Goat Cheese And Fig Sandwiches On Raisin Bread Recipes

GRILLED GOAT CHEESE SANDWICHES WITH FIG AND HONEY

Steps:

• Combine honey, lemon rind, and goat cheese, stirring till blended. Spread 1 tbls. goat cheese mixture on each of 4 bread slices; top each slice with 1 1/2 teaspoons preserves and 1/2 teaspoons basil. Top with remaining bread slices. Lightly coat oustide of each sandwich with margarine or cooking spray.
• Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add 2 sandwiches to the pan. Place a weight(cast iron or heavy skillet) on top of sandwiches; press gently to flatten. Cookk 3 minutes on each side, or until bread is lightly toasted, leaving pan on top of sandwiches as they cook.
• Repeat with remaining sandwiches. Sprinkle with powdered sugar.
• Makes 4 sandwiches.

GOAT CHEESE AND FIG QUICK BREAD

Steps:

• Center a rack in the oven and heat the oven to 350 degrees. Coat an 8- to 9-inch loaf pan with baking spray (or butter the pan).
• Cut the goat cheese into 1/2-inch pieces. It's a sticky, messy job, so don't aim for perfection. Refrigerate the cheese until needed.
• In a small bowl, toss together the figs, parsley, rosemary and thyme; keep at hand.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt and pepper. Working in a medium bowl, whisk the eggs until blended, then whisk in the milk, oil and honey.
• Pour the wet ingredients over the flour mixture, and, using a sturdy spatula, stir until the dough is almost blended. You'll still see streaks of flour, and that's fine. Scatter the fig mixture over the dough, and then cover with the chilled bits of goat cheese. Grate the zest of the clementine or tangerine over the cheese. Using as few strokes as possible, stir everything together. Once again, it might not be perfect, and, once again, that's fine. Scrape the dough into the pan, and use the spatula to poke the dough into the corners and to even the bumpy top.
• Bake for 34 to 38 minutes or until the top is golden, the cake has started to pull away from the sides of the pan, and, most important, a tester inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Unmold the cake onto a rack, turn it right side up and let it cool. You can serve the cake when it's slightly warm (it's not so easy to cut then, but it's delicious) or when it is at room temperature. Cut into thick slices. Wrapped well, the cake will keep for a day or two at room temperature.

FIG, GOAT CHEESE, AND PROSCIUTTO CROSTINI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Slice 12 ½-inch slices of bread from the baguette. Place on a baking sheet, and brush generously with the olive oil. Sprinkle a little salt if desired on each slice.
• Bake for about 10 mins, or until crisp and slightly golden. Remove from oven and cool slightly.
• Spread goat cheese on each crostini. Spread about a tablespoon of Bonne Maman Fig Preserves on top of the goat cheese.
• Fold the slices of prosciutto neatly and place on top of each crostini.
• Lay fresh arugula leaves on top of each crostini to taste.

FIG JAM AND GOAT CHEESE CROSTINI

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 400°F
• Cut the baguette on the bias into about 20 (1/2-inch-thick) slices and place on a baking sheet.
• Using 1 tablespoon of the olive oil, lightly brush each slice. Sprinkle with salt and bake until lightly toasted and crisp, about 8 minutes; let cool.
• Line a plate with paper towels and set aside.
• Heat the remaining olive oil in a small frying pan over medium-low heat. When the oil shimmers, gently place 2 to 3 sage leaves at a time into the hot oil until they darken in color and any bubbling subsides.
• Immediately remove the leaves with tongs or a slotted spoon and transfer to the paper-towel-lined plate.
• Repeat with remaining sage leaves; set aside.
• Gently spread 1 teaspoon of the goat cheese on each crostini, top with a heaping 1/2 teaspoon of the fig jam, and garnish with a fried sage leaf.