Fig Goat Cheese Nests Food

FIG AND GOAT CHEESE BRUSCHETTAS

Steps:

• Place the orange zest and orange juice in a medium (10-inch) heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven, such as Le Creuset. Add the sugar, vanilla bean, and figs to the pot. Cover and bring to a full boil over medium heat. (Don't worry; it may look dry.) Stir the mixture and boil hard for 1 minute, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Lower the heat, and cook uncovered at a full simmer for 50 minutes to 1 hour and 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. You want the little bubbles to be throughout the pot, not just at the edges. After 45 minutes, refrigerate a small amount of the liquid to see if it becomes syrupy. It should be like a soft fruit preserve. Keep cooking just until the liquid starts to gel when cold. If the liquid is too firm, add a little orange juice or water, cook for a minute, and test it again until it's right. Depending on how ripe the figs are, they will probably keep their shape, but it's fine if they don't. Discard the vanilla bean and serve or refrigerate.
• Before serving, toast or grill the bread and spread with goat cheese. Spoon the fig preserves on, then the grated orange zest if using, and serve.

FIG & GOAT CHEESE NESTS

Steps:

• Pre heat oven to 400°.
• In large bowl, combine hash brown, beaten egg, salt and pepper. Stir until potatoes are well coated with egg.
• Spray (2) 24 mini muffin pans with non-stick spray. Spoon in approximately 1 teaspoon of hash brown mixture into each muffin cup, gently pressing bottom and up the sides of cup. Bake for approximately 25-30 minutes or until browned and they start to pull away from muffin cups. Remove from pan and let cool on wire rack.
• In sauté pan, cook diced bacon until lightly crisped. Remove bacon and set aside. Discard all but 2 tablespoons of bacon fat.
• In same sauté pan, add chopped spinach to bacon fat and sauté over med. high heat until spinach is wilted. Remove from pan and set aside.
• Begin to assemble nests by adding ¼ tsp fig preserves in bottom of hash brown nest. Next top with approximately ¼ tsp of cooked spinach, then ¼ teaspoons goat cheese. Top goat cheese with another ¼ tsp of fig preserves and sprinkle a little bacon on top. Continue layering process to each hash brown nest.
• Place on baking sheet and return to preheated 400° oven for 2-3 minutes or just until hot. Remove from pan and serve.

FIG AND GOAT CHEESE TOASTS

Steps:

• Toast the bread in a toaster and while it is still warm, spread the fig spread on each slice to cover it entirely. Place the cheese in a bowl and heat in the microwave for 30 to 45 seconds, until it's creamy and spreadable. Spread a layer of the cheese on the fig spread, leaving the edges of the fig spread visible. Sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper. Cut each toast crosswise to make appetizers that will be easy to eat. Place a fig slice on each piece, top with a few microgreens, and drizzle lightly with the balsamic vinegar. Serve at room temperature.

FIG AND PEPITA GOAT CHEESE LOG

Steps:

• Place the goat cheese log on a cheese board, plate or platter. Spoon the fig jam over the goat cheese, gently spreading it with the back of the spoon. Sprinkle the pepitas over the fig jam to coat. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

BAKED FIGS & GOAT'S CHEESE WITH RADICCHIO

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to fan 160C/conventional 180C/gas 4. Unless the baking sheet is non stick, line it with foil, then brush the foil lightly with oil.
• Cut the figs into quarters, from the top almost to the base, and arrange on the foil. Slice the goat's cheese and arrange in the centre of the figs. Bake for 10-15 minutes until the cheese is melted and tinged brown.
• Meanwhile, whisk the dressing ingredients with some seasoning. Put a couple of good radicchio leaves on each serving plate. Remove the figs from the oven and place on the radicchio leaves. Scatter the walnuts on top. Drizzle with the dressing and serve warm or at room temperature.

FIGS STUFFED WITH GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Use your fingers to roll the goat cheese into 24 1/2 teaspoon-sized balls.
• Cut figs in half. Press a cheese ball into the center of each fig. Plate them and drizzle with vinegar. Serve within an hour.

SPINACH AND GOAT CHEESE HASHBROWNS NESTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven at 400°F.
• In a medium bowl, mix Simply Potatoes Hashbrowns with 4 tablespoons of olive oil, salt and lemon pepper. Mix well making sure the potatoes are coated with oil.
• Spray a non-stick 12 cup- muffin tin with cooking spray.
• Carefully arrange hashbrowns evenly in each muffin cup, pressing the sides and forming a small well in the center.
• Bake at 400F for 20-25 minutes, until they start to brown lightly. Set aside. Reset the over to 375°F.
• In the mean time, squeeze water out of t he spinach and sauté in remaining 1 tbsp of olive oil, until most of the liquid has evaporated, about 6-8 minutes. Add sundried tomatoes, a pinch of salt and a pinch of garlic powder. Cook at medium heat for an additional 2 minutes. Set aside.
• In a small bowl, combine goat cheese and milk and mix well until smooth and creamy.
• In a medium size bowl, beat the eggs with a pinch of salt. Add goat cheese and spinach-sundried tomato mixture. Mix well.
• Fill the potato cups with the egg mixture and bake at 400F for 15 minutes. Let cool slightly before un molding. Un mold carefully using a butter knife around the sides of the nests.

FIGS WITH GOAT'S CHEESE, PISTACHIOS & HONEY

Steps:

• Arrange the figs on a tray, cut-side up. Slice the goat's cheese into eight rounds, then cut each round in half.
• Gently push the goat's cheese pieces into the cut sides of the figs, then season with a little salt and pepper, drizzle with the honey and scatter with the pistachios and thyme.

BAKED FIGS AND GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400 degrees. Cut goat cheese into 6 thick slices. Line an 8-by 12-inch earthenware baking dish with fig leaves (if using). Arrange goat cheese in center of dish and surround with fig halves. Season lightly with salt and pepper, then sprinkle with thyme. Drizzle with olive oil.
• Bake uncovered for 15 minutes, until both cheese and figs are softened. Run under broiler for 1 minute to brown. Let cool slightly before serving.