Spring Salad Wherbs Meyer Lemon Almonds Goat Cheese Food

SALAD WITH WARM GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Slice the Montrachet into 12 (1/2-inch-thick) slices. (The easiest way to slice goat cheese is to use a length of dental floss.) Dip each slice into the beaten egg whites, then the bread crumbs, being sure the cheese is thoroughly coated. Place the slices on a rack and chill them for at least 15 minutes.
• For the dressing, place the vinegars, sugar, salt, pepper, and egg yolk in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade and blend for 1 minute. With the motor running, slowly pour the olive oil through the feed tube until the vinaigrette is thickened. Season, to taste.
• Toss the salad greens with enough dressing to moisten, then divide them among 6 plates.
• Melt 1 tablespoon oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a saute pan over medium-high heat until just under smoking. Cook the goat cheese rounds quickly on both sides until browned on the outside but not melted inside. Top each salad with 2 warm rounds and serve.

SIMPLE HOMEMADE GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• in a a non-reactive pot on med-high, bring milk up to just below boiling while stirring gently but constantly. you'll see a bit of foam starting to form.
• add the vinegar and stir gently. if the milk doesn't curdle and separate cleanly right away then let it heat a few min longer or add a touch more vinegar a tsp at a time.
• drain in a strainer lined with several layers of cheesecloth or an old pillowslip that has been bleached and rinsed very well. that liquid you're pouring off is whey, btw, and useful. you might want to catch it in a big bowl.
• move your cheese to a mixing bowl and stir in salt to taste. add heavy cream to make it smoother if desired.
• you can press into mini quiche dishes (line with more cheesecloth so you can un-mold cleanly) and refrigerate overnight to solidify if desired. you can also form into a log and roll it in herbs or marinate it in flavored olive oil. be sure to wrap tightly before storing for up to two weeks but i doubt it will last that long! the whey can be used for baking or boiling in place of water to add some extra protein and vitamins. you can also give it to your pets or water your plants or lots of other things. make a protein shake with some fruit perhaps. happy cheese making!

ROASTED TOMATO & GOAT CHEESE SALAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400°F.
• Slice the tomatoes in half, scoop out & discard the seeds.
• Put the tomato shells in a bowl. Add the garlic & 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Mix gently (you don't want to mash your tomatoes) until the tomatoes & garlic are covered with the oil.
• Put the tomato-garlic mixture on a baking sheet & spread it out into a single layer. Bake until the tomatoes are very tender & starting to brown (~25-30 minutes).
• When the tomatoes are almost finished cooking, mix the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil & the balsamic vinegar with the greens in a large bowl. Top with the crumbled goat cheese, and then with the roasted tomatoes. Let the tomatoes sit on the cheese for a couple of minutes so the cheese starts to soften & melt. Then mix it all up & serve. (Add salt & pepper to taste.).