Fried Haloumi Cheese with Pear and Spiced Dates  Serves 4
Cheese Haloumi is a sheep's milk cheese from Cyprus. It's brined
like feta but it has a firm texture that is perfect for frying.
There is no need to bread or flour the cheese before frying; you
don't even need to use oil in the pan. The cheese browns
naturally from the sugar in the brine and keeps its shape.
Haloumi is often flavored with dried mint, which goes perfectly
with pears and dates. It's also beautiful paired with grilled
peaches and red peppers during the summer months. To add drama,
sugar, and a slight anise flavor, carefully flambe the dish with
ouzo at the table.  You can make the dates ahead of time and
brown the pear in a separate pan, at the same time you're
browning the haloumi, to speed up the process a bit.  Zest and
juice of 1 lemon 1 tablespoon brown sugar 1/2 teaspoon ground
cumin 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
          (just the oily black seeds from within the green pod)
1/4 teaspoon black pepper 8