2019 is here and we’re STILL having parties! The past few weeks have been a free-for-all, a glutton fest of all manner of rich foods and although I’m not quite ready to jump off the gravy train, I am ready to scale back…I need to get some cleaner food in this body. No more lobster. No more tenderloin. No more brie. Take the bacon away. At least for a while, anyway. And no more Christmas cookies. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not turning down my beloved champagne with appetizers, I simply crave lighter, leaner foods. Gently scrambled egg whites and half a Honey Crisp apple sound good in the morning. A turkey burger with leftover charred asparagus is the perfect lunch. Goat cheese is one of the lowest in fat when it comes to cheeses and when served with fresh berries…well! It’s a bright, clean alternative to most other cheeses and this appetizer is so darn pretty..
Think about it. Cheddar, Monterey Jack, cream cheese and brie all give off tablespoons of oil when melted. And, yes, sometimes it does taste good sitting on top of a cracker or a french bread round but often we overdo things and then that’s when your jeans become skin-tight around the top of your thighs. Ugh. I prefer that little baggy thing going on back there when I strut my stuff. I’d much rather people mentally say, “Wow!”, when they see me rather than think, “What a shame. She could be so pretty.” A couple of crackers or crostini topped with this berried cheese won’t hurt as a treat…and that means no more than once a week. But that’s okay! I’m ready to slow down the eating and drinking. It feels good to ramp up the exercise, too. This is a way easy hors d’oeuvre to prepare and easy on the calories, as well. Berried goat cheese can be prepared earlier in the day you’re serving it and actually is better as it allows the berries ample time to give off their yummy juices. Enjoy, my friends, and Happy New Year!
Berry & Honey Goat Cheese
- 1 8-ounce log goat cheese
- 6 ounces fresh blackberries
- 6 ounces fresh raspberries
- 2 pinches sugar, divided
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon small mint leaves, tips are perfect
- freshly cracked black pepper, coarsely ground
- an assortment of crackers and crostini to serve alongside
- In a small bowl gently break up blackberries using your hands. In another small bowl do the same with the raspberries.
- Sprinkle one pinch of sugar over each bowl of berries. Gently toss and set aside for 1 hour or until ready to assemble.
- When ready to serve, place goat cheese on serving plate and cover with 1/2 of blackberries and 1/2 of raspberries. Set remaining berries aside to replenish goat cheese when needed.
- Drizzle honey over berries and scatter mint leaves.
- Sprinkle with black pepper and serve.
The Irreverent Kitchen 