Goat Cheese Mousse With Mint Pesto Food

PESTO MAC AND GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Butter a 2 quart flameproof baking dish. Preheat the broiler and arrange a rack on top.
• Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter in a small pan over low heat. In a large bowl add the garlic, basil, panko, and 1/4 cup of the Parmesan. Add the melted butter and toss to combine. Reserve.
• Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook according to the package instructions. Meanwhile, put the half-and-half in a small pot and bring to a simmer over low heat. Simmer until reduced and slightly thickened, about 5 to 7 minutes.
• Reserve 1/4 cup of the pasta cooking water and drain the pasta. Put the pot over low heat and add the half-and-half mixture. When it simmers, add the goat cheese and whisk until smooth. Add in the remaining Parmesan and whisk until melted.
• Add the pasta and stir to coat. Stir in the pesto, reserved cooking water, salt, and pepper. Season with additional salt and freshly ground black pepper, if needed.
• Pour the pasta mixture into the buttered baking dish and top with the panko mixture. Put under the broiler until the mixture bubbles and the top is browned, about 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from the broiler and let cool for 5 minutes before serving.

RISOTTO WITH FRESH BASIL-MINT PESTO

Steps:

• PESTO: In a food processor or blender, combine the basil leaves, mint, garlic and lemon zest. Blend until smooth. Add the salt and pine nuts, pulsing until nuts are chopped.
• With motor running, slowly drizzle the lemon juice and 2 tablespoons olive oil through the feed tube until you have a smooth puree.
• Season pesto to taste with pepper and set aside. Pesto can be prepared up to 4 hours in advance. For best results, do not freeze.
• RISOTTO: In a saucepan, heat the remaining olive oil over medium-high heat. Saute the shallots until soft, approximately 2 minutes. Next, add the arborio rice, cooking until grains are opaque and "glisten", about another 2 minutes. Be careful not to burn the rice, reducing heat if necessary!
• {{Slowly}} stir in 1 cup hot broth. Once broth is absorbed, add more broth, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring the rice constantly. Stir until liquid is absorbed.
• For the next step, add the boiling water in the same manner as the broth, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring constantly. Reduce heat to medium. Stop adding water when rice is almost done- or "al dente". (That means you may or may not use all of the boiling water.).
• When rice is al dente, continue stirring constantly. Rice should look moist and not dried out;- the grains creamy looking.
• Keep stirring the arborio rice until thick and creamy about 5 minutes more.
• Season to taste with salt and freshly cracked black pepper.
• To serve, divide the cooked risotto among 4 bowls and stir in 1/4 cup of the pesto into each bowl.
• Serve the Parmesan cheese on the side, if desired.

GOAT CHEESE MOUSSE

Steps:

• blend all ingredients together until smooth. Refrigerate until ready to use

PESTO-GOAT CHEESE TOASTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°. Place bread slices on a baking sheet; top with cheese., Bake until cheese begins to brown and bread is toasted, 10-12 minutes. Top with pesto. Serve warm.

PARMESAN CRISPS WITH GOAT CHEESE MOUSSE, PROSCIUTTO, AND ARUGULA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325F and line a baking sheet with a silpat liner.
• For the Crisps: Place a 2 1/2 inch ring mold in one corner of the baking sheet and fill with 1 tablespoon of the parmesan cheese. Spread out onto an even layer and repeat to make 8 rounds, leaving at least 1 inch between rounds. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until crisp and golden brown.
• Remove from the oven and let cool for 30 second to firm the crisps enough so that they can be moved with a spatula. One by one, remove them and place them into a muffin pan to shape them into cups. After a few minutes they will set and can be removed and the remaining crisps can be made. If you waited too long to put them in the pan and they are no longer pliable, just throw the muffin pan back in the oven for a minute to soften them up again. Repeat until you have as many parmesan crisps as you want.
• For the Goat Cheese Mousse: Place the goat cheese in a food processor and mix. Add the cream through the feed tube and continue to process until smooth but will hold it's shape when piped. Add the parsley, salt and pepper to taste and mix to combine. Taste and adjust the seasoning. The mousse can be made 3 days in advance and brought to room temperature 30 minutes before use.
• To assemble: Place a small amount of chopped arugula in each cup. Place the mousse in a pastry bag fitted with a star tip. Pipe 2-3 tablespoons into each parmesan cup. Top with the crumbled prosciutto and serve.

PETITE PARMESAN BASKETS WITH GOAT CHEESE MOUSSE

Steps:

• PARMESAN BASKETS:.
• Preheat oven to 325° degrees F.
• Place a mounded tablespoon of grated cheese onto a non-stick cookie sheet or Silpat; pat gently into a 2-inch circle.
• Repeat with remaining cheese, allowing 1 - 2 inches between circles. Bake one cookie sheet at a time in the oven for 4 to 5 minutes or until bubbly and lightly golden.
• Cool on cookie sheet about 1 minute. Remove with a spatula and gently drape over inverted 1-3/4-inch muffin tins or press each one into the hollow of a clean empty egg carton.
• They may be made ahead of time and covered at room temperature.
• GOAT CHEESE MOUSSE:.
• Blend all ingredients together until smooth. This may be refrigerated up to 2 days before serving.
• To serve, carefully spoon the mousse into the parmesan baskets or fill a pastry bag with the mousse and pipe it into the baskets.
• Garnish with minced thyme.