Blue Cheese Stuffed Dates with Chive Oil

OK, just one more post on dates. I was playing in the kitchen last week and stuffed dates with blue cheese and wrapped them in bacon and baked them for an appetizer.

Blue Cheese Stuffed Dates with Chive Oil

So, this is a take on a similar idea.

10 dates, pitted
1/3-1/2 cup aged blue cheese
1/3 cup chives
water
bowl of ice water
1 small garlic clove
1/2 cup olive oil

Slit the dates and stuff with blue cheese. Set aside.

Bring a medium saucepan with water to a boil and blanch the chives for about 30 seconds (they will be bright green) and immediately plunge into ice water until cooled. Drain and pat dry.
In a food processor, combine the chives with garlic; with machine running add olive oil and process until completely blended.
Strain chive oil through a sieve and discard pulp. (Note: in this photo the sieve was not small enough, so did not strain out all pulp)

Warm dates slightly and drizzle chive oil along side.