stuffed figs

i am reposting this (originally from january 2010) as part of hostess 911blog hop--which  has a great array of last minute appetizers for the holidays. if you have a favorite, quick, last minute appetizer recipe--please do link up too.  thanks to jenn at rook 17 for coming up with this great idea!

this treat is actually going on my thanksgiving dessert table--it is the "healthy alternative" (wink, wink)

it is no secret that i absolutely love ina garten

i have blogged about my obsession before

and told anyone who will listen

how i wish to be her friend

and have contemplated taking up bridge just to increase my chances

for a dinner invitation

while i have never actually owned one of her cookbooks

nor

made any of her recipes

i am in awe of her style

particularly her entertaining style

i could never only serve a hearty salad and crusty bread for dinner

with a dessert of chocolate bark

i'm not the sort

but i envy it in her

and every time i have guests for dinner

i try and imitate her unapologetic rule

of

only making 2 items for dinner and then buying the extras

but i never get there

i'm just not the sort

last evening we had guests for dinner

2 couples we have come to know over the years and have become good friends with

and i made a dinner of homemade pasta, chicken saltimboca, 4 veg and dessert

I thought maybe I shouldn't serve appetizers

Ina wouldn't

she would serve nuts or something

so that is where i stood

until about five o'clock

when i began to panic

i couldn't give it up

i had to have some sort of nibble for my guests

and i wanted it to be really simple

to go with my very french aperitif

kir royale

i turned to what i had on hand

and made this a simple yet absolutely delicious

start to our evening

Walnut Stuffed Figs

dried figs

toasted walnuts

mascarpone cheese

finely diced bits of well-cooked bacon

stem and split the figs, stuff with toasted walnuts, top with a small dot of mascarpone, and then sprinkle the bits of bacon on top.  These are also lovely with a bit of blue cheese in place of the mascarpone.

i am reposting this to participate in