Medjool Dates with Goat Cheese and Toasted Almonds

18 pitted dates18 whole almonds, toasted (see note)4-6 ounces soft fresh goat cheese (about two 2-ounce rounds)Make a slit in each date lengthwise. Slide in an almond and use a small spoon to fill the date with cheese. Gently squeeze the date closed with your fingers.Makes 18.Cook's notes: Toast nuts on a baking sheet in a 400-degree oven or in a small pan on the stove over medium heat. Stay close since it's easy to overcook tem. Use your sense of smell rather than your eyes to decide when they're done. As soon as you begin to smell the nuts' fragrance, remove them from the oven or the pan. Instead of goat cheese and almonds, Stuff the dates with a 1-inch strip of prosciutto an a tablespoon of Gorgonzola cheese.Nutrition values per date: 100 calories, 2.7 g fat (1 g saturated), 18 g carbohydrates, 0 fiber, 2 g protein, 4 mg cholesterol, 29 mg sodium."Cooking From The Hip" by Cat Cora (2007 Houghton-Mifflin, $30)