Ingredients:

• ½ cup mascarpone cheese
• 1 tablespoon grated orange zest
• 8 pitted dates
• ¼ cup sugar
• 3 tablespoons water
• ½ tablespoon unsalted butter
• 1 teaspoon orange juice
• 1 teaspoon Grand Marnier

Instructions:

1. Beat the cheese until fluffy.  Add the orange zest and fill dates with the cheese mixture.
2. In a saucepan combine sugar and water and let stand until the sugar is moistened.  Boil gently until the mixture turns a pale golden brown.
3. Remove from the heat and swirl in butter, orange juice and Grand Marnier.
4. Pour a little caramel sauce onto individual lightly buttered dessert plates and top with 2 dates and sprinkle with grated orange zest.