Fast and Delicious Appetizer Recipes: Easy Goat Cheese Truffles and Stuffed Endive Leaves

These are two of my favorite fast party recipes because they are easy, I always have the ingredients on hand, and guests love love love them. They both start with the same basic ingredients: goat cheese blended with cream cheese and a little heavy cream. You can add more/different herbs to totally change the recipe for both of these... Be creative and add fruit and toasted nuts or ingredients in your fridge: raspberries, strawberries with a balsamic vinegar reduction drizzle, some Greek yogurt, honey and toasted almonds.... the possibilities are almost endless!

GOAT CHEESE TRUFFLES

You can also make these with gorgonzola, blue, or feta cheese but I really like the goat cheese version the best. Plus I always have Belle Chevre goat cheese in the fridge! These are pretty lined up on a serving dish or even as goat cheese "lollipops" served on a white candy stick you get in the baking and candy making section of the store.

6 ounces (3/4 cup) goat cheese, softened

2 ounces (1/4 cup) cream cheese, softened

2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream

1 teaspoon fresh chives, finely chopped fine

1 teaspoon fresh thyme, chopped fine

1 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped fine

Salt and pepper to taste

1/2 cup toasted pecans or walnuts, finely chopped

Mix all of the ingredients except the whipping cream nuts in a bowl. Add the whipping cream a little at a time, using a fork to whip the mixture until it is smooth. Form into bite size truffles. Don't let the mixture get too creamy or the truffles will not hold together well. Roll in the toasted nuts and chill until serving time.

Variation:

Omit the herbs and reduce the whipping cream by half. Add a tablespoon of your favorite liqueur- I like Grand Marnier. Roll the truffle and roll in pecans. Drizzle with melted chocolate or shave chocolate over them at serving time. Sooo good!

CHOCOLATE AND CHEVRE TRUFFLES

A sweet spin on the recipe above, you can use your favorite liqueur and chocolate to create a quick and delicious dessert.

4 ounces (3/4 cup) goat cheese, softened

4 ounces (1/4 cup) cream cheese, softened

1 tablespoon heavy whipping cream

2 tablespoons Confectioner's sugar

2 tablespoons Amaretto (or your favorite) liqueur

1 1/2 tablespoons finely grated semi-sweet chocolate plus 1/4 cup plus more for garnish

1/4 cup toasted almond slices, chopped fine

Use a fork to mix all of the ingredients except the almond and the chocolate together. Use a microplane to grate in the chocolate. Use a small ice cream scoop or a spoon to form into bite size truffles. If the mixture is too stiff, you can add a little more heavy cream or liqueur. Mix the almonds and 1/4 cup grated chocolate (you can sub cocoa powder) and spread a thin layer on a piece of plastic or a cookie sheet. Roll the truffles into the mixture to coat. Chill until time to serve. Grate or drizzle chocolate over the truffles just before serving.

BELGIAN ENDIVE LEAVES STUFFED WITH GOAT CHEESE AND TOASTED WALNUTS

Endive is a leaf vegetable in the lettuce family. If you can’t find it, you can substitute another lettuce or almost any other vegetable. The goat cheese spread can be spread on toasted bread or served with crackers also if you don't have or cannot find Endive.

Two or three heads Endive (Target always has it in the produce section)

6 ounces (3/4 cup) goat cheese, softened

2 ounces (1/4 cup) cream cheese, softened

2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream

1 teaspoon fresh chives, finely chopped fine

1 teaspoon fresh thyme, chopped fine

1 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped fine

Salt and pepper to taste

Toppings:

Toasted nuts of your choice: almonds, walnuts, pecans, etc... toast them for about 4-5 minutes at 350 but watch them because nuts burn so easily!

Fruit: Orange, raspberries, strawberries, fig, etc all taste great with goat cheese

Mix all ingredients together except the endive and the toppings with a fork, stirring until fluffy. You can use a mixer to whip it up if you want it extra fluffy. Spread on the base of the endive leaves. Top with fruit and toasted chopped nuts. Yum.

">My friend Tasia Malakasis creates award-winning Belle Chever goat cheeseLIKE GOAT CHEESE? LIKE TO SUPPORT LOCAL GROWERS AND PRODUCERS? WANT TO HELP A GROWING BUSINESS AND CREATE JOBS? Who does not believe in all of these things? You can be a part of something really special when you help my friend Tasia Malakasis of Belle Chevre Creamery- a producer of fine, award winning goat cheese crafted in the classical French style- build a new home for her business. Like many young businesses, Tasia and Belle are facing growing pains. Through an initiative called Kickstarter, Tasia is helping herself since resources are limited. Watch her videoand become inspired to help her continue. Your support will not only help create jobs- it will also enable you to get this fine product at a discount plus other great freebies! Help us get land for Belle's new home. Hey, you can even get a goat named after you! Every dollar helps!