Scallops Wrapped in Bacon

12 slices thick-cut bacon
12 sea scallops
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon white pepper
12 toothpicks
2 tablespoons olive oil

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Lay the bacon on a cookie sheet and place in the oven for 3 to 5 minutes just to slightly render some of the fat. Remove the bacon from the oven and let cool. Once the bacon is cool, wrap each scallop with 1 piece of bacon, using toothpicks to fasten the bacon to the scallops.

Season the scallops with 1 teaspoon of the salt and 1/2 teaspoon of the white pepper. Heat the olive oil in a 12-inch saute pan until hot, then add half of the scallops to the pan and cook for about 2 minutes on each side. Remove them from the pan and place them on a baking sheet. Repeat this process with the remaining scallops.

Then transfer the baking sheet to the oven until the scallops are just cooked through, 3 to 5 minutes.

Serve immediately.