Medjool date pieces and gently combine. You want the Medjool dates to warm up and soften slightly. The Medjool dates give this dish a savory sweetness that can't be beat. Add salt and pepper to taste. Top with Cotija (or feta) cheese. Cotija cheese is an authentic Mexican cheese that is very dry and crumbles well. It is found in the cheese or dairy case of many grocery stores. Feta is a good substitute!