Chef's Chèvre Party Platter!
Party-Friendly, Quick & Easy, Entertaining

This Is Amazing!
I love chèvre (the French word for goat cheese) and use it in salads, dressings, on pizza, crumbled with beets, scrambled with eggs... Well, you get the idea. I love to spread it on crackers, too, but it's usually kind of crumbly. Rejoice gourmands everywhere! Lassen's now has Laura Chenel's Chef's Chèvre! It has been used by chefs, caterers, and in restaurants for twenty years, and highly prized for its moisture and texture.
This cheese makes a wonderful base for all kinds of recipes, and is great for just spreading! I had a little fun with it today! I gathered various crackers, fresh fruits and fruit preserves, vegetables, prosciutto, and balsamic reduction and went to town.
Really, use your imagination!

Ingredients

Crackers (crisps work best -- they have some substance and don't get soggy)
Fruit: mango, pear, grapes, apples, dried cranberries, raspberries, figs, peaches or nectarines -- use what is in season!
Vegetables: cherry tomatoes, avocado, sunflower sprouts
Fruit preserves: quince, fig, or sweet/hot combinations
Laura Chenel's Chef's Chèvre (or other high-quality fresh chèvre)
Fresh herbs: basil, dill, marjoram, sage, or thyme
Prosciutto, bacon, ham, or other meat
Nuts (pecans are a given!)
Balsamic vinegar reduction

Optional Chèvre Blend:
1/2 cup Laura Chenel's Chef's Chèvre
1/4 cup sour cream (or cream cheese for a thicker spread)
1 TBSP chopped fresh organic basil

Directions

You can just put it all on a platter and let people make their own combinations, or you can assemble ahead (use the thicker crackers to avoid the soggies.)
Start with the crackers, spread the chèvre, layer a combination of two or three of the toppings, and then drizzle with a little balsamic reduction, if desired.
Favorite combinations: prosciutto + mango + balsamic reduction. Fig preserves + chèvre. Blended chèvre + cherry tomatoes + avocado + basil shreds.
For the chèvre blend: combine all ingredients and blend well. Spread on the cracker and then top with your choice of fruit, vegetable, and meat combinations.
These "crackers" are actually dried orange slices! They are amazing!

What sounds good ?