Chevre on toasted baguette, with ripe tomato and basil. RECIPE BELOW
CELEBRATE INDEPENDENTS
Nope, that's not a misspelling. Today, with more and more big box groceries, bookstores, and WalMarts, we consumers need to support our local, independent merchants now more than ever. Sure, you may have to pay full price for a hardback book, but in the long run, we all pay in so many ways. Keep the independents in business, and we'll have more diversity and a stronger, local economy. That's my 4th of July message!
T-Shirt from Sterling Bridge Dairy, Floyd Co, VA
CELEBRATE CHEVRE
So it's got a French name, but fresh goat cheese is All-American. Goats are such a trip. They can be "hired" to clear fields....they love kudzu! And climbing on cars. And at Caromont, in Esmont, VA outside of Charlottesville, Gail Hobbs-Paige's goats line up, in the exact same pecking order, every day, twice a day, outside of the milking parlor. www.caromontfarm.com
Here she's with some of her new kids, weaned from their moms so that their milk can be turned into mild and creamy cheese, some dusted with herbs, others with a layer of ashe, still others aged for a bit then washed in a local vinegar, produced from local wines, from Virginia Vinegar Works.
TASTY CHEVRE from NC
Ripshin Dairy, from Love Valley, is sold at the Watauga County Farmers Market. Love Liza's chevre with lemon, and with lavender. www.ripshindairygoat.com
Three Graces makes lovely chevre flavored with a variety of herbs. Look for them at Asheville's tailgate and farmers markets. www.3gracesdairy.com Also, Spinning Spider has been making chevre for quite a few years, with lovely aged cheeses, esp that I have enjoyed. www.spinningspidercreamery.com
Looking Glass Creamery, near Asheville, hopes to make the area "the Napa Valley of cheese." Jennifer Perkins was the "sheep technician" at the famed Blackberry Farm resort, where she tended the goats during the day and experimented with cheese at night. Now, she's producing a fantastic variety of aged and creamy cheese. www.ashevillecheese.com
One of the oldest goat dairies in the Piedmont is Celebrity Dairy, where you can also take a peaceful retreat at the Inn, built among the pastures where goats and chickens roam near Siler City and Pittsboro. Fleming Pfann's cheeses are exceptional, especially those aged and/or herbed.
At just about every farmers market throughout the Southeast, you'll find a goatherder and their cheese, or soaps. Indulge, and enjoy.
LACTOSE INTOLERANT?
Here's something to cheer up those of us who suffer from gas, bloating, or worse with cream, milk or some cheeses: Goat and sheep cheeses are more easily tolerated by our lactose sugar intolerant tummies. And, the harder the cheese, the better for us, too. Check out the explanation given by Barbara Kingsolver in Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life.
WAYS TO USE CHEVRE;
- Spread on toasted bread, then top with herbs, or tomatoes and herbs, or roasted sweet peppers
- Add to sauteed vegetables and pasta, while all is warm
- Crumble over spinach or variegated lettuces
- Drizzle chevre with honey, for a sweet treat, esp when served with fresh figs or peaches
In THE NEW BLUE RIDGE COOKBOOK, you'll find some outstanding recipes using chevre, like Roasted Beets, Rosemary and Chevre in Pastry; Warm Goat Cheese and Artichoke Spread; Fried Green Tomato Napoleon with chevre as one of the layers; and Tomato Ramekins with Goat Cheese.
Here's one I'll share from THE OUTER BANKS COOKBOOK that came about one evening at the beach when we were racing to prepare our sunset cocktails. I threw together what I had on hand....as lots of cooks do. The results were worth repeating.
Crabs and Goats Cocktail Spread
1 cup backfin crabmeat
1/4 cup bottled cocktail sauce iwth horseradish
1/3 cup chevre
juice from 1 lime
1 tablespoon chopped chives
salt and pepper to taste
crackers, crostini or toast points
Mix all ingredients together. Spread and enjoy!
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