Clams Casino with Bacon

Nice appetizer to start any meal! Easier than you think to make - way easy to eat!!!

Ingredients:

• Whole fresh clams, medium sized (3-5 per guest)
• Green bell pepper
• Garlic clove
• Celery
• Small onion
• Butter
• Grated cheese (Parmesan or Locatelli)
• Hot Sauce
• Bacon strips (cut in about 1/2" slices)
  
• Coarse salt
  

Soak the clams in cold water for about an hour or so to purge sand. Empty and refill 2-3 times over the course of the hour - the colder the water, the better. I throw a tray of ice cubes in each time I rinse.

Half clams and scrape 'meat' into the deeper shell. Set on a shallow baking pan. I sprinkle a liberal layer of coarse salt on the pan to hold the clams still during cooking.

Finely mince 1/2 bell pepper, 2 sticks of celery, garlic (1-2 cloves) and 1 small onion. In a small saucepan melt a stick of butter and add the vegetables, simmer until soft.

Add a small teaspoon of the above to each of the clams, sprinkle with grated cheese - add a dash of hot sauce and then top with a bacon slice.

Place in 350 degree preheated oven for about 30 minutes or until bacon is crisp.

Serve hot.

Enjoy!