We talk a lot about our goat milk soap…but goat milk can make far more than just skincare products! In fact, about ten years ago when we began milking our goats, goat milk cheese was one of the first things we created! One of our favorite cheeses to create was mozzarella. Truly, