A Pretty Plate

"Sometimes I've looked at a plate of food and wondered if it wouldn't look better as a hat."

I am not sure who said that, but it makes me think.  Too much on the plate?  Too pretty to eat?  It also reminds me of a Thank You note I got from my neighbor after I had taken her a plate of food with small portions arranged nicely to try and entice her to eat.  She was going through chemo treatments and really had no appetite.  She said in the note, "Was a real treat last night.  Mostly force myself to eat.  Not so with your pretty plate."

I was trying to recall just what was on that pretty plate.  A round of baked goat cheese for sure, some just picked baby lettuces, a little wedge of potato galette, a few sauteed veggies and I think a tiny portion of some protein.  

We eat with our eyes first, sometimes it can be overwhelming if it is just too much, so think about small portions of interesting things that can be eaten together.

Baked Goat Cheese on the pretty plate

1 or 2 per person

log of fresh goat cheese
olive oil
1 tsp. chopped fresh thyme leaves
1 tsp. chopped fresh parsley
1 tsp. fresh chopped oregano
1tsp. sea salt
1/2 cup gluten free bread crumbs

Carefully cut the goat cheese into 1 1/2" rounds.  Place on a plate and drizzle with olive oil. Turn to coat all sides and set aside to let the cheese warm a bit and soak up the oil.  I will sometimes do this process over a couple of hours, every step can sit for a bit.  When the cheeses look a little puffed up from the oil, roll them in the mix of fresh herbs.  

Pre-heat the oven to 450 degrees.  Roll the goat cheeses in the bread crumbs and place on a baking sheet.  Bake in the hot oven for 5 minutes.  Serve with a little salad of baby greens and other enticing bits on a pretty plate.

Thank you Dee Dee, I am happy you so enjoyed your pretty plate.  And it might have looked good as a hat...

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