Goat Cheese with Honey, Dried Fruit & Nuts

An easy appetizer recipe of goat cheese (or cream cheese), honey and dried fruit and nuts perfect to serve with crackers.

We have new friends. And I love them! I mean, I like them. Well, I do love them but what I'm actually in love with is that we have friends. I’m not making any sense.

Let me start over. Husband is a hilarious, kind man who everyone enjoys. People gravitate to him. He is a born entertainer and tells a story like nobody’s business. But he clams up like a 12-year old boy at a middle school dance at the thought of making plans that involve socializing. Which is so weird because once I drag him get him to go along with the plans, he always enjoys himself.

Anyway, I quickly hit it off with one of the baseball moms on Brutus’ fall team last year. Maria and I instantly connected and wanted to make plans. I warned her I would have a hard time getting Husband to commit to which she said she had the same issue with her husband! Which lead to the two of us scheming a way to get together without them putting up too much resistance.

And then she said the magic word: golf.

Golf is to Husband what whiskey is to an alcoholic. He can’t resist it. Seriously, it’s a little scary. As it turned out, Maria’s husband was equally addicted.

So, we set up a play date for them to golf! They didn't like it but they could. not. resist. it. It was brilliant! And hilarious. And a little bit alarming. She and I would later share stories of how they each fretted over what to wear on their “first date”. They were nervous and awkward but, as I said, couldn't say no to the idea of hitting the links without their wives giving them crap about it.

As it turns out, the two of them hit it off just like Maria and I had. SCORE! So, now we have friends. And we make plans. And do awesome stuff like watch football games and share meals. And husband is happy to go along with any plans we make. {sigh} It took us ten years to do it, but we finally found a husband/wife combo we both like who we enjoy spending time with. Thank God. ‘Cause Mama needs her social time. For reals.

I tell you all this to tell you about this goat cheese appetizer. Maria, as it turns out, is a foodie like me! She loves cooking and camping out in her kitchen like I do. The last time we hung out with them she had this combination and I fell in love with it. Like, seriously. A week later and I was still thinking about how perfect it was. Tangy, creamy goat cheese with sweet and silky honey with crunchy, salty nuts and chewy, tart fruit.

Shut. Up.

It’s the perfect storm.

I couldn't wait to have it again so I set some out Easter Sunday. Mom and I loved it but I wasn't too sure what Daddy would think. I’d lost track of what everyone was doing as Mom and I were cooking when Daddy walked into the kitchen with the almost empty plate and said, “Put this somewhere I can’t see it before I eat it all!” Yessssssss

appetizer, cheese, goat cheese, cream cheese, honey, fried fruit, cranberries, nuts, almonds, recipe, quick, easy

Yield: 12-15 ServingsAuthor: Mandy Rivers | South Your Mouth

GOAT CHEESE WITH HONEY, FRUIT & NUTS

prep time: 5 minscook time: total time: 5 mins

ingredients

• 1 8-10-oz. package of goat cheese
• 1 cup dried fruit & nut mix
• 1/2 cup honey

instructions

Place goat cheese on a small serving plate then top with fruit and nuts. Drizzle honey over the fruit and nuts then serve, at room temperature, with crackers. I used Wheat Thins because I wanted a thin, crisp cracker that wouldn't compete with the star of the show.

Notes:

• Substitute cream cheese for the goat cheese if desired. 
• Use any mix that has dried fruit and nuts. I prefer the mix with dried cranberries, golden raisins, sunflower seeds and almonds.

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