Planked Figs with Blue Cheese and Pancetta

With heavy hearts we embrace this change of seasons. Fall is just around the corner, you can feel it in the air, see it in the shortening of our days and the change of actual sun time on our patio. Our summer was short with so few warm sunny days and now that they've finally  arrived the season is going to cut short what there is.

But one thing we both love about this time of year is fresh figs. .

Purple, plumb and sweet

As soon as we spotted them in the store we both knew it was time to start cooking with figs.

Something we both enjoy.

This recipe is simple and a perfect starter.

Planked Figs with Blue Cheese & Pancetta

6 ripe, fresh figs, stemmed & cut in half

1/2 cup honey liqueur

Fresh Ground pepper

6 slices pancetta, cut into 12 long pieces to wrap & the rest chopped to fry

1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese (Oregon Blue Cheese recommended)

Soak cedar plank for 1 hour or more.

Dip cut side of figs into honey liqueur, then dredge in ground pepper. Let figs cut side up marinate in rest of liqueur for 30 minutes.

Fry chopped pancetta. Wrap figs w/ pancetta slices. Place wrapped figs on plank and place on grill. Sprinkle with cheese & pancetta. Cook on grill 15 minutes or until figs are soft.