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1
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
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2
Prepare baking sheet by lining with parchment paper and set aside.
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3
Combine spices in a small bowl and stir to mix.
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4
Pour agave into small metal bowl or pie pan. Set bowl or pan over saucepan with small amount of boiling water for about a minute. This will make the agave easier to work with. Remove bowl or pan from heat.
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5
Add pecans to agave and toss to coat.
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6
Add spices to pecans and toss to coat.
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7
Spread pecans on prepared baking sheet in a single layer.
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8
Cook in the oven for 10 minutes, checking and stirring (agave should be bubbling) once or twice with a wooden spoon. Pecans should be fragrant and golden brown. Be careful not to burn the pecans.
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9
Remove pan from oven. As they cool, sprinkle pecans with a pinch of sea salt. Slowly begin separate the pecans from the parchment. If the pecans seem sticky, let them cool a little longer. When finished they should have a hard shell and a nice crunch.
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10
Mix thyme and orange zest into softened goat cheese, stirring to combine evenly.
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11
Using a sharp knife, make a slit in the top of each date and carefully remove the pit. Stuff dates with about 1/2 teaspoon of goat cheese, give or take some to fill the date.
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12
Top each stuffed date with a candied pecan. Arrange on serving platter and watch them disappear!
