Stuffed dates with goat cheese and red pepper

Ingredients for 4 servings:

• 12 pitted dates
• 12 slices of ham (or bacon)
• 130 g cheese (goat Gouda)
• 1 sprig(s) rosemary
• 2 tsp olive oil
• Berries (red pepper berries)

Instructions

Working time approx. 20 minutes; Total time approx. 20 minutes

Preheat oven to 220°C (425°F), top/bottom heat. Cut the goat Gouda into 12 pieces. Slightly open the dates on the side where the pits have already been removed, and insert the goat Gouda. Wrap the dates in the ham and secure with toothpicks. Pour about 1 teaspoon of olive oil into a small baking dish. Add a few rosemary sprigs and the peppercorns. Then place the stuffed dates in the dish. Brush with a little olive oil. Bake for 10 minutes at the above-mentioned temperature; this will crisp up the bacon as well. Be sure to try the peppercorns while eating. This combination of sweet, savory, and a touch of spice is really great. I’ll probably add 1-2 peppercorns to the dates next time… Be careful with the goat cheese! I tried two different cheeses at the cheese counter. The goat Gouda is really mild and highly recommended; other varieties taste too much like “goat.” It’s also nice as a snack for cozy wine evenings with various cheeses.