"There's no such things as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end." Scott Adams. I have been the fortunate recipient of a string of kindnesses going back to my recent trip to Colorado. From being 'rescued' from my lake mishap, to being protected from what turned out not to be a mountain lion, to being guided across a treacherous part of a trail, to not being abandoned when experiencing the exhaustive and delusional effects of heat stroke after a long 'hike' on an extremely hot/humid day, three of those kindnesses came from strangers and one came from a friend. Consciously or unconsciously, I genuinely believe we are all affected by the gift of an unexpected kindness. Not just in the moment, but long afterwards. Over the course of my lifetime I have been the beneficiary of some life changing, even some life altering unselfish kindnesses. The kind you never forget. In retrospect, I believe my thinking as well as my beliefs about kindness were and continue to be largely shaped by those kinds of events. I wish I could find that young couple from Houston, Texas who helped me out of the lake and the older couple originally from the UK now living in Estes Park who turned out to be my guardian angels on a hike to repay them with more than my words of gratefulness. If I had learned even more about them I probably could. Instead, others will have to be the recipients of their goodwill so I can continue to do my part in keeping the possibilities of a kinder world infinitely endless.
I don't know about you, but on a really hot, humid day, I would much rather graze on small plates or appetizers than have a regular meal. There is something so satisfying and fun about nibbling on small delicious bites. Like this Marinated Goat Cheese with Grilled Bread, for example.
To be able to take a simple log of plain goat cheese and baguette and turn them into something exceptional is incredibly gratifying. This Marinated Goat Cheese happens to be much less inexpensive to make (and I would say even tastier) than anything you might be able to buy from the grocery store or your favorite cheesemonger.
A marinade of olive oil, bay leaves, flaky sea salt, Aleppo pepper, coarsely ground black pepper, and lemon zest creates one of the most luscious, impressive goat cheese appetizers. Perfect for schmearing over slices of a grilled baguette and pairing with a chilled glass of Prosecco, Chardonnay, or sparkling water.
Made in either a bowl or a jar, the Marinated Goat Cheese needs only to marinate at least 60-75 minutes at room temperature before it is ready to serve. Okay, how easy is that?
Ever since grilling slices of my Rustic No Knead Bread and serving with some honey whipped ricotta, I have become a huge fan of the flavor of grilled bread paired with cheese. Brushed or sprayed lightly with olive oil, it takes only minutes to transform the simple baguette into something you would find at a really good restaurant. We happen to have a gas grill, so grilling bread can always happen at a moment's notice. However, if you don't have a gas grill, toasting it in the oven or using a cast iron grill pan on the stovetop are the next best options. Any of these bread options are preferable to just serving the Marinated Goat Cheese with a sliced baguette.
As much as I love the flavor of goat cheese, I was beyond smitten with this Marinated Goat Cheese in the first bite. From the richness of the olive oil, to the tartness of the lemon zest, to the wow factor of the spices all infused together, make the craveworthiness of goat cheese exponentially enhanced. Quite possibly those not on the high end of the goat cheese aficionado spectrum will shift in that direction. And you know me, don't be so quick to point out it's goat cheese before they taste it. As I firmly believe preconceived notions about food affect one's ability to honestly taste it.
With hot, humid days in the foreseeable future forecasts, we may be grazing more than dining in the weeks and months ahead. Considering how easy this Marinated Goat Cheese is to make, I am predicting it will be served on regular repeat around here. So, if you are looking for an easy, incredibly delicious, beautifully presented appetizer to serve to family and friends or a way to repay a kindness, look no further. Because here it is!
Recipe
Marinated Goat Cheese
Ingredients
5 ounces (142g) log of goat cheese
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
Grated zest of one medium sized lemon
2 bay leaves
1/2 teaspoon flaky sea salt
Pinch of Aleppo pepper (or crushed red pepper flakes)
Several grates (or to taste) of coarsely ground black pepper
Optional: Sprigs of fresh thyme (for garnish)
Small baguette, sliced and grilled (or toasted in the oven)
Small bowl of olives
Directions
1. Place the cheese log in either a sealable jar or small bowl.
2. Top with the olive oil, lemon zest, bay leaves, flaky sea salt, Aleppo pepper, and black pepper. Cover and let marinate at room temperature for at least 60-75 minutes.
3. Transfer the marinated goat cheese log to a serving dish. Pour over all of olive oil mixture. Optional: Sprinkle with some fresh thyme leaves.
4. Place serving dish on a platter. Arrange grilled bread on platter. Place small bowl of olives on platter.
5. Serve at room temperature with some grilled (or toasted) bread. Maybe a small bowl of olives and definitely a refreshing beverage.
(1) I like to buy the plain 5 ounce goat cheese logs from Trader Joe's. It's really good and inexpensive. (2) Make up jars of the Marinated Goat Cheese to bring on a picnic or to serve at a barbecue.
Human+Nature Exhibition, Daniel Popper (artist), Morton Arboretum (June 2021)
