Saturday, December 12, 2015

MARINATED GOAT CHEESE TWO WAYS #Christmas #appetisers #giveaway @AbbottMysteries




BY VICTORIA ABBOTT AKA MARY JANE AND VICTORIA MAFFINI 

 

 

 Christmas is almost upon us!  Even though it’s unusually warm here this week here in Eastern Ontario and the grass is green, we can feel the excitement in the air.  It’s a lot easier to get around and shop without slush, snow or freezing rain.  We love a white Christmas but are looking at this weather as a gift.  The last two years  we had minus 20 Celsius aka minus 4 Fahrenheit from late November.  Not that we’re bitter!  So let's celebrate with a giveaway!  Read to the end for details.

Of course, Christmas is always fun here at Mystery Lovers Kitchen.  We love the visitors and friends and neighbors dropping in.  It’s all great if you’re ready in time.  Over the years, we’ve posted recipes here for make-ahead baking to give ourselves a breather on the run-up to the big day (or the big week!)      j

This year we turned our hand to Marinated Goat Cheese. Are we the last people to fall in love with this little recipe?  Never mind. We’re in the game now.  We tried these first when we had dinner for eight last week.  They were close friends and we told them they were Guinea Pigs. They sipped their wine and stiffened their spines.  But the Marinated Goat Cheese was a hit. Both versions. 

We’re making more because we never know when someone will drop in and because they just get better marinating.  Plus, you don’t have to be too fussy about exact measurements and can change the ingredients to suit yourself.

Let us present:  Marinated Goats Cheese Two Ways.

We invested in pretty mason jars with flip tops and pink peppercorns (which we couldn’t find in our village).  We think they jazz things up a bit.  These would also make great gifts.


MARINATED GOAT CHEESE TWO WAYS



Maple Walnut Marinated Goat Cheese

Ingredients:  


1 log goat cheese (250 grams/8 ounces)Good quality olive oil (about 1/4 cup)1/2 cup walnut oil  
1 ounce pink peppercorns
½ cup walnut pieces, toasted
3 tablespoons maple syrup
Orange zest (we decided against it because of an allergy)
 

All you do is: 

Toast walnut pieces at 350 F for about ten minutes. Cool.
Slice the goat cheese into medallions


Place two or three medallions in the wide-mouthed jar.  Sprinkle with pink peppercorns and walnuts.
Mix olive and walnut oil.
Drizzle with maple syrup and oil,   

Repeat until all medallions are used. How easy is that?  Cover with remaining oil. You may need to add a bit more.



Seal and marinate in the refrigerator for one to two weeks (or at least a couple of days).
Bring to room temperature before serving so the olive oil becomes liquid again. Serve with fresh rolls, crostini or your favorite crackers. Ours were gobbled up before we had time to take photos!

 

Lemon Garlic Marinated Goat Cheese




1 log goat cheese (250 grams/8 ounces) for each
Good quality olive oil (about ¾ cup)
Fresh thyme sprigs and fresh rosemary


1 ounce pink peppercorns


Zest of one lemon
2 cloves garlic sliced

All you do is:

Slice the goat cheese into medallions
Place two or three medallions in the wide-mouthed jar.  Sprinkle with pink peppercorns and thyme, lemon zest and garlic. Drizzle with oil. 
Repeat until all medallions are used. How easy is that?  Cover with remaining oil. You may need to add a bit more!





Seal and marinate in the refrigerator for one to two weeks (or at least a couple of days).
Bring to room temperature before serving so the olive oil becomes liquid again.




Serve with fresh rolls, crostini or your favorite crackers.
We hope you enjoy these and however you celebrate or brighten your life during the dark days of December, we hope you have joy, happiness and great food. We hope you get to put your feet up and relax!



We hope you get to read lots of books too, of course, it goes without saying.



With great affection to all our friends and readers, from Victoria Abbott (aka Mary Jane and Victoria Maffini) and our furry friends.



We wish you all things bright and beautiful, like this amaryllis that was a month early this year and a month late last year. We love it anyway.



Please come by with a comment and you might win our fabulous book collector tote!  You know you want it! Perfect for lugging your Christmas books about.



Merry and happy to all!







48 comments:

  1. This sounds delicious, and looks very pretty as well. Merry Christmas to you!

    ejbs3s@yahoo.com

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  2. Ooh, such fabulous goat cheese varieties! And adorable dogs :) Wishing you an early Merry Christmas! EMS591@aol.com

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  3. YUM! I think I'll try that lemon garlic version.
    suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com

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  4. I just discovered cranberry crusted goat cheese at Costco, so I will be trying these. I used to tell the family that my experiments were Guinea Pig food too.

