Goat cheese with balsamic figs & bacon

Inspired by the classic bacon & date combo, this warm dip is a creamy, crunchy, sweet and salty concoction sure to delight any gathering.

• Combine equal parts of softened goat cheese and cream cheese (We used 125 grams of each for the small brie baker pictured, but all ingredients can be easily scaled up to suit the size of your serving dish/ crowd).

• Mix in zest of a half a lemon, a squeeze of lemon juice and a tablespoon or two of plain/Greek yogurt if needed to help smooth it out.

• Spoon into a baking dish and bake at 375 F for about 20 minutes until warm and just starting to get golden around the edges.

• Meanwhile, chop 2-4 slices bacon and fry until crisp. Remove from pan with slotted spoon, drain away most of the fat and add in a few balsamic figs, roughly chopped. Combine figs & bacon and spoon over the warm cheese. Drizzle with honey, if desired.

• Serve with crusty bread, crackers or endive leaves.