Goat Cheese Pesto Sun Dried Tomato Spread Make Ahead Food

GOAT CHEESE, PESTO & SUN-DRIED TOMATO TERRINE

Steps:

• Line the inside of a 2-cup sharply sloping bowl (about 4 inches across the top) with plastic; let the ends extend over the sides a few inches. In a mixing bowl, mash the goat cheese and 1/4 cup of the cream with a fork and season with 1/4 tsp. salt and a few grinds of pepper; add more cream if the cheese hasn't softened.
• Spoon about one-third of the cheese into the lined bowl and pack it into an even layer. Spread the pesto almost completely to the sides of the first layer of cheese. Top with another third of the cheese, the sun-dried tomatoes, and all but 1/2 Tbs. of the pine nuts. Top with the remaining cheese. Pack down, fold the plastic over, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
• Half an hour before serving, take the bowl out of the refrigerator. Pull on the edges of the plastic to loosen the terrine from the bowl. Invert the terrine onto a plate, drizzle with a little olive oil, and let sit for 1/2 hour to warm up. Sprinkle with the remaining pine nuts, season liberally with pepper, and serve.

GOAT CHEESE PESTO SUN-DRIED TOMATO SPREAD (MAKE AHEAD)

Steps:

• Line an 8 x 4 loaf pan with plastic wrap.
• Process the first five ingredients in a food processor until smooth.
• Spread one-third of the cheese mixture in the lined pan.
• Top with the pesto.
• Spread one-third of the cheese mixture over pesto.
• Spread the chopped, drained sun dried tomatoes next.
• Top with the remaining cheese mixture.
• Cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 8 hours (or up to 2 days).
• Invert spread onto serving plate. Garnish, if desired, with tomato slivers and/or herb leaves.
• Serve with french bread slices (or crackers).

GOAT CHEESE, SUN-DRIED TOMATO, AND PESTO TORTA

Steps:

• Mix goat cheese and cream cheese in a bowl. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Combine goat-cream cheese mixture with the sun-dried tomatoes, tomato paste, and vinegar in a separate bowl. Season with salt and pepper to taste. (again).
• Line a 2-cup ramekin or a small bowl with plastic wrap, extending the wrap over the sides. spray the plastic wrap with vegetable oil cooking spray. Spread half the goat-cream cheese mixture evenly in the bottom of the ramekin. Cover with pesto, then with the cheese tomato mixture. top with remaining goat cheese mixture. Fold wrap over the final cheese layer and refrigerate until chilled, at least 1 1/2 hours.
• Invert the torta onto a platter and peel off the plastic wrap. Garnish with basil and serve with baguette slices.
• **The torta can be made 2days ahead and refrigerated. This torta can be so gorgeous if you pay attention to making clean, well defined layers.

SUN-DRIED TOMATO AND GOAT CHEESE TARTS

Steps:

• Roll the pie dough 1/8 inch thick. Cut into rounds using a 2-1/2 inch cutter. You should have about 30.
• Place rounds into mini muffin tins and prick the dough with a fork.
• Bake about 20 minutes at 350 degrees. Allow to cool.
• For filling:.
• Combine the egg, milk, sherry, basil, garlic, flour and pepper in a bowl. Whisk to blend. Sesgt aside.
• In another bowl, mix together the goat cheese, tomato and green onion.
• Place 1 t. of goat cheese mixture into each shell. Fill nearly full with egg mixture, about 3/4 t. per shell. Bake until filling is set about 6-8 minutes.

PESTO GOAT CHEESE SPREAD

Steps:

• Stir together all ingredients with salt and pepper to taste until smooth.

GOAT CHEESE, PESTO AND SUN-DRIED TOMATO SPREAD

Steps:

• With an electric mixer, combine cream cheese and goat cheese until smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Spread onto the bottom of a serving plate.
• Spread the pesto sauce on top of the cheese layer.
• Sprinkle sun-dried tomatoes and pine nuts over pesto.
• Shave strips of parmesan or romano cheese over top.
• Drizzle lemon juice and oil over top of spread.
• Garnish with basil.
• Serve with crackers or toasted baguette/crostini.

SUN-DRIED TOMATO AND PESTO TORTA

Steps:

• Finely chop garlic in processor. Add basil, 1/4 cup pine nuts, oil and lemon juice. Process until well blended. Add 1/3 cup cream cheese and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Using on/off turns, process just until blended. Transfer pesto to medium bowl.
• Coarsely chop tomatoes in processor. Add tomato paste and process until mixture is almost smooth. Add 1/3 cup cream cheese and blend well.
• Using electric mixer, beat 2 cups cream cheese and butter in large bowl until fluffy. Season with salt and pepper.
• Spray 6-cup soufflé dish with nonstick spray. Line with plastic wrap, extending plastic over sides. Spread 3/4 cup cream cheese-butter mixture evenly over bottom of prepared dish. Top with half of tomato mixture, then 1/2 cup cream cheese-butter mixture, then half of pesto mixture. Repeat layering with 1/2 cup cream cheese-butter mixture, remaining tomato mixture, 1/2 cup cream cheese-butter mixture and remaining pesto. Top with remaining cream cheese-butter mixture. Cover and chill overnight. (Can be made 3 days ahead. Keep refrigerated.)
• Invert torta onto platter. Peel off plastic. Garnish with basil sprigs and toasted pine nuts. Serve with baguette slices.

WARM GOAT CHEESE SANDWICHES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Open the pita bread halves up into pockets. Spread goat cheese onto one side of the inside of each pita pocket. Spread a layer of pesto over the goat cheese. Sprinkle with sun-dried tomatoes. Place pita halves onto a baking sheet.
• Bake for 3 to 5 minutes in the preheated oven, just until the filling is warm, and the bread is lightly toasted.

GOAT CHEESE, TOMATO, AND PESTO DIP

Steps:

• Spread goat cheese into 1/4-inch layer on a large serving plate. Spread a thin layer of pesto over goat cheese layer. Top with chopped tomatoes. Serve with French bread slices.

TOMATO-GOAT CHEESE SPREAD

Steps:

• Drain tomatoes, reserving 3 tablespoons of oil., In a small skillet, heat reserved oil, tomatoes and garlic over medium-high heat. Cook and stir 5 minutes or until garlic is golden and tomatoes are heated through. To serve, place cheese on a serving plate. Pour tomato mixture over cheese. If desired, sprinkle with parsley. Serve with crackers.

FRENCH BREAD WITH GOAT CHEESE AND SUN-DRIED TOMATO SPREAD

Steps:

• Mix first 4 ingredients in bowl. Thin to spreadable consistency with sour cream. Season with generous amount of pepper. Mound cheese in crock or bowl. (Can be prepared 2 days ahead. Cover and chill. Bring to room temperature before serving.)
• Sprinkle cheese with thyme and walnuts. Serve with bread.

PESTO, GOAT CHEESE, AND SUN-DRIED TOMATOES QUICHE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Spread pesto evenly in the bottom of the pie crust. Sprinkle goat cheese over pesto.
• In a large bowl, beat together eggs, half-and-half cream, and flour. Season with salt and pepper. Pour over goat cheese in pie crust. Arrange sun-dried tomatoes on top.
• Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until done.