Great Hot Recipes
Read and cook !
CROUTONS WITH GOAT CHEESE
6 unpeeled garlic cloves
1 tbsp. olive oil
1/2 lb. fresh goat cheese (Montrachet)
1/3 c. grained oil-packed Sundried
tomatoes, cut into matchstick-size
strips
1 (8 oz.) fresh bread baguette, cut
into 1/2-inch chunks
For cheese spread: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Toss whole garlic cloves with 1 tablespoon oil in heavy small baking dish. Bake until soft and brown, about 15 minutes. Cool slightly. Slip skins off garlic. Transfer garlic to medium bowl and mash to paste. Mix in goat cheese and tomatoes. (Can be prepared 4 days ahead; refrigerate. Let cheese spread sit 1 hour at room temperature before serving.) Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Arrange bread slices on baking sheet. Brush both sides with butter. Bake until crisp and golden brown, about 10 minutes. Cool slightly. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cool completely. Store at room temperature.) Place spread in separate crock on platter. Surround with croutons.
SHRIMP AND SAGA CROUTONS APPETIZER
28 uncooked med. shrimp
3 tbsp. unsalted butter
3 tbsp. olive oil
14 (1/3" thick) French bread baguette
slices
1 (6 oz.) wedge Saga blue cheese,
room temperature
4 sprigs fresh rosemary, stems
removed, leaves chopped
Bring large saucepan of water to boil. Add shrimp and cook until just pink, about 2 minutes. Drain and cool. Peel and devein shrimp. (Can be prepared one day ahead and refrigerated. Let stand 1 hour at room temperature before using.) Melt butter with oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add bread slices in batches and cook until golden, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer to cookie sheet. (Can be prepared 4 hours ahead. Cool croutons. Cover, let stand at room temperature.) Preheat broiler. Put shrimp on top of croutons, then spread with cheese. Broil 4 inches from heat source until cheese melts and shrimp are heated through, about 2 minutes. Transfer to platter and sprinkle with rosemary. Makes 14. Note: Don't cook too long. You just want the blue cheese to melt and bubble a little. The rosemary keeps the blue cheese from being too strong. June 11, 1992