I had been purposely avoiding going to some of my favorite landscape nurseries. Showing this kind of restraint knowing they are finally fully stocked with a wide array of beautiful as well as unusual annuals and perennials might seem, especially to those who claim they know me, to be a bit out of character. Admittedly, restraint isn't necessarily the word coming to mind when describing me. While change is always possible, my hesitancy cannot be attributed to a significant personality trait pendulum shift. Always lingering in the back of my mind at this time of the year is the sage old 'wait until after Mother's Day to plant' garden advice. Although with some dramatic changes to the climate in past years, I have begun to wonder whether this garden wisdom continues to be relevant. No, my hesitancy in planting all of the urns and hanging baskets can only be attributed to my inability to make the 'what I want their aesthetic look and feel to be this year.' decision. A weighty decision occurring annually as I have apparently yet to find that 'one to be replicated year after year' look. What this means is that I need to have some sort of vision before stepping foot inside into any gardening center. And finally, thankfully it came to me this weekend. A simple, mostly mono-chromatic look with some textural contrasts to create a kind of elegance on a small scale. In other words, various shades and textures of green along with some white flowers for the back and sides and hydrangeas in the urns gracing the front of the house.
This desire for simplicity spilled over into the creation of this cheese platter and the making of these Pistachio Dusted Goat Cheese Pears. If you love goat cheese, just wait until you experience its' flavor complimented by a layer of finely ground pistachios. However, if by chance you are somewhat ambivalent toward goat cheese, the kind of person who could take or leave it, well, just wait until you experience its' flavor complimented by a layer of finely ground pistachios. As an added bonus, they could not be more simple to make. Quite possibly, you will think twice about putting an unadorned log of goat cheese on a cheese platter again. Not just for the aesthetics of your platter, but for its' taste.
These Pistachio Dusted Goat Cheese Pears are here just as the summer entertaining gets underway. If you are looking to create a memorable as well as elegant cheese platter, make it one dominated by a single cheese or varieties of a single cheese and great crackers and of course, amazing bottles of wine. Your entertaining life has now gotten a whole lot simpler. Sometimes there is much to be said for keeping things simple, especially when life or gardening design decisions are anything but. And less can sometimes be more.
Pistachio Dusted Goat Cheese Pears (inspired by a recipe in The Cheesemongers Kitchen: Celebrating Cheese in 90 Recipes)
Makes 3 large pears
Ingredients
11-12 ounce log of goat cheese
1/2 cup pistachios, finely ground in a food processor
Crackers (recommend Rock Creek Crisps-Moroccan Rosemary with Raisin)
Olives and/or Fresh fruit (grapes, cherries, blackberries, sliced pears, sliced apples)
Directions
1. Divide goat cheese into three pieces.
2. Shape the pieces of goat cheese into free-form pears, remembering no two pears look alike.
3. Roll the goat cheese pears into the finely ground pistachios until well coated. Shake off any excess.
4. Use some small branches or fresh herb leaves to make a stem and/or stem with leaves.
5. Transfer to a serving platter.
6. Serve with crackers, fresh fruit, and/or olives.
Note: The Pistachio Dusted Goat Cheese Pears are best served the same day as made but still delicious the next day. Make several hours in advance.
South Shore Beach, Little Compton, Rhode Island
