I can't take credit for this one. My dad made these figs. But I will certainly make them soon, because they were so delicious and so easy. And in case you're thinking, "Ah, figs, cheese, nuts... been there, done that," let me tell you, the syrup makes all the difference.

There's really not much to this dish. Mix some goat cheese with toasted, chopped walnuts and stuff the mixture into ripe figs. Then drizzle with the syrup.

We briefly thought about running these under the broiler—just long enough to soften the cheese and slightly caramelize the syrup. Maybe next time...

Stuffed Figs with Honey-Balsamic Syrup
1 pint fresh figs
4 ounces goat cheese
1/2 cup walnuts, toasted and chopped
4 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

Slice the tips off of the figs and then cut a cross pattern into them, being careful not to cut all the way through the bottom. Mix together the goat cheese and walnuts. Stuff a spoonful into the middle of each fig.

Mix the honey and balsamic vinegar together until fluid, then drizzle it over the stuffed figs.

Related: Good Question: How Can I Tell When Figs are Ripe?

(Image: Elizabeth Passarella)