I wanted to stay in the Italian theme today with visions of Amalfi still lingering in my mind and in the wake of last week’s post on Balsamic glaze. So there’s really no recipe, just a pairing of deliciously memorable flavors. Sliced figs, tiramisu mascarpone and a drizzling of balsamic glaze offer a perfect delectable quick pre-meal appetizer, light dessert or fast anytime treat.

Black mission figs are plentiful this time of year and BelGioioso Cheeses now offers “Tiramisù Mascarpone” which is a classic version mixed with real coffee and sugar, giving it the flavor of a Tiramisù dessert. It can be used for desserts or for breakfast spread on muffins, croissants and bagels. Mascarpone is a naturally sweet, surprisingly light cheese always produced from only the freshest cream. It’s soft, creamy texture spreads easily and blends well with other ingredients. I like a touch of mascarpone in my cannoli cream—it provides more body and a creamier texture and taste.

About Mascarpone:

Texture: Soft, creamy

Flavor: Slightly sweet, buttery

Appearance: White, creamy

Milk Source: Pasteurized cow’s milk

Aging: Fresh

Gluten free

rBST free

Vegetarian

Kosher certified

All natural

Pair with fresh fruit, cookies, bread, bagels, strawberries and champagne. As you savor the sweet juicy figs, creamy, slightly sweet cheese with a hint of coffee and tart yet sweet glaze you will say to yourself as Francesca did in “Under the Tuscan Sun” “As the violet sweetness breaks open in my mouth I can almost taste the purple…” I love the taste of purple, how about you?