Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts

• 1 cup packed brown sugar

• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce

• 2 cups ketchup

• 1 pound bacon

• 2 (8 ounce) cans water chestnuts

Preheat oven to 375º.  In a medium-size mixing bowl, combine brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, and ketchup. Cut bacon in half. Wrap one slice of bacon around each chestnut. Secure the bacon with a toothpick. Arrange the water chestnut wraps in a 9x13 inch baking dish. Bake the water chestnut wraps for 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from water chestnut wraps from the oven and drain some of the grease out of the pan. Pour the sauce over the wraps. Bake for 30 to 35 more minutes. 

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When I was growing up, I never new much about water chestnuts. The extent of my experience with them was knowing that they were the little crispy crunchy bits in a stir fry. I don’t think it would ever have occurred to me to use these little crisp morsels in anything else, but I am glad that Mom did. 

Christmas at our house used to be like everyone else’s. We would wake up early, open presents, have a huge dinner and play with our new toys. 

Christmas has evolved some since my early years. There was a time when we would stay up into the small hours of morning. Mom and Dad would spend the evening of Christmas Eve with his parents. They would eat, catch up, open presents around midnight, then make their way home. Once they arrived, we would sit around the tree, and open presents. Then we would all sleep, and wake up and make a big breakfast. 

As we kids got older, got married, lived outside the home, and were celebrating Christmas with in-laws as well, Christmas at Mom’s evolved again. In its current form it is an all day affair. There are games, small separate groups dispersed throughout the home, engaged in quiet conversations, and raucous laughter. Nieces and nephews are screeching through the house leaving a trail of new toys, craft supplies, candy, and joy. People are drifting from one room to another, entering and exiting different festivities, grazing, and munching on finger foods, appetizers and snacks.  Occasionally we all descend upon the dining room (or on unseasonably warm winter days, the front porch) for a party game. We throw snowballs through a wreath, or split into teams of two to wrap a present, each team member with a hand behind their back (this is even more difficult than it sounds), or try unwrapping a present while wearing oven mitts (you only get thirty seconds). We laugh, applaud, celebrate, and when the game ends, we roam again, all the while enjoying the finger foods. A small sandwich here, a chicken wing there, some dip, or a deep fried turkey nugget.

I love our Christmas party. One of the reasons that I enjoy this format is that there isn't one bid sit-down meal. For one, sometimes there are so many people that we don’t all fit comfortably around the table. Secondly, did I mention the finger foods?  Everyone brings a couple of delicious carryable food items. There are ham and cheese biscuits with mustard sauce, fruit, vegetable trays, buffalo and barbecue wings, tortilla chips with queso, sausage balls, sliders, dips, and deep fried turkey nuggets. Not to mention the myriad assortment of sweets that are always on hand. From buckeyes, snow crackers, fudge to party mix, candied nuts and cookies.

It was at one of these Christmas finger food get-togethers that I first remember encountering the bacon wrapped water chestnut. Now some one always brings these. There may have been an occasion where two people brought them. Everyone likes them. They are very popular. 

I don’t know how mom came up with this recipe, but wrapping the water chestnut with bacon, then coating it with the sweet sticky sauce definitely elevated its status in my mind. It is like meat candy. There is the salty meaty bacon, the crisp fresh water chestnut that cracks open with a satisfying snap, all enveloped by a thick sweet sauce. So very good.

I must provide a word of warning. These are a bit dangerous right from the oven.  The sugary coating will stick to the roof of your mouth and it will be … unpleasant. To avoid this, give them a couple of minutes to cool… if you can.

These delicious little morsels are perfect for a finger food get-together. They are served on a toothpick, are bite-sized, and keep well at room temperature. If you have such a party coming up, I suggest that these could be your contribution. Remember to get whole water chestnuts. I mistakenly bought a can of sliced water chestnuts. The sliced ones aren’t as easy to wrap in bacon.

If your group likes these as well as mine does, you will not need to concern yourself with what to do with leftovers. There rarely are any. You may however have to referee if the bacon wrapped water chestnut supply runs low. This has yet to happen at one of our parties yet, but it has been dangerously close. 

Normally when i am putting together a post like this, I will mention a modification or two for the recipe. I don’t have any, and haven’t been able to come up with any for this recipe. For me, it seems great just the way it is. We have been having these for over a decade, and the recipe has not changed. Do you have any ideas for an interesting way to modify this recipe? Do you have an idea for an unexpected twist or improvement? Let me know in the comments. 

In the meantime, try the bacon wrapped water chestnuts. I recommend them.