Herb Goat Cheese Christmas Appetizer Food

HERBED GOAT CHEESE BAGUETTE SLICES

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the cheese, parsley, rosemary, garlic, salt and pepper; roll into a 3-in. log. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. , Spread over bread; top with tomato slices. Sprinkle with additional pepper if desired.

HERBED GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Find a small, wide-mouth canning jar or small glass vase (3 1/2 inches in diameter by 4 inches high), just large enough to hold the two goat cheeses on top of each other with a little room to spare. Cut each cheese in half horizontally, making 2 rounds from each. (A piece of dental floss makes this easier.)
• Place half of the first disk flat in the jar, sprinkle with salt and pepper, then with 1/2 teaspoon dill, 1 teaspoon basil, and a few red pepper flakes, and drizzle with 1/2 tablespoon olive oil. Place another disk of cheese on top and repeat the seasonings, herbs, and oil. Continue with the remaining cheese disks, piling one on top of the other with oil and seasonings in between. When all the disks are stacked and seasoned, drizzle 1 tablespoon of olive oil on top. Cover and set aside at room temperature for one hour or refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Serve at room temperature with bread or crackers for people to help themselves.

ROASTED BABY PEARS WITH HERBED GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• In a small bowl, mix the goat cheese, herbs, and 2 tablespoons olive oil; season with salt and pepper. Halve the pears and scoop out the seeds and cores. Stuff each pear half with about a tablespoon of the cheese. Wrap each stuffed pear with a slice of bacon and place it on a baking sheet. Drizzle some olive oil over the pears and season them with salt and pepper. Bake them until the pears are tender and the bacon is crisp, about 25 to 30 minutes. Place the pears onto a platter, drizzle with the honey, and garnish with the arugula.

HERB AND GOAT CHEESE TOASTS

Steps:

• Arrange sliced baguette or sliced crusty roll rounds on a cookie sheet or broiler pan. Toast under hot broiler until lightly golden on each side. Remove toasts from broiler and arrange on a serving plate. Remove goat cheese log or buttons from packaging and set on cutting board. Chop and combine fresh chives, rosemary and parsley. Add coarse black pepper to the herb mixture. Roll goat cheese in the herbs to coat evenly. Set goat cheese alongside toasts. Using a spreader or butter knife, spread herbed cheese on warm toasts.

HERBED GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Add the goat cheese, basil, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, salt, thyme and pepper to a stand mixer fitted with the beater attachment. Mix on low speed until you have a smooth, blended paste, about 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the mixer bowl and mix again. With the mixer on low speed, slowly pour in the lemon juice and beer; mix until all of the liquid is absorbed. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and mix one last time to ensure all the ingredients are fully incorporated and evenly dispersed.

HERBED GOAT CHEESE APPETIZER

Steps:

• Soak the sundried tomatoes in the wine for 30 minutes or overnight for best results.
• Mix the goat and cream cheeses together in a bowl, blending well.
• Remove the sundried tomatoes, chop them fine, and discard the wine. Add to cheese mixture.
• Add all other ingredients.
• Mix very well until evenly blended.
• Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
• To serve in a puff pastry shell, bake the shells according to the package instructions. Cool them to room temperature.
• Place a scoop of the herbed goat cheese mix into each pastry shell.
• Return the shells to the oven and bake at 350°F for 10 minutes to just warm them.
• Best served warm with a knife to spread the herbed cheese onto pieces of the pastry.