'Mascarpone'-Stuffed Apricots

I made another apricot dessert recently (see post for Fruited Apricots with Lemon-Amaretto Sauce) but I'm making another because I can't get enough of this adorable fruit right now! The original recipe called for mascarpone cheese, but that need not be a set-back; a mixture of vegan cream cheese and vegan sour cream makes a close substitute. For both the 'cream cheese' and 'sour cream', I recommend the Tofutti brand.

In a bowl, combine 1/3 cup vegan cream cheese with 2 tablespoons vegan sour cream, 2 tablespoons agave nectar (in place of honey), 1/2 tsp. lemon juice, and 1/8 tsp. nutmeg, stirring well with a whisk. Add 2 tablespoons coarsely chopped walnuts (which you can toast first, if you like), and then chill for 1 hour.

Cut 10 apricots in half, and remove the pits. If you slice around the center of an apricot with a knife, the two halves twist apart quite easily, and the pits are "free" and slip right out - unlike with peaches! Sprinkle the cut sides of the apricots with 1 tablespoon lemon juice, and spoon a heaping teaspoon of the 'mascarpone' mixture into the center of each half. Chill for 1 hour.

Note: I was a little loose on the chilling times. I only chilled the 'mascarpone' mixture for half an hour, and once I had the apricots stuffed, I chilled them for 3 hours, not 1!

2 stuffed apricots make a serving of 70 calories. You can garnish with mint sprigs, if you like, for a pretty presentation!

Cost:
walnuts $0.72
apricots $5.34

On a side note, tonight was a useful reminder to read recipes carefully! I had made the 'mascarpone' mixture just right according to directions, and set it chill. Then, I glanced down at the recipe and thought it said to add 2 tablespoons lemon juice (don't ask me why!) and so I panicked, pulled the mixture from the fridge, added the new lemon juice, and then thought... that looks awfully wrong. Realizing I had now messed up the sauce, I had to toss the ruined mixture, dash across the street to purchase a new container of Tofutti Better Than Sour Cream, and recommence. All I can say is oops!