Goat Cheese and Fig Jam Crackers with Thyme

These are delightful, delicious little morsels. Think of them as elegant but simple pre-dinner nibbles. They could alternatively spin as a savory-sweet end to a meal, in lieu of a cheese plate. Additionally, they can function as a keep-the-chef-happy-snack (to accompany a glass of keep-the-chef-happy wine?).

For such an amuse bouche, or whatever the case may be, you want something that can be thrown together with minimal fuss and mess. For me, these toppings are all ingredients I have on hand in general. And that's the idea. If you find yourself without a wall hanging of dried thyme, then leave out the thyme from your version. The beauty lies in working with what's on hand. You will, however, need to buy (or make) the crackers. They supply not only the canvas of your creation but also a satisfying crunch.

So how simple is it to whip up a plate of these? Embarrassingly so: you place the desired amount of crackers on you plate, add a generous teaspoonful of softened goat cheese to each, and then top with a small amount (1/2 teaspoon) of fig jam. Sprinkle each with a few leaves of dried thyme, and serve.

Other combinations with which to top your crackers:

cheddar slices and hot pepper jelly
brie and dark fig jam
blue cheese and local honey (just a small, small, drizzle)
manchego and quince paste

and you could use any single type of chopped fresh herb to scatter about...