    Even here in California I always hope that we will have a big snowstorm on Christmas Eve, after I'm done shopping and cooking and wrapping of course. Then a big melt the day after Christmas.

    I would get a collar like that for Pep but Peaches doesn't look all that happy in it! Happy Holidays. xo

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    1. Ah Peaches never looks happy! That's her schtick!

      Hugs, MJ and Victoria

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  5. Sounds perfect! Thank you for the recipe.
    myrifraf(at)gmail(dot)com

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  6. Love this delectable recipe. Thanks. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  7. I'm going to try the 2nd one ASAP to get it in the frig for New Year's Day... grammyd01@comcast.net

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  8. Thanks for this perfect recipe for the holidays. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

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  9. I've never tried goat cheese but think I might try it now! Woke up to some snow here in Edmonton AB and -7. Could be worse! Merry Christmas ladies!!
    Mygnomeshome@gmail.com
    My

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  10. Great recipes, will have to try. Merry Christmas.
    diannekc8@gmail.com

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  11. The dogs look unusually uncertain. Are they not in the holiday spirit yet?
    Great recipes. I love goat cheese--both the fresh young variety and older ones, too.

    Wishing you the very best holidays and winter.
    A very merry Christmas to you all.
    libbydodd at comcast dot net

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    1. Same to you, Libby! The dogs are only certain about treats.
      Hugs.

      MJ and VA

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  12. I've never tried anything like this. Merry Christmas and thank you for the giveaway.

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  13. Great recipes, so easy to make. Thanks for the giveaway. Have a great Christmas and a wonderful New Year.

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  14. Your recipes always make me drool. Thank goodness I only look; otherwise, I would never get out of the kitchen to do any reading. Thanks for the chance to win and Merry Christmas! doward1952@yahoo.com

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  15. Both savory and sweet, nice! For sure printing these out. I just love these cozy recipes that are easy. With all of the parties at work and with friends and family, this will be something perfect and totally different to take. Thank you for sharing! SherylHbooth@gmail.com

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  16. I have never tried that and it would be interesting to. I would do it and not tell my husband what it is till he tries it. Thank you for the giveaway and recipes along with your cozy books that i so enjoy!

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  17. I love the variety of recipes printed in some of the cozy mysteries. It's like getting two books in one. robeader53@yahoo.com

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  18. Love the tote! Interesting recipe.

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  19. Love the recipe and the tote ! kathambre@yahoo.com

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  20. The recipes look delicious, I absolutely love the Book collector series. I've got them all on my bookshelf and have read them more than once. I can hardly wait for the next.
    MERRY CHRISTMAS ! XOXO

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  21. The recipes look delicious, I absolutely love the Book collector series. I've got them all on my bookshelf and have read them more than once. I can hardly wait for the next.
    MERRY CHRISTMAS ! XOXO

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  22. Thanks for the recipes and the giveaway. Have a great holiday.

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  23. You were not the last to hear of this. I fear I was! But now that you have brought me into the loop of the chic, I'll be trying it!

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  24. You can just never have too many totes, and a book tote is even better. Thanks for the recipes, and the fun chance to win. And, of course, for writing such fun books. :) rencw@verizon.net

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  25. I love your recipes! Merry Christmas! l.bergh@sbcglobal.net

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  26. Great recipe--the cheeses are adorable! as are the boots, the girls, and as Libby pointed out, the uncertain dogs!

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  27. I love the whole series, thanks for the chance to win a bag with all of the titles on it!
    magicgirl2357@yahoo.com

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  28. I love your books and the recipe looks good!
    Lisa
    hseaside5@aim.com

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  29. Love the festive dog picture and looking forward to trying the recipe for my supervisor's Christmas party. dbahn@iw.net

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  30. I'll have to give the cheese a try. Love the series! Thanks for a chance to win. Jlsbookclub @ nc.rr.com

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    Replies
    1. So glad you like the series. Hope the cheese suits you too.

      Hugs.

      MJ/VA

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  31. Aww.. Merry Christmas and thanks for the giveaway!

    edith.patchan@live.com

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  32. Happy Christmas! Thank you for the contest.
    davisel1830@hotmail.com

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  33. I love recipes that include walnuts!! Happy holidays!!
    lindaherold999@gmail.com

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  34. The first recipe is such a unique combination... you've got me intrigued.

    cozyupwithkathy @ gmail dot com

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  35. What a great tote and the pups look so cute!
    JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

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  36. The recipes look delicious. I love your red boots. marlene.ezell@gmail.com

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