Happy “BAA” ~ APPY Spring!

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Denise Gianatasio is a Northport Village resident and freelance writer. She 
is a licenced agent at Signature Premier Properties, Gold Circle of Excellence, 172 Main Street, Northport 631-754-3600. Denise enjoys cooking and sharing her recipes and family stories, as she wants to inspire a warm sense of home with her readers. Please feel free to contact her for any advice you may need at dishinwithdenise@yahoo.com.

    Winter is behind us and gone… Emerge from hibernation all you “earthly creatures” of the green season~ bring your thoughts outdoors~ It’s time to refresh and immerse into the light, Celebrate Spring! Goat cheese filled tarts are just the treat to serve as an appetizer or atop of that fresh spring salad. Creamy, mild and tasty! Combine with those newly grown fresh picked herbs that pair together perfectly. Goat cheese is made from goat’s milk, with its pristine white color and distinct flavor, it’s one of the most amazing cheeses in the world~ so simple yet so good! Creamy warmed goat cheese blended with fresh herbs, spices, toasted pecans set inside of fillo  with a sweet drizzle of honey~ served on a bed of spring salad~ Wow! I use frozen mini shells (pre~ baked) amazing flaky layers of fillo (phyllo) dough, light and divine for filling with these ingredients. A little chop~ chop of your freshest choice of herbs (basil, parsley, thyme, marjoram, rosemary, fennel, oregano, sage.) Keeping them as whole as possible. Fresh herbs should always be seen and smelled and their lively, vibrant, green sweetness… tasted. Take your spring journey “eating with the season” ~into the rhythm of the “new harvest!”  A great and delicious way to enhance your salad and springtime!

Bake your mini shells (15 per box) at 350 degrees on a baking sheet for 3~5 minutes or  golden. (Cool)
1 log of goat cheese (softened in microwave for approx.  40 seconds for easier filling.)
A good Honey for that drizzle
Finely chopped pecans toasted in a pan with a bit of butter
Herbs of your choice chopped
Fresh black pepper
Sea salt 
Spring salad mix

A light tangy dressing. I combined lemon peel, red wine vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, salt pepper and a bit of thyme. Spoon cheese into tarts and sprinkle with chopped herbs, toasted nuts, salt, pepper, and drizzle with honey. Serve on dressed salad. (I warm the tartlets up a bit) warm cheese tart on crisp cold salad ~ “A simple celebratory start to Spring Life!” xoxo, Dishin’ with Denise