Any excuse to eat figs!

Figs just might be one of my favourite summer foods. Their sweet taste mixed with their amazing texture that is both creamy and smooth at the same time just makes everything better. The best thing may be how excellently they pair with things like creamier cheese and wine!

That is how I discovered burrata. This smooth cheese is an Italian cow's milk cheese made from mozzarella and cream. It has a rather unusual soft texture for a cheese, and because of this I am positively dying to try making it into fondue one of these days... I found it one day at one of my friend's delis in Hamilton, and I have been hooked ever since that first creamy bite. She offered my a taste tester of the cheese, with a wee shot glass of red wine. Well, that was it. She had me. I needed to buy every bit of this deliciousness that she had! And I have no regrets for doing so...

For now though, on days when I still have a few hours left of work to do, I am happy to pair it with a few of my other favourite foods, like figs! Literally this just might be the yummiest thing you will eat all summer. The honey-balsamic glaze takes this dish to an entirely different level. Try it. Trust me.

Honey-Balsamic Figs with Burrata:

· ¾ cup white balsamic vinegar

· 3 tbsp. raw buckwheat honey

· Burrata cheese, torn into chunks

· 1 pint figs

· Sprigs of fresh herbs (my favourite is thyme)

· Salt, as needed

· Crackers, for serving

1) Combine the white balsamic vinegar and honey in a small saucepan over medium heat. Heat it up, stirring, until the honey dissolves completely

2) Let it simmer for about 10 minutes or until reduced by about half and it coats the back of a spoon. Remove from heat

3) Tear the burrata cheese into smaller portions into a bowl and add kosher salt to taste

4) Slice the figs and arrange them over the burrata. Drizzle with the honey-balsamic glaze and garnish with fresh herbs

5) Serve with crackers