Mini Breakfast Quiche

These would be perfect for a brunch.  I made them for Sunday breakfast because I was trying to be creative with what I had in my fridge.

You will need:
1 package Mini Phyllo Cups (found in the freezer section)
2 Eggs
2 tablespoons Milk
Artichoke Hearts
Goat Cheese

Step 1:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Then place the phyllo cups on a baking sheet.  Chop the artichoke and place a small amount in the bottom of each cup.

Step 2:
Whisk the eggs and milk together.  Then pour into the phyllo cups, almost all the way to the top.  Then add a little goat cheese on the top.

Step 3:
Bake for 20 minutes, or until the egg is fully cooked.

Chicken and Goat Cheese Mac and Cheese

My friends are very enthusiastic about Mac and Cheese Monday and very kindly come over to help me eat it.  This week's Mac and Cheese is inspired by my attempt to empty my fridge before I head to Maine for Christmas.  I bought way too much goat cheese when I made the Turkey Bacon Wrapped Dates with Goat Cheese, and I baked far more chicken than I needed for the Cranberry Chicken Salad.  So I decided to use up all of these ingredients in a Mac and Cheese.

You will need:
3 cups of Pasta, I used Medium Shells
2 cups Milk, I used 1%
3 tablespoons Flour
1 cup Goat Cheese
1/4 cup Sharp Cheddar
1/4 cup Parmesan
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1 cup cooked Chicken, diced

Step 1:
Cook the pasta according to the directions on the box.  Drain and set aside.

Step 2:
Pour the milk into a large pot and heat over medium heat.  Whisk in the flour and bring to a boil.  Let boil for 1 minute stirring constantly.

Step 3:
Add the goat cheese, cheddar, parmesan and salt.  Stir until melted.

Step 4:
Add the chicken and pasta to the sauce.  Stir together over medium heat for 2-3 minutes until the pasta and the chicken are hot.  Then serve.

Turkey Bacon Wrapped Dates with Goat Cheese

This is another recipe inspired by the Chicago restaurant Cafe Ba Ba Reba.  I have this theory that when you combine bacon and cheese you really can't go wrong.  I made this healthier by using turkey bacon, and the result was just as tasty.

This is the last recipe involving Turkey Bacon - sorry it look me a while to use it all up!  It is really good, and low fat.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes

You will need:
1 package Turkey Bacon
4 ounces Goat Cheese
2 cups Pitted Dates
Toothpicks

Step 1:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Then individually slice open the dates and fill them with goat cheese.

Step 2:
Slice the strips of turkey bacon in half.  Then wrap the bacon around the date.  Secure with a toothpick.

Step 3:
Repeat until all of the dates and stuffed with goat cheese and wrapped in bacon.  Then place on a baking sheet and cook for 40 minutes.  The bacon should be nice and crisp.

Step 4:
Remove from the oven.  Place the bacon wrapped dates on a paper towel to absorb any grease before serving.

Goat Cheese and Marinara with Garlic Bread

This recipe my re-creation of one of my favorite dishes from Cafe Ba Ba Reba in Chicago.  I was inspired to make this because I have leftover goat cheese from the pizza I made on Sunday and leftover sauce from last night.

You will need:
1 1/2 cups Tomato Sauce (homemade or from a jar, any variety)
4 ounces of goat cheese
Fresh Italian or French Bread
2 teaspoons butter
2 cloves peeled garlic

Step 1:
Move an oven rack to the top position in your oven.  Then turn the broiler on.  Then while the oven is heating, pour the sauce into a saucepan and warm over medium heat until it bubbles.

Step 2:
Cut the bread in half vertically.  Spread a thin layer of butter on the bread.  Put the bread on a baking sheet and put it on the top rack of the oven.  Keep a very close eye on the bread, it will only take a minute or two for it to brown.

Step 3:
Remove the bread from the oven once it has browned.  Then rub the garlic on the bread.  The heat from the bread will help the bread absorb the garlic.  Then slice the bread into smaller pieces.

Rubbing the garlic onto the bread

Step 4:
Place the goat cheese in a bowl.  Pour the hot tomato sauce over the goat cheese.  Spread the goat cheese and tomato sauce onto the garlic bread.

Caramelized Onion, Poached Pear, Spinach and Goat Cheese Pizza

On Sundays my friends and I gather for dinner.  Usually there are 8 to 10 of us and we take turns hosting.  It is very informal, people just host whenever they have the time, but it works out really well and we probably have at least 45 SNDs a year.  This week it was a smaller group than usual because lots of people were still traveling back to Chicago after Thanksgiving with their families.  

I think I was inspired by some of the food I sampled yesterday at the tasting for my wedding.  One of our favorite items was a crostini with a pear, blue cheese, and a candied pecan.  I started thinking about how that could translate into an appetizer for SND.  I decided to make a pizza because it can be quickly assembled and cooked once I get to my friend's house.  I want to focus on healthier foods between Thanksgiving and Christmas so I thought of ways to reduce the amount of fat in the recipe.  I used wine to caramelize the onion and poach the pear, and decided to use goat cheese because it has less fat than blue cheese.

You will need:

1 large white onion

2 d'anjou pears

2 teaspoons olive oil

1 teaspoon butter

6 teaspoons Marsala Wine (or White Wine)

1 fresh ball of pizza dough (available at Trade Joe's and Whole Foods)

4 oz. goat cheese

fresh pre-washed spinach

2 tablespoons flour

Candied Walnuts (optional)

Step 1:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Then caramelize the onions - first chop the onions into long thin pieces.  In a frying pan over medium heat combine 2 teaspoons Olive Oil and 2 teaspoons Marsala Wine.  Add the onions.  Stir every couple minutes, until the onions are golden brown.  This usually takes about 10 minutes.  Remove onions from the pan and set aside.

Step 2:

Poach the pears.  Start by slicing the pears.  Then in the same pan you used for the onions, melt 1 teaspoon butter over medium heat.  Add 4 teaspoons Marsala wine, then add the pears.  Cook the pears for about 7 or 8 minutes until they are golden.

Step 3:

Dust your countertop and rolling pin with flour.  Then roll out the pizza dough.  I roll the dough out into a large square and bake the pizza on a baking sheet.  Lightly flour the baking sheet to prevent the dough from sticking.

Step 4:

Bake the crust for 5 minutes.  Then remove from oven and top with the spinach, onions, pears and goat cheese.  Return to the oven for another 15 minutes.  Then sprinkle the walnuts on top, slice and serve.



Caramelized Onions

Poached Pear



Pizza