Toasted Pecan Goat Cheese Balls Food

TOASTED PECAN AND HERBED CHEESE BALL BITES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Spread the nuts onto a cookie sheet and bake for 7 to 8 minutes or until the nuts begin to brown and become aromatic. Remove from oven and let cool. Coarsely chop ¼ cup of pecans; set aside. Finely chop the remaining 1¼ cups of pecans and mix with ¼ cup of chopped parsley in a medium bowl; set aside. Line a cookie sheet with plastic wrap.
• Make the cheese mix: In the bowl of a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix the cream cheese, garlic and fines herbs cheese, goat cheese, salt and hot sauce until smooth. Mix in the remaining ¼ cup parsley, the scallions, pimento peppers and the coarsely chopped pecans. Use a tablespoon measure to transfer tablespoons of the cheese mixture to the prepared cookie sheet to make about 30 mounds. Refrigerate for 15 minutes. Remove the cookie sheet from the refrigerator and roll the mounds into balls. Coat the balls with the reserved pecan and parsley mixture.
• Refrigerate until ready to use. Serve with crackers, crudités or grilled bread, if desired.

QUICKIE GOAT CHEESE AND PECAN BITES

Steps:

• 1.Break up and mix the goat cheese with the black pepper in a medium bowl. Divide into 24 pieces, about 2 tsp. each and roll into balls. 2.Combine the pecans, lemon zest and parsley in a medium bowl until well blended. Roll the goat cheese balls in the pecan mixture. Arrange on a serving platter. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Take them out 15 minutes before serving so they soften a little and drizzle with a little olive oil, if desired.

PECAN AND GOAT CHEESE BALLS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F with rack in upper third.
• Toss pecans with butter, sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon salt, then toast in a 4-sided sheet pan until fragrant and a shade darker, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer to a plate and cool completely.
• Pulse pecans in a food processor just until finely chopped, then transfer to a wide shallow bowl.
• Stir together goat cheese, rosemary, coriander, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper until combined well. Form teaspoons of cheese mixture into marbles between your palms, then roll in pecans to coat and roll between your palms again briefly. Transfer to a plate.
• Put a parsley leaf under each cheese marble and spear together with a wooden pick.