Appetizers: Beet and Goat Cheese Napoleons

This is truly an elegant and delicious appetizer for a party and one of the many recipes I will share from my last catering adventure. It takes a bit of time to cut, re-cut and assemble the beets, so be patient. I promise it's worth the work :)

This makes enough for 40

Ingredients

• 10 packages of large yellow or red beets- if you can buy already cooked it's easier

• 10 logs of Herbed Goat Cheese- Recipe follows

• 1 to 1 1/2 cups bright brussels sprouts

• 1 cup dressing- recipe follows

• - Few Tbls warm good quality honey to drizzle over goat cheese

Directions

Slice each beet into 1/4-inch-thick round slices. Then use a 3 inch round circle disk to cut each slice into perfect circles.

The beet tower we made as we were slicing :)

Herbed Goat Cheese:

• pinch of chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

• pinch of chopped fresh chives

• pinch chopped fresh thyme leaves

• pinch freshly ground black pepper

• 1 (7 or 8-ounce) log goat cheese

Combine the parsley, chives, thyme, and pepper and place on a flat surface. Roll the log of cheese in the mixture, coating all sides and retaining the shape of the log. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until needed.

In a frying pan, heat some olive oil and arrange the slices of Herbed Goat Cheese in the pan and warm quickly, turning them with a small spatula just as they start to melt. Repeat with 2nd side. This has to be done fast, or the cheese will melt!! This step is important b/c the taste is more intense when the cheese is melted.

Dressing (X2) for 40 people

• 2 large shallots, diced fine (1 heaping tablespoon)

• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

• 2 tablespoons sherry wine vinegar

• 1 cup olive oil

• Salt

• Freshly ground white pepper

In a small bowl, whisk together the shallots and the mustard. Whisk in the vinegar and then the olive. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Transfer to a covered container and refrigerate until needed.

To assemble the napoleons, place 1 of the beet rounds on a flat surface and begin to layer. Top the beat with a slice of goat cheese, drizzle some farm fresh warm honey on top of the cheese and then repeat with another beet round, a second slice of cheese, another beet round, a third slice of cheese, and a beet round. (Continue until you have 4 layers of beets and 3 layers of cheese.) Carefully cut through layers, dividing into 3 wedges. Repeat with the remaining beets and cheese.

To serve, top the napoleons with the broccoli sprouts and a dollop of dressing. Prick a large toothpick through the wedges of beet and cheese. Serve immediately.

Recipe adapted from Wolfgang puck: http://www.wolfgangpuck.com/recipes