Bacon Wrapped Figs With Herbed Goat Cheese Food

BACON WRAPPED FIGS WITH HERBED GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• If you are using thick cut bacon or pancetta lay the pieces on a grill or oven tray and cook till just softening. ( half cooked). Drain on paper and put aside. (if using prosciutto it doesn't need to be pre- cooked)
• Put the goat cheese, herbs and black pepper into a smallish bowl and mix well. If the mixture is very crumbly add a little cream till making a soft spoon-able paste.
• Cut the tops of the figs with a cross, making sure the cuts only go about halfway down the figs ( or they wont stay together).
• Push the base of the fig a little to open the cris crosses and using a teaspoon add just a little goats cheese to each one. Once they have all received a little cheese go back and top up a little if needed. They will not hold too much cheese. (1/2 to 1 teaspoon).Push the tops together gently to close up a bit.
• Wrap the figs in a piece of bacon or pancetta and secure with a toothpick. These can be left now till needed. Refrigerate if they will not be used within an hour.
• Bring back to room temperature before putting on the baking tray. Bake for 10 minutes or till the bacon is hot.
• Remove toothpicks and serve drizzled with balsamic and olive oil. Serve with extra basil leaves and praline

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.

BACON-WRAPPED FIGS WITH GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450˚F.
• For each portion, lay out half a strip of bacon, top with a fig half and some of the goat cheese, wrap the bacon around the fig and secure with toothpick. Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Repeat until all of the ingredients are used up.
• Drizzle with some balsamic vinegar and sprinkle with some black pepper.
• Bake in the oven, flipping figs halfway through, until the bacon is cooked, about 20 minutes. Serve.

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.

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.

FIGS WRAPPED IN BACON

Steps:

• Heat toaster oven to broil and line the toaster oven tray with foil.
• Wrap each fig in a strip of bacon, trimming the bacon as necessary, and secure with a toothpick. Season with salt and pepper and place on the toaster oven tray.
• Bake for about 8 to 10 minutes until the bacon is crisp and the figs are tender.

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.

BACON WRAPPED GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Freeze the goat cheese for five to ten minutes if too soft and gooey so you can roll it into 8 lumberjack-thumb sized logs.
• Sprinkle with salt and pepper, and roll in the chives.
• Wrap with bacon so that the whole log is covered.
• Place in an aluminum foil boat, or a shallow glass pan (i.e. a pie tin).
• Bake for ten minutes, or until the bacon is golden brown and the cheese bubbly.
• You can do these on the grill too if you have an aluminum grill pan. Or in a pan on the stove over medium heat turning occasionally so that it is evenly browned.