Roasted Peppers With Herbed Goat Cheese Food

ROASTED MINI SWEET PEPPERS WITH GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
• Cut the peppers in half lengthwise and remove the seeds. Add the peppers to a bowl and toss lightly with oil, salt, and pepper.
• Spread the peppers on a baking sheet and roast for 15 minutes until slightly softened and caramelized. Let cool to room temperature.
• Meanwhile, add the goat cheese and cream cheese to the bowl of a food processor. Process until smooth and spreadable, scraping the bowl down as necessary.
• Gently blend in herbs, lemon zest. Season to taste with salt. Transfer the cheese mixture to a piping bag fitted with a piping tip.
• When peppers are room temperature, pipe the cheese mixture into each pepper half. (Note 1) Arrange on a serving platter and garnish with chopped herbs.
• Refrigerate leftovers for up to 2 days.

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.

HERBED GOAT CHEESE AND ROASTED PEPPER TOASTS

Steps:

• Roast the pepper: Place the bell pepper directly over the open flame of a gas burner, under the broiler or on a hot, glowing charcoal grill. Let the skin of the pepper blacken and blister, using tongs to turn the pepper frequently. When completely blackened, after 5 to 8 minutes, transfer to a plate to cool.
• Using a paring knife, cut pepper in half lengthwise. Cut away seeds and stem and discard. Scrape away the skin and discard. Do not rinse. It's OK if a few bits of charred skin remain.
• Cut pepper halves into long strips about 1-inch wide. Season lightly with salt. (The pepper can be prepared up to 24 hours ahead of serving.)
• Marinate the goat cheese: Slice the goat cheese log into 10 pieces (each about 3/4-inch thick). Place pieces in a single layer on a plate and pour 1/4 cup oil over.
• Strip leaves from a few thyme sprigs and a rosemary sprig, roughly chop and sprinkle over the cheese. Finish with a bit of freshly ground black pepper, and a small pinch of red-pepper flakes. Cover and set aside. (This can also be done up to 24 hours ahead.)
• Set oven to 350 degrees. Cut the baguette on a diagonal into 10 slices, each about 1/4-inch thick. (If using ciabatta, cut into similar-size pieces.) Arrange on a baking sheet in a single layer, then place in oven for about 5 minutes, until bread is barely toasted.
• Remove from oven and carefully give each toast a light swipe with the garlic clove. Lay a strip of roasted pepper across each toast to cover. Place a goat cheese round in the center of each toast. Spoon the remaining olive oil from the plate generously over each piece of cheese and any exposed toast.
• To finish, return to the oven and bake, uncovered, until the bread is nicely browned and the cheese has gotten a bit of color, 8 to 10 minutes. Let toasts cool a bit, then arrange on a platter and serve. (They taste best at room temperature or just barely warm.) Toasts can be baked up to 1 hour ahead and popped in the oven to reheat slightly.

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.

GRILLED SWEET PEPPERS WITH GOAT CHEESE AND HERBS

Steps:

• Preheat a grill to 350 to 400 degrees F, or medium-high heat.
• Place the peppers in a large mixing bowl and drizzle with the olive oil. Toss with the salt, pepper and paprika.
• Grill the peppers, without the grill lid and turning often, until just slightly softened, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Spoon the goat cheese evenly into the pepper halves. Sprinkle with the rosemary and thyme.

BAREFOOT CONTESSA'S ROASTED PEPPER AND GOAT CHEESE SANDWICHES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F.
• Place the whole peppers on a sheet pan and place in the oven for 30 to 40 minutes, until the skins are completely wrinkled and the peppers are charred, turning them twice during roasting. Remove the pan from the oven and immediately cover it tightly with aluminum foil. Set aside for 30 minutes, or until the peppers are cool enough to handle.
• Meanwhile, combine the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, garlic, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Set aside.
• Remove the stem from each pepper and cut them in quarters. Remove the peels and seeds and place the peppers in a bowl along with any juices that have collected. Discard the stems, peels, and seeds. Pour the oil and vinegar mixture over the peppers. Stir in the capers. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for a few hours to allow the flavors to blend.
• To assemble the sandwiches, spread the bottom half of the loaf with the goat cheese. Add a layer of peppers and then a layer of basil leaves. Separate the onions into rings and spread out on top. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cover with the top half of the ciabatta and cut into individual servings.

BRUSCHETTA WITH GOAT CHEESE, ROASTED PEPPER, AND BASIL

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F. Char bell pepper over gas flame or under broiler until blackened on all sides. Enclose in paper bag 10 minutes. Peel and seed pepper; cut into 1/2-inch-wide strips.
• Spread goat cheese on toasts. Top with red pepper strips. Place bruschetta on baking sheet. Bake until warm, about 5 minutes. Top each toast with 2 basil leaves and serve.