Mission Figs w/ Goat Cheese, Honey & Rosemary

Mission figs just started popping up at the grocery store and I couldn't be happier. Such amazing flavor and texture packed into these beautiful bite-size fruits. I really think that figs should be called "the forbidden fruit" because they're so good, somehow you feel like they should be really bad for you. But that's thankfully not the case here. Figs are fat free and high in fiber and potassium! They combine so well with so many different things, from cheese and nuts to pork and steak dishes. Figs seem to be more popular in European countries like Portugal and Spain. When I visited Portugal, figs were plentiful — and I was thankful. Be European! Branch out and go buy some while you have a chance and experiment with them. There's nothing quite like them.

I'm continuing on my simple summer snack trend with this heavenly appetizer - Mission Figs stuffed with goat cheese blended with honey and minced fresh rosemary. You can eat it as is, skewer the figs and grill them, or warm them in the oven. Either way, you're in for a treat.

Ingredients:
6 - 12 Mission figs (they should give a little when you touch them but not be too squishy)
2 tablespoons goat cheese
1 tablespoon honey
1/8 tsp minced fresh rosemary

How to:
• Mix the goat cheese, honey and minced rosemary together with a spoon until blended (don't overblend, just mix until the ingredients are combined).
• Make a small hole in the wide end of the fig.
• Either pipe in the goat cheese mix with a pastry bag or just spoon it in with a 1/8-tsp measuring spoon.
• Eat as is or place on the grill for about 5 minuters or in the oven at 375 degrees for about 15 minutes.

Serve with nuts and a nice glass of white wine or sangria.