Chinese New Year Water Chestnut Appetizer

Ingredients:  For 16 appetizers

 

16 fresh water chestnuts - canned whole water chestnuts can be used, just rinse with warm water and drain first

1/3 cup soy sauce

1/3 cup brown sugar

8 slices raw bacon, cut in half

16 toothpicks

 

Directions

Peel and rinse fresh water chestnuts.  Soak the water chestnuts in soy sauce for 2 1/2 hours. 

While you are waiting, go put up your chinese paper lanterns and check your paper product supplies.  Or check out more ideas on BirminghamPartyPlanning.com :)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Remove water chestnuts from the soy sauce and roll in brown sugar.  Wrap a piece of bacon around the water chestnut and secure with a toothpick.   If the bacon proves to be difficult to work with, try cutting it half again lengthwise to see if it will hold better,

Place the water chestnuts in a shallow pay and bake for 30 mnutes, turning them over once.  (Another option is to broil then for 5-6 minutes)

This app can be prepared ahead of time and frozen before cooking.  Placed in a sealed bag in the freezer, they should keep for 2-3 months.