Alice Waterss Baked Goat Cheese With Salad Food

ALICE WATERS'S BAKED GOAT CHEESE WITH SALAD

Steps:

• Place the rounds of goat cheese in a flat dish and add onequarter cup of the oil. Add the thyme sprigs or sprinkle with one teaspoon dried thyme. Let stand eight hours or longer.
• Blend the remaining teaspoon dried thyme with the bread crumbs and set aside.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Remove the cheese rounds and coat them all over with the breadcrumb-and-thyme mixture. Put them in an oiled baking dish and place in the oven. Bake six to 10 minutes or until cheese is lightly bubbling and golden.
• Meanwhile, blend the remaining half cup of oil with the vinegar, salt and pepper. Pour this over the salad greens and toss.
• Serve the cheese on warm plates surrounded by garlic toast slices. Serve with the salad.

BAKED GOAT CHEESE WITH GARDEN LETTUCES

Steps:

• Carefully slice the goat cheese into 8 discs about ½-inch thick. Pour 1 cup olive oil over the discs and sprinkle with the chopped herbs. Cover and store in a cool place for several hours or up to one week.
• Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Cut the baguette in half lengthwise and put it in the oven for 20 minutes or so, until dry and lightly colored. Grate into fine crumbs on a box grater or in a food processor. If the crumbs are still soft, place them back in the oven for a few minutes until dry. The crumbs can be made in advance and stored until needed.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. (A toaster oven works well, too.) Remove the cheese discs from the marinade and roll them in the bread crumbs, coating them thoroughly. Place the discs on a small baking sheet and cook for about 6 minutes, until the cheese is warm.
• Measure the vinegars into a small bowl and add a big pinch of salt. Whisk in ¼ cup oil and a little pepper. Taste for seasoning and adjust. Toss the lettuces lightly with just enough vinaigrette to coat and arrange on salad plates. With a metal spatula, carefully place 2 discs of the baked cheese on each plate.

BAKED GOAT CHEESE WITH GARDEN SALAD

Steps:

• Combine 1/4 cup of the olive oil, the thyme and the bay leaf in a shallow dish. Add the cheese, and marinate in the refrigerator several hours or overnight.
• To make the vinaigrette, put the vinegar in a bowl and whisk in the remaining 1/4 cup olive oil. Season with the salt and pepper.
• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Grease a small baking dish. Remove the goat cheese from the oil and coat with the bread crumbs. Put in the dish and bake until the cheese is lightly bubbling and golden brown, about 4 to 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, toss the greens with the vinaigrette and divide among 4 plates. Place a round of goat cheese on the center of each salad, browner side up. Serve immediately.