Sun Dried Tomato Cheese Ball Food

SUN-DRIED TOMATO CHEESE BALLS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat the first eight ingredients until blended. Shape into 1-1/4-in. balls., Place bacon into a small shallow dish; roll cheese balls in bacon. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Serve with crackers.

SUN-DRIED TOMATO CHEESE BALLS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat the first eight ingredients until blended. Shape into 1-1/4-in. balls.
• Place bacon into a small shallow dish; roll cheese balls in bacon. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Serve with crackers.

SUN-DRIED TOMATO CHEESE BALL

Steps:

• Mix cheese, mustard, basil, onion, garlic, and onion powder in large bowl with a electric mixer at medium speed. Mix until blended but not smooth.
• Stir in the sun dried tomatoes and shape the cheese mixture into a 5-inch ball. Wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour. Roll in chopped nuts and wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve.

CHICKEN WITH GOAT CHEESE AND SUN DRIED TOMATO

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Place the chicken breasts on a sheet pan. Loosen the skin from the meat with your fingers, leaving 1 side attached. Cut the goat cheese into 1/2-inch-thick slices and place 1 or 2 slices plus 1/3 of the julienned sun-dried tomatoes under the skin of each chicken breast. Pull the skin over as much of the meat as possible so the chicken won't dry out. With your fingers, rub each piece with olive oil, and sprinkle them very generously with salt and pepper. Bake the chicken for 35 to 40 minutes, until the skin is lightly browned and the chicken is just cooked through. Serve hot or at room temperature.

SUN-DRIED TOMATO AND GOAT CHEESE SKEWERS

Steps:

• Special equipment: 20 small skewers or cocktail toothpicks
• Fill a pitcher with hot water. Dip a knife into the hot water and slice the goat cheese log in half lengthwise. Slice each half into 10 pieces making sure to dip the knife into the hot water in between slicing to ensure a nice clean cut. Roll each piece of goat cheese into balls approximately 1/2-inch in diameter and put onto a cookie sheet lined with waxed paper.
• Add the chopped pistachio nuts to a shallow bowl. Roll a goat cheese ball into the pistachio nuts and coat 1/2 of the ball. Return to the sheet pan and repeat with the remaining goat cheese balls.
• Drain the oil from the tomatoes and put onto a plate lined with a paper towel.
• Skewer a goat cheese ball onto the skewer. Lay a basil leaf on top a sun-dried tomato. Fold the tomato in half around the basil leaf and add to the skewer with the goat cheese. Repeat with remaining skewers. Arrange on a serving platter, cover and keep refrigerated until ready to serve.

FOUR-CHEESE BAKED PASTA WITH SUN-DRIED TOMATOES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Halve the garlic crosswise to expose the cloves. Wrap the bottom half in foil and roast until very soft, about 20 minutes. Meanwhile, remove the skins from the top half and chop the garlic.
• Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large Dutch oven or pot over medium heat. Add the onion and sliced fennel and cook, stirring occasionally, about 3 minutes. Add the chopped garlic and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring, until the garlic softens, about 2 more minutes. Add the tomato paste and 1 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring, until the vegetables are tender, about 3 more minutes. Add the tomatoes and 4 cups water; stir. Increase the heat to medium high and bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium low and simmer until the sauce thickens slightly, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook as the label directs. Drain, rinse under cold water and set aside.
• Pulse the focaccia in a food processor to make coarse crumbs. Squeeze the roasted garlic from its skin and add to the food processor along with 1/4 cup each parmesan and parsley; pulse a few more times until combined. Set the breadcrumbs aside.
• Lightly brush a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with olive oil. Add the pasta and sun-dried tomatoes to the sauce along with the fennel fronds, mozzarella, asiago and the remaining 1/4 cup each parmesan and parsley; toss. Transfer to the prepared baking dish. Top with spoonfuls of the ricotta and sprinkle with the breadcrumbs.
• Cover the dish loosely with foil and bake 30 minutes. Uncover and continue baking until golden and bubbling, about 15 more minutes. Let rest 10 minutes before serving.

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 GNOCCHI WITH SUNDRIED TOMATO BROWN BUTTER SAUCE

Steps:

• Place a large pot of water over high heat and bring to a boil.
• While waiting for the water to boil in a medium sized mixing bowl, mix the mashed potatoes and goat cheese and form a well. Sprinkle with all the flour, drop the egg and salt in center of well and using a fork, stir into flour and potatoes, just like making normal pasta. Once egg is mixed in, bring dough together, kneading gently until a ball is formed. Knead gently another 4 minutes until ball is dry to the touch. Roll the dough into ¾ of an inch logs and cut into 1 inch pieces. Cover heavily with flour in a single layer (do not layer them or they will become flat and dense). Use immediately or freeze if desired.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. While waiting for the water to boil in a sauté pan, heat butter over medium heat until the butter begins to brown and take on a nutty aroma. Add shallot, sun dried tomato, thyme, white wine vinegar and half of the Parmesan cheese shaking the pan vigorously to help mix all the ingredients together. Drop the finished dumplings into the water and cook until they float (about 1 minute). Once they float, remove from the boiling water and drop right into the brown butter sauce. Toss a few times to coat the gnocchi and serve on warm plates garnished with the remainder of the Parmesan and chopped parsley.

SUN-DRIED TOMATO, MOZZARELLA AND BASIL RICE BALLS

Steps:

• Pour the stock into a large saucepan. Bring to the boil. Add the rice, cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes, until the rice is cooked through and the liquid has been absorbed.
• Meanwhile, finely chop the basil leaves. Finely dice the yellow pepper. Peel and finely dice the onion. Set aside, keeping the basil separate from the onion and pepper.
• When the rice is done, uncover it and put the whole pan in a sink of cold water to cool the rice.
• While the rice cools, put the olive oil and onion in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook for 2-3 minutes. Then add the yellow pepper and garlic. Cook around 5 minutes, until soft.
• Add the passata to the skillet with the onion and pepper. Turn the heat to low. Give the passata mixture a chance to simmer and thicken slightly.
• While it simmers, make the rice balls- add the cheese, egg yolk, flour, tomato paste, basil leaves and sundried tomatoes to the cooled rice. Stir it together well.
• Shape the rice mixture into about 16 balls and place them on top of the sauce. Allow to simmer for 20 minutes, until the rice balls are cooked through.
• Serve hot, sprinkled with parmesan cheese if desired.

5-MINUTE SUN-DRIED TOMATO CREAM CHEESE SPREAD

Steps:

• Place cream cheese on plate.
• Top with pesto.

PEPPERONCINI & SUN-DRIED TOMATO CHEESE BALL

Steps:

• Mix first 4 ingredients in medium bowl until blended. Add peppers and tomatoes; mix well.
• Refrigerate several hours or until chilled.
• Shape into ball; roll in nuts until evenly coated.