Pistachio & Herb Goat Cheese Balls

Herbed goat cheese bites rolled in pistachio crumbs are such a nice way to start an Easter dinner. I love these! I love starting meals with a cheese platter but come spring time, cheese can be a little heavy. But goat cheese is the exception, being the perfect cheese for spring, light, creamy and tangy. Combine with your favorite herbs and it's a special way to start a meal. These are also nice tossed into a spring mix salad with a balsamic vinaigrette. Enjoy!

• (1) 10.5 oz. goat cheese
• 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon finely minced fresh dill
• 1 teaspoon finely minced fresh tarragon
• 1/3 cup raw pistachios
• pinch of sea salt
• fresh ground black pepper

Using a fork, combine the cheese, herbs, pepper and salt. Adjust the seasoning accordingly, adding more salt or pepper as needed. Feel free to add in any fresh herbs that you like, including parsley or mint. Scoop into heaping teaspoon size mounds and then roll into smooth balls. Using a hand chopper or food processor, make your pistachio crumbs. Roll the goat cheese balls into your pistachio crumbs. Serve right away or chill if making them ahead of time. Makes 17. Enjoy!

Portabella Mushroom & Goat Cheese Pennoni Dish

Mushrooms, how do I love thee, let me count the ways...and this is one of them. This is going to sound a little strange but I was really in the mood for a cheese steak sandwich but didn't have the steak or the rolls. lol So I tried to translate those flavors into a pasta dish using portabella mushrooms for the meatiness and goat cheese for the cheese factor. And I'm not going to say I hit the nail on the head, lol but I will say this dish was decadent and delicious and if you are a mushroom lover and are celebrating goat cheese month ;), you will enjoy this dish!

• 1/2 pound pennoni pasta, Ziti, farfalle or rotini would be a great substitute
• 1/2 pound portabella mushrooms, cut in half then cut into strips about the length of the pasta, cooked al dente
• 1 cubanelle pepper, seeded, quartered and sliced
• 4 garlic cloves, smashed and minced
• 1 good small tomato, diced
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 oz. goat cheese, crumbled
• 5 tablespoons heavy cream
• sea salt
• fresh ground pepper

In a Dutch oven, combine the butter, olive oil and the garlic. Let it saute over low heat until the garlic is soft. Add in the mushrooms, pepper, tomato and season with a little salt, saute on low heat for half an hour on low heat. The liquids will release so increase the heat on high for about five minutes until the liquid reduces. Keep an eye on it and stir if needed because it can easily burn. After it reduces stir in the goat cheese and the heavy cream. Stir until the goat cheese has melted into the sauce and is warmed through. Season with sea salt if needed and fresh ground pepper and stir in the cooked pasta. Serve this right away, nice and hot! Serves four.

Planked Goat Cheese

August is National Goat Cheese month! Yay! And we are celebrating it by putting it on the grill! I saw these cool "maple grilling planks" by the cheese section and I was really intrigued and had to try them out with the goat cheese! This was really fun and I look forward to grilling more cheeses in the future! The end result is a delicious, slightly smoky, warm and easily spreadable cheese. It was just so good, if you are a goat cheese lover, you will really enjoy this recipe!

• 4 oz. goat cheese, sliced into 4 pieces
• 4 sun dried tomatoes packed in oil, sliced
• a few basil leaves, chopped
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped raw walnuts
• olive oil for drizzling
• about 8 slices of an olive batard or any good bread you love
• 1 6x6 grilling plank, submerged in water for at least an hour.

Preheat your grill to about 350 degrees. I got my grill too hot which I think contributed to the plank curling at the edges a bit. So try to keep your grill at the lower temperature. The two recipes on the package for planked brie and planked cheddar all grilled at 350 degrees. I was just so excited to get the cheese on the grill, (and off) lol. Put your soaked plank on the grill  for about 3 minutes. Flip and using your tongs, take it off the grill so you can top your plank with the goat cheese, sun dried tomatoes, chopped basil and chopped walnuts. Drizzle with a little bit of olive oil. Using your tongs place it back on the grill. Grill for about ten minutes until the cheese is nice and soft and you see the sun dried tomatoes beginning to brown a little. On the side of the plank, grill your slices of bread and enjoy together.  Happy goat cheese enjoying weekend everyone! ;)

Pistachio & Panko Chicken over Baby Arugula

Summer and salads go together. This is a nice salad to pack for a picnic in the park. Just pack everything separately and pour the dressing over the greens when it's time to eat. Then lay back on your blanket with your honey and watch the clouds as the pass by. Happy picnicking! :)

• 2 chicken breasts halves, pounded thinner
• 2 tablespoons pistachio nuts, finely chopped
• 3/4 cup Italian style panko bread crumbs
• 2 heaping teaspoons minced fresh parsley
• canola oil
• 1 egg, beaten
• 7 cups tightly packed baby arugula, ripped up
• 2 oz. herbed goat cheese
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 3 tablespoons white balsamic pear infused vinegar
• 1 tablespoon minced shallot
• 1 tablespoon all natural raspberry preserves
• sea salt
• fresh ground pepper
• nasturtium flowers for garnish

Heat the canola oil, (enough to fry the chicken breasts in) in a non-stick pan. Combine the panko bread crumbs, pistachio nuts and the parsley. Dip your chicken breasts into the egg then into the breading. Really pack on the breading with your fingertips. Once your oil is nice and hot on low heat, you can put in your chicken breasts. I test the hotness of the oil by throwing in a few panko crumbs, once it sizzles your oil is ready for the chicken. Fry the chicken for ten minutes each side and drain on paper towels. Combine the olive oil, shallots, vinegar and the raspberry preserves and toss with the arugula. Season with salt and pepper if needed. When you are ready to make your salad, serve the chicken with the arugula and crumble the goat cheese on top along with a pretty nasturtium flower. To keep your chicken crisp for your picnic, let your chicken cool completely, then wrap in paper towels and place in a paper bag. This serves 2. Enjoy!

Purple Potato & Beet Salad with Goat Cheese

I LOVE purple potatoes! They are so strikingly beautiful! I'm amazed by nature every time I see them! If you love potatoes, beets, goat cheese and sweet glazed pecans, you'll really enjoy this salad. I made a small simple green salad to go with it, and it is a nice contrast in color and in flavor. Roasted chicken would be great with this also. Enjoy the colors and flavors!

• 2 beets, cooked and cooled 1 medium and 1 small
• 2 fingerling potatoes, cooked and cooled, 1 of them purple
• 2 tablespoons sour cream
• 1 tablespoon heavy cream
• 1 oz. goat cheese, crumbled
• 1 tablespoon glazed pecans, crushed
• salt & ground pepper
• 1/2 head Boston lettuce, chopped
• 1 tablespoon chopped dill
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• a squeeze of lemon

Chop the medium sized beet and blend with sour cream and heavy cream. (I used a hand blender.) Season with salt and pepper. Spread on your plate. Roughly chop the small beet and the potatoes and arrange them over the beet dressing. Top with the crumbled goat cheese and the crushed glazed pecans. (I used to make my own using pancake syrup but the ready-made glazed nuts are great and convenient.) Combine the chopped greens, (you don't have to use Boston lettuce, any mild lettuce will do) the dill, olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper. This makes one serving, so you can double, or triple it as you need.

Herb Salad with Goat Cheese & Pistachios

Parsley, dill, Belgian endive, goat cheese...pistachio nuts...What's not to love? Especially when combined in a salad?  And I think it's such a pretty salad too! The Belgium endive frames the plate, and the best part, you can use the leaves to scoop the salad up. Visions of hot summer days, sweet sticky barbecued chicken wings and this salad are dancing in my head. lol All fun finger food! Can't wait! But as of now, it's a chilly night and this salad is a nice break from all the indulgences lately! Here's the list of goodies...

• 3 Belgian endives ( I used large ones)
• 1 very small head of radicchio, chopped
• 1 cup of chopped parsley (about one bunch)
• 1 cup of chopped dill 
• 1 small shallot finely chopped
• 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
• juice of 1/2 a large lemon
• 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 heaping teaspoon fig marmalade
• 2 ounces of goat cheese, or more...
• 1/4 cup raw pistachio nuts, chopped fine

Trim the bottoms of the endive, remove the largest leaves and form them in a circle around a plate. In a large bowl, combine the rest of the endive, (chopped into small pieces) the radicchio, the parsley and the dill. In a separate bowl, combine the shallot, olive oil, juice of the lemon, red wine vinegar, honey, fig marmalade, salt and pepper. Pour the salad dressing over the herbs and lettuces and combine well. Take your salad and pile it in the center of the plate. Top with your goat cheese and chopped pistachio nuts and enjoy!