A great way to broaden your cooking skills and discover new dishes is by experimenting with the ingredients you have at home and not being afraid to try new things. This is especially helpful when you're feeling uninspired to cook or running low on groceries. You might be surprised at the delicious dishes you can whip up, and you'll save money and calories by avoiding takeout.
My creativity is often heightened when I am on vacation since I don't have many of my regular ingredients and a well-stocked kitchen. Especially the last day or two since I want to use up any leftovers and not buy anything new. I enjoy the challenge of getting creative with what I have.
On our last day of a recent vacation, I came up with this dish- with an unexpected sweet and savory surprise. I found a small log of goat cheese in the freezer and thought a dollop of goat cheese on a slice of tomato with a drizzle of olive oil, a sprinkle of sea salt, fresh ground pepper, and a bit of remaining fresh parsley would be a divine first course.
Then, I was surprised when I realized the goat cheese was honey and truffle flavored. I wasn’t sure about the combination of truffle and fresh tomato, and since my husband usually does not care for sweet and savory together, I was pretty sure this would not be a hit. In fact, I was so certain we wouldn't care for this dish I didn't focus on taking a good picture- which is very rare! However, since my choices were limited for our second-to-last vacation lunch, I served it anyway.
I didn't think I would be sharing this idea with you, but when my husband couldn’t stop raving about how good it was, I knew I had to tell you about it. He liked it so much that he got up to prepare a second portion. This was a rare exit from the table in the middle of a meal. I always bring the food to the table so we can serve seconds if we like, but this time, I only plated one portion since I didn’t think this dish would be a hit.
We were pleasantly surprised and found it so delicious that we ate it again the next day. This time, we changed it slightly by adding some fresh garlic and a bit of arugula for decoration. Now, this recipe is on our family menu and is finding its way here to share with you.
I was grocery shopping today and came across the cheese again, so I snapped some pictures to show you the other sweet and savory options Vermont Cheese makes. You can use this idea and get creative in your kitchen.
Serve flavored goat cheese on top of sliced cucumbers or tomatoes for a first course or mixed with pasta for an easy main dish. It is also divine with bread for the French cheese dessert course. The Strawberry Spritz, Clover Blossom Honey, and Chocolate Cherry make a fabulous and healthy kid-friendly dessert. If you have any questions about serving ideas, post them in the comments.
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Tomatoes
Vermont brand honey truffle goat cheese - or goat cheese of your choice
Extra virgin olive oil
Celtic or sea salt
Freshly ground pepper
Optional:
Fresh garlic, parsley, or chives
Arugula
Place a dollop of goat cheese on a slice of tomato. Add garnishes such as fresh parsley, basil, chives, or garlic. Finish with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and a sprinkle of Celtic or sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste.
Serve with toasted bread to mop up the olive oil.
