Bacon Wrapped Figs With Goat Cheese Food

BACON WRAPPED STUFFED FIGS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Fill a medium sauce pan with water. Bring to a boil.
• Add dry figs to saucepan. Remove from heat and let figs sit for 5-10 minutes. Until they are plump.
• Remove figs from water and place on a paper towel lined plate. Pat dry.
• In a small bowl, add goat cheese, rosemary, thyme, sage and garlic powder. Using a fork mix everything together.
• Snip the stems of the figs and cut a slit in the figs (enough to stuff it with cheese) about a 1/2″.
• Stuff each fig with the goat cheese mixture then wrap with pre-sliced bacon and secure with a toothpick in them. Place wrapped figs on parchment paper lined baking sheet seam side down.
• Repeat process until on figs are stuffed and wrapped.
• Bake for 15-20 minutes or until bacon is crispy.

BACON-WRAPPED STUFFED FIGS

Steps:

• Position an oven rack in the center of the oven, and preheat the broiler. Slice the figs about 3/4 of the way down the center lengthwise, and open each like a book; set aside.
• Combine the goat cheese, pesto, lemon juice and zest and 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper in a small bowl with a rubber spatula. Fill each fig with about 1 teaspoon of the cheese-pesto mixture.
• Wrap each stuffed fig with a slice of bacon, and secure with a toothpick. Put the figs, seam-side down, on a rimmed baking sheet.
• Broil, turning once, until the bacon is cooked through and crispy, about 4 to 5 minutes per side.

GOAT CHEESE-STUFFED FIGS WRAPPED IN BACON

Steps:

• Preheat broiler.
• Cook bacon in a large heavy skillet over medium heat, turning occasionally, until most of the fat is rendered but bacon is still pliable, about 10 minute You do not want crispy bacon!
• Transfer the bacon to a paper towel to drain.
• Remove 1 scoop of flesh from each of the fig halves with the small end of a melon-baller, set aside for another use. (Makes great ice cream or just bite sized snacks).
• Scoop out a piece of the goat cheese with the same meon-baller and fill in the hole in each fig half with the cheese scoop.
• Stir together brown sugar, cumin, and salt in a small bowl.
• Rub the mixture onto 1 side of each bacon slice, and cut each bacon slice in half to have 16 slices of bacon.
• Wrap 1 of the half strips of bacon around 1 of the fig halves, leaving the sugar/spice side out, and secure with a toothpick.
• Broil the figs, cut side up, on the rack of a broiler pan about 3 inches from the heat, until bacon is browned - about 2 minute.
• Cool slightly and then discard toothpicks.
• Serve warm.

PROSCIUTTO WRAPPED FIGS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside.
• Cut a small hole in the center of the flesh of each fig. Fill each hole with 1/4 teaspoon of goat cheese.
• Take a prosciutto slice and tear in half. Use 1 half to diagonally wrap around the fig, starting from the top. Tuck underneath at the ends. Repeat until all figs are wrapped. (Secure with toothpicks if necessary.) Place wrapped figs on prepared baking sheet, evenly spaced.
• In a small bowl, combine honey and pumpkin pie spice. Drizzle honey evenly over each fig.
• Place in the oven on the top rack and roast for 8 to 10 minutes. Remove and serve immediately.

GRILLED PROSCIUTTO WRAPPED FIGS STUFFED WITH GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat the grill and brush with a grill brush to remove any excess crud and fat. After brushing, run an oiled towel over the grates to pick up any loosened crud or soot.
• Drizzle each fig half with vinegar and fill each fig center with goat cheese. Sprinkle a couple flakes of crushed red pepper, if using, on top of the goat cheese and wrap each fig with a slice of prosciutto. Paint the outside of each fig very lightly with olive oil.
• Put the figs on a cooler spot of the preheated grill. The idea here is that we want to grill the figs gently to cook the fig all the way through but to still get the char on the outside. Grill the figs on all sides so the prosciutto is starting to become crispy and the fig feels soft when squeezed, about 5 to 6 minutes.
• While the figs are grilling, in a large bowl, toss the arugula with a little extra-virgin olive oil, some balsamic vinegar and the Parmigiano-Reggiano. Taste, and add salt, if needed. Arrange on individual serving plates or a serving platter and top with the figs. Drizzle a couple of drops of balsamic on each fig and serve.
• Its figgy delicious!

CANDIED BACON-WRAPPED FIGS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°. Cut bacon strips in half crosswise. In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until partially cooked but not crisp. Remove to paper towels to drain., Cut a lengthwise slit down the center of each fig; fill with 1/2 teaspoon cream cheese. In a small bowl, mix brown sugar, chile blend powder and cinnamon. Dip one side of each bacon piece in brown sugar mixture; wrap each fig with a bacon piece, sugar side out. Secure with a toothpick., Transfer to a greased 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Bake 12-15 minutes or until bacon is crisp.

BROILED FIGS WITH GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Strip the leaves from the bottom of the rosemary stems, leaving about 1 1/2 inches of leaves at the tip.
• Place the stems in a bowl and add cold water to cover; soak for at least 30 minutes.
• Skewer fig halves crosswise on each rosemary stem.
• Arrange the skewers on a plate with the cut sides of the figs facing up.
• In a small bowl, mix together honey and lemon juice.
• Brush the honey/lemon mixture over the cut side of the figs.
• Preheat the broiler to high.
• Broil the figs cut side up until they are lightly browned and softened, about 1 to 2 minutes.
• Top with cheese and place back under broiler for 1 minute.
• Serve on the skewers while still hot.

FIGS STUFFED WITH GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Use your fingers to roll the goat cheese into 24 1/2 teaspoon-sized balls.
• Cut figs in half. Press a cheese ball into the center of each fig. Plate them and drizzle with vinegar. Serve within an hour.

BACON WRAPPED PRUNES WITH GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• 1. Halve the prunes.
• 2. Fill prune half with goat cheese.
• 3. Slice bacon in half.
• 4. Wrap prune in 1/2 bacon slice.
• 5. Arrange prunes with the loose end of bacon facing downward on a foil lined baking tray.
• 6. Broil until browned, turning once.
• *Optional: Use decorative toothpicks to make these bites more festive.

MESCLUN SALAD WITH GOAT CHEESE-STUFFED FIGS WRAPPED IN BACON

Steps:

• Preheat broiler.
• Cook bacon in a large heavy skillet over moderate heat, turning occasionally, until most of fat is rendered but bacon is still pliable, about 10 minutes. Transfer to paper towels to drain.
• Remove 1 scoop of flesh from each fig half with small end of a melon-ball cutter and discard. Scoop cheese with same end of melon-ball cutter and just fill each fig half. Press fig halves together to form whole figs.
• Stir together brown sugar, cumin, and salt, then rub onto 1 side of each bacon slice. Wrap 1 bacon slice, sugared side out, around each fig and secure with a toothpick.
• Broil figs, bacon sides up, on rack of a broiler pan about 3 inches from heat, turning them frequently, until bacon is browned, about 2 minutes. Cool slightly, then discard toothpicks.
• Toss mesclun with lemon juice and salt and pepper to taste, then gently toss with oil. Serve figs with salad.