A Quick Recipe For Fresh Goat Cheese And Olive Dip

                                           Olive Dip With Fresh Goat Cheese

This recipe is quick and easy and will provide your guests with a flavorful, eye-catching appetizer. Fresh goat cheese (Chevre) is light so it is great for the spring and summer seasons. Any fresh goat cheese will work here but we prefer to use the Montchevre brand or try any that your cheese retailer may suggest..



Ingredients:

11oz of fresh goat cheese

3/4 cup of light cream

1 cup of pitted Kalamata olives chopped roughly

1 cup of pitted green olive chopped roughly

1 sprig of fresh thyme leaves

Presentation and prep time 15 minutes

1. Mix the goat cheese and cream together in a small bowl until smooth.

2. Spread about 1/3 of the cheese spread into the bottm of a clean serving bowl.

3.Spread the chopped Kalamata olives over the entire surface of the cheese mix.

4.Spread another layer of cheese mix on top of the chopped olives.

5.Spread the chopped green olives on top of this cheese layer  as before.

Use the remaing cheese mix to cover the green olive layer . Smooth it out and sprinkle the fresh thyme leaves on top.

Serve at room temperature with crackers, flat breads or crusty bread.

A Summer Salad With Goat Cheese, Orange and Fennel

This is an easy to prepare salad that is perfect for light lunchs during the spring and summer months. Orange and fennel work well together and the introduction of an aged goat cheese enhances the flavor of both.

Prep Time: 15 Minutes

Serves 4

Ingredients

2 large oranges

1 medium head of fennel

1 medium sized red onion

3oz of mixed. spinach, arugula and watercress

5oz aged goat cheese (Capablanca, Garrotxa or Goat Gouda)

Salad Dressing

1/2oz. of pitted black olives

1 tbsp.of fresh parsley

2 tbsp.of extra virgin olive oil

2 tbsp. of orange juice

1 tbsp. of balsamic vinegar

salt and black pepper to taste

Preparation

1 Peel the oranges, sperate them in to segments then cut the into mouths sized pieces over a bowl and save the run off orange juice it and put it aside.

2 Discard the tough outer layer of the fennel and then finely slice it.

3 Chop the red onion and cut the goat cheese into small cubes.

4 Combine and mix the spinach, arugula and watercress.

5 Place all of these items into the bowl with the oranges and the juice.

6 Place all of the dressing ingredients into a cruet and shake well.

When ready to serve pour the dressing over the salad and serve with a crusty bread and a small dish of pepperd extra virgin olive oil for dipping.

Goat Cheese and Pasta Salad Recipe

This is a wonderful spring and summer recipe that can be used as a main course or as a side dish with an entree.

Prep time 15 min; cooking time 12 - 15 min; serves 6-8 as a main dish and 12-18 as a side dish

Fresh Goat Cheese  at Amazon

Ingredients

1 16oz package of shell or spiral pasta
2 Tbsp of extra virgin olive oil
1 package (8oz) of crumbled or cubed fresh goat cheese
15 pitted and chopped Kalamata olives
6-8 chopped anchovy fillets (optional)

4 Tbsp of capers if not using the anchovy fillets

10 cleaned cherry tomatoes halved

Dressing

1/3 cup of extra virgin olive oil
3 Tbsp of white wine vinegar
2 medium chopped garlic cloves
1/4 cup of chopped fresh basil
salt and black pepper to taste

Prep and Cooking

1) Mix dressing ingredients together in a glass container and keep refrigerated

2) Cook pasta as directed on package or until al dente. Drain well and then toss with 2 Tbsp of extra virgin olive oil and let cool.

3) Transfer pasta to a large bowl then add cheese, olives, tomatoes and anchovies
or capers. Add the dressing and mix well. Cover and chill until serving time.

4) Garnish with basil before serving.

Wine paring: Serve with a Sancerre

You may want to try out this goat cheese recipe also:


http://aroundtheworldcheese.blogspot.com/2010/04/goat-cheese-with-orange-and-fennel.html