Bacon-Wrapped Dates, Goat Cheese

Method

1. Heat the oven to 400°F and set a wire rack inside a foil-lined rimmed sheet pan.
2. Slit each date lengthwise on one side and open it like a book, removing any pit left behind. Tuck in a pecan half and about 1 teaspoon goat cheese, then pinch the date closed.
3. Lay a half-slice of bacon on the board and drag the flat side of a knife along it to stretch it about a third longer. Wrap a date tightly, seam-side down, and secure with a toothpick.
4. Set the dates on the rack, seam-side down, 1 inch apart, and finish with black pepper. To make ahead, cover and refrigerate up to 24 hours.
5. Bake 25 to 30 minutes, flipping once at the 15-minute mark, until the bacon is browned and crisp at the edges and the fat has dripped into the pan.
6. Rest 5 minutes, because the filling is molten, then serve warm with the thyme scattered over. Leftovers reheat on a rack at 375°F for 5 minutes.