Whipped Goat Cheese with Bacon & Dates

Whipped Goat Cheese with Bacon & Dates

A fun, simple appetizer to start off your Thanksgiving feast! Creamy whipped goat cheese topped with a caramelized mixture of dates, shallots, vinegar and honey, with bacon and fried rosemary crumbled over top. You can serve this just like a dip, with either toasted bread or crackers for dipping. Kind of a spin on the classic “bacon wrapped dates” that everyone loves to bring to a party. It’s bold, flavorful, and such a beautiful dip to serve for any fall or winter holiday. Continue reading “Whipped Goat Cheese with Bacon & Dates”

Kale Slaw with Cranberry Vinaigrette & Fried Goat Cheese

When I first started making cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving, I became addicted to it. It’s such a simple process (I basically just make a cranberry jam), and it tastes good on everything around the holidays. It’s sweet but tart and has the deliciously deep taste of cranberry. So I’m always trying to incorporate it into other dishes instead of just eating it as a turkey condiment. And since I like to sweeten a lot of my vinaigrettes with honey, I thought why not use a little cranberry sauce instead.

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Roasted Carrots & Parsnips with Sweet Apple Glaze and Whipped Goat Cheese

I love roasting vegetables. There’s something about the slight caramelization combined with the perfect amount of seasoning that is irresistible. Another plus: it’s really easy. When I’m cooking for myself on a busy weekday, there’s nothing easier than prepping whatever vegetables are in my fridge and throwing them in the oven. Set a timer and in 20-30 minutes dinner is served (well, part of it at least). I roast a lot of vegetables for the holidays as well. “No muss-no fuss” is the way to go when you’re cooking for a large group of people.

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