Fresh Tomato And Goat Cheese Strata With Herb Oil Food

ROASTED TOMATO AND GOAT CHEESE SALAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Halve and seed the tomatoes and season with salt and pepper. Lay the tomatoes on a baking rack set over a cookie sheet in the 300 degree oven for 20 minutes or until the skins slip off easily. Remove the tomatoes from the oven, slip off their skins, and brush the tomato halves lightly with olive oil. Return the tomatoes to the oven to roast for an additional hour or until they take on a brilliant, burnished color.
• Meanwhile, slice the Montrachet log into 12 equal-size disks. Dredge each disk of goat cheese with flour then egg then seasoned bread crumbs. Heat a saute pan with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and quickly cook the cheese on both sides. When all the cheese has been cooked in this manner, divide them among 4 salad plates, alternating slices of goat cheese and roasted tomato halves.
• Combine the remaining olive oil with the balsamic vinegar, toss the salad greens with the vinaigrette and place some salad alongside each serving of tomatoes and cheese.

GOAT CHEESE AND SUN DRIED TOMATO PROFITEROLES WITH HERB OIL

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a heavy large baking sheet with a silicon pad or parchment paper. Combine the water, butter, and salt in a heavy medium saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil, stirring until the butter melts. Add the flour and stir over medium heat for 1 minute. Cool for 5 minutes. Crack the eggs into a measuring cup. Use a wooden spoon to beat the eggs into the dough, 1 at a time. Stir in the Parmesan and pepper. Spoon 18 mounds of dough onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing 2 inches apart. Bake until the profiteroles are puffed and golden, about 45 minutes. Allow the profiteroles to cool completely.;
• Combine the goat cheese and cream in a medium bowl. Using an electric mixer, whip together the cheese and the cream. Stir in the tomatoes, salt and pepper. Set aside.;
• Combine the herbs in a food processor and pulse to chop the herbs. With the machine running add the oil, salt, and pepper. Transfer to a small bowl, cover with plastic wrap and set aside.;
• Using a serrated knife, cut off the top of the profiteroles. Fill each profiterole with a spoonful of the goat cheese mixture and return the top of the pastry. Place a few profiteroles on a serving plate, drizzle with herb oil, and sprinkle with walnuts. Serve.;

CHEESE STRATA WITH HAM AND TOMATOES

Steps:

• Grease a 3-quart gratin dish or casserole with 1 teaspoon of the butter.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, cream, nutmeg, cayenne, salt, and pepper. Set aside. In a small bowl, toss together the ham, tomatoes, parsley, and chives.
• To make the strata: Scatter a 1/2 cup of the cheese over the bottom of the buttered dish, cover with one-third of the bread, and then half of the tomato mixture. Repeat. Top with a final layer of bread and remaining cheese.
• Pour the egg mixture over the strata and gently press it down with the back of a large spoon to make sure the top layer is moistened with the custard. Melt the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter and drizzle it over the strata. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Bake the strata, uncovered, until golden brown and slightly puffed, about 45 to 55 minutes. Let rest 10 minutes before serving.
• Yield: 6 to 8 servings
• Preheat oven to 250 degrees F. Arrange the tomatoes cut side-up in a single layer on a baking sheet. Sprinkle with the salt. Dry in oven until slightly shriveled but still plump, about 5 to 6 hours.
• If not using immediately, store the tomatoes in a sealed container in the refrigerator, for 3 to 4 days. Alternatively, layer them in a container with the herbs, cover with olive oil, and store, covered, in the refrigerator, for up to 2 weeks.
• Yield: about 2 cups
• Copyright 2001 Television Food Network, G.P. All rights reserved

TOMATO AND GOAT-CHEESE SALAD WITH BASIL VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• In a blender, combine basil, oil, vinegar, and 1 tablespoon water. Blend until smooth, 2 to 3 minutes. Season vinaigrette with salt and pepper.
• With dental floss or a warm knife (wiped clean after each slice), thinly slice cheese. Arrange tomatoes and goat cheese on a serving plate; drizzle with dressing to taste. Serve garnished with basil leaves.

GREEN STRATA WITH GOAT CHEESE AND HERBS

Steps:

• In a medium pot, bring milk and cream to a simmer.
• Meanwhile, place greens, herbs, cheese, salt and pepper in a food processor fitted with the blade attachment. Once the hot milk mixture comes to a simmer, pour over greens and purée until smooth. Pour into a bowl and let cool completely. Once cool, whisk in 6 eggs.
• Lightly oil a 9-by-13-inch baking pan. Scatter bread cubes over bottom of pan. Pour custard over bread and press down so the bread absorbs the custard. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours. If you can, stir bread cubes after an hour or so to encourage an even distribution of custard.
• When you are ready to bake the strata, heat oven to 350 degrees. Tuck the goat cheese rounds into and on top of the strata. Transfer pan to oven and bake until top is beginning to firm up but is still slightly wet underneath, about 25 minutes.
• Remove pan from oven and use a spoon to make 6 evenly spaced indentations on the surface of the strata. Crack an egg into each hole and season with salt and pepper. Return pan to oven and continue to bake until strata is cooked through and eggs are just set, 20 to 25 minutes more. Sprinkle with Aleppo or Turkish pepper if desired.

STRATA WITH GOAT CHEESE, TOMATOES AND HERBS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Oil a 2-quart baking or gratin dish. Rub the bread slices with garlic halves. Mix the minced garlic with the tomatoes, season with a pinch of salt and pepper, and set aside.
• Layer half the bread slices in the baking dish. Top with half the reserved tomatoes, half the cheeses, half the herbs and half the salt and pepper. Repeat the layers.
• Beat together the eggs and milk. Pour over the bread-tomato mixture. Place the dish on a baking sheet and bake for 40 to 50 minutes until puffed and browned. Serve hot or at room temperature.