Bacon Wrapped Chestnuts

This recipe is a simple and YUMMY appetizer to have at any occasion.  Recently, I hosted a party at my house and was thinking "What else can I make?"  It was my first Super Bowl party (well actually it was a Puppy Bowl Party) and I wanted something...well Super Bowl like.  Suddenly, it came to me...BACON WRAPPED CHESTNUTS.  So simple, how could I forget.

The recipe I used, I got when I took an appetizer class a few years ago (yes I took an appetizer class once and I was struggling with my Super/Puppy Bowl party).  It's so simple that even my 8 year old helped me roll chestnuts in sugar and wrap them in bacon.  Plus it cooks super fast.  In additon, you can easily double or triple it, as I had to do.

While the recipe is dairy and gluten friendly.  Unfortunately, it is not soy friendly...but two out of three isn't bad...

Bacon Wrapped Chestnuts

1 8 oz can whole water chestnuts
1 lb good quality bacon, sliced in 1/8 inch slices
2 cups soy sauce
2 cups granulated sugar (I've gotten away with just using 1 cup)

Drain chestnuts, then put them in a bowl.  Soak them in soy sauce for a minimum of one hour or up to three hours.

Soak sturdy toothpicks in cold water about 30 minutes

Spread sugar in shallow dish and roll chestnuts in sugar, covering them completely.

Slice bacon strips in half then roll bacon around each chestnut and secure with a toothpick.

Line sheet tray with nonstick foil and turn broiler on high

Broil chestnuts approximately 5-7 minutes or until bacon is crispy (you may need to broil longer, depending on broil settings)

Remove pan from oven, move chestnuts to a serving dish and serve immediately (or after a few minutes of cooling)  Toothpicks will burn.

Notes: I have heard you can cut chestnuts in half to stretch out the servings, but I like them whole.  Recently, I made them for a party of 50.  I used three cans of whole chestnust and 2 packs of bacon.  That wasn't nearly enough.  They were GONE in no time.  So maybe the cutting would have worked then.

Furthermore, when I made them the Puppy Bowl, they took 15 minutes to broil.  I think it was my oven.  You have to watch them, you will know when they are crispy and carmelized.  When I made the for the party of 50, I actually had to drain fat from the pan because the bacon dripped so much.  I noticed the bottoms were not cooking right.  I drained the pan, turned the chestnuts, reinserted the toothpicks and cooked another five minutes, they were fine.  It was more work than normal...So watch out for that.   (It was Smithfield brand bacon, so be warned).

Enjoy!