Holiday Food Gifts - Marinated Goat Cheese

For the next few weeks I am going to showcase holiday food gifts. These are great for neighbors, teachers, or hostess gifts and the best thing is, they are easy to make, inexpensive but look impressive.

Assemble Marinated Goat Cheese on a simple tray, artisan crackers and a vintage butter knife.

Marinated Goat Cheese

INGREDIENTS

1 goat cheese log, 8 ounces

1/4 cup sun dried tomatoes cut into strips

4 strips lemon zest

2 bay leaves

1-2 sprig fresh oregano

1/2 tsp. fennel seeds

2 clove garlic

1-2 c. extra-virgin olive oil (approximately)

DIRECTIONS

1. Cut goat cheese log into 4 equal pieces; form into balls. Place 2 balls in jar and add one-half of each ingredient around the sides of the balls. Add the last 2 balls and the rest of the ingredients. Pour in olive oil to cover cheese. Seal jar and refrigerate until chilled, about 4 hours.

TO ASSEMBLE

Line a small tray with grape leaves. Place the jar of marinated goat cheese at one end and the artisan crackers behind the jar. Tie a silk ribbon to your vintage butter knife and you are all set. You may want to add a note saying the cheese is great on crackers or in a salad. A crisp white wine such as Sauvignon Blanc is perfect with this.

Recipe adapted from Country Living Magazine