Green Salad & NW Blackberries & Dressing

 

• Dressing:
•  1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
•  1/4 cup sherry or red wine vinegar
•  1 tablespoon Worchestershire sauce
•  1/2 cup sugar
•  1 clove garlic, minced
•  1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
•  1/8 teaspoon dry mustard
•  1/8 teaspoon onion powder
• 
  

 Salad Base:

    Mixed Greens/Butter/Arugula (You Choose)

    Chives/Red Onion chopped (You Choose)

    Almonds/Macadamia Nuts/Hazelnuts (You Choose)

    Goat/Feta/Gorgonzola Cheese Crumbles (You Choose)

    Freshly picked Northwest Blackberry/Raspberry/Strawberry/Blueberry (You Choose)

Arugula Nectarine Salad with Goat Cheese Patty

salad greens & fruit

4 handfuls of arugula (1 per person)

4 ripe figs or dates, quartered

1/2 cup toasted walnut halves (toast for 10 minutes at 350F)

1  pear, cut in small wedges

  fried goat cheese

5 oz block of goat cheese

1 egg

1/2 cup bread crumbs

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp assorted dried herbs (I used thyme, oregano and dill)

oil for frying

  nectarine vinaigrette

1 nectarine, washed and sliced (don't peel)

1/2 habanero or jalapeno pepper

1/4 cup olive oil

3 Tbsp champagne vinegar

1 tsp grainy Dijon mustard

pinch of salt

• First make the dressing. Puree the nectarine with the habanero/jalapeno in a small food processor, processing until fully pureed.
• Pour just 3 tablespoons of the puree into a jar or small bowl and whisk in the rest of the ingredients. Take a taste and adjust it if you like. Refrigerate until needed.
• Put the arugula in a wide shallow salad bowl. Scatter the figs or dates and pears over the top.
• Slice the goat cheese into 4 rounds. If your log is long and thin, you can make smaller rounds, or reform the soft cheese with your hands to make larger patties.
• Whisk the egg in a small bowl. Put the crumbs in another and stir in the salt and herbs.
• Coat the bottom of a skillet with oil and heat on medium until hot. Dip each goat cheese Pattie into the egg and then into the crumbs. Make sure the crumbs coat all surfaces of the cheese. Fry in the hot oil until golden on each side, it should only take a couple of minutes.
• Drain the patties on paper towels and then set immediately onto the salad. Serve with the vinaigrette.

Apples with Goat Cheese-Hazelnut Mousse

Serves 6     Start to finish: 20 minutes  from Edible Seattle September/October 2010

When it comes to appetizers, think beyond the baguette—for these little bites, slices of crisp, tart apple are topped with a mixture of goat cheese and toasted hazelnuts.

1/2 cup toasted hazelnuts

4 ounces chevre, room temperature

3 tablespoons heavy cream

Sea salt and freshly ground pepper

1 large tart apple

Finely chop nuts in the work bowl of a small food processor. Crumble the cheese into the bowl and add the cream and salt and pepper to taste, and process until smooth, scraping sides when necessary.

Just before serving, slice apples into small pieces and pipe or spoon a small amount of the cheese mixture onto each apple piece. Serve immediately.

Pastry Wrapped Brie with Pecans & Raspberry jam

1 Round Brie Cheese

1/2 sheet Puff pastry Dough

1 Egg

2 Tbls Water

1/2 c Chopped Pecans

1/2 c Raspberry Jam

Place Brie Cheese in freezer for about 30 minutes. Slice in half vertically and add raspberry jam and pecans. Whisk together the water and egg. Brush egg water onto pastry. Place Brie Cheese in center of dough, making a circle cut of the dough around the Brie. Then wrap pastry tightly around the cheese. Make leaves and holly berry balls for garnish from extra pastry and place on top of Brie. Brush more egg water onto pastry. Place back in freezer for 1 hour. Bake at 400 degrees for about 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm. with bread or crackers.

Butternut Squash Spinach Salad

1 medium butternut squash
2 tsp olive oil
salt and pepper
1/4 cup crumbled goat cheese
baby spinach leaves 1 bunch
Cut squash unto 3/4 inch cubes. Drizzle cut squash with oil and season with salt and pepper. Spread squash in a single layer roasting pan. Roast at 425 degrees until tender 35-45 minutes.
Transfer squash to salad bowl with spinach, gently toss with goat cheese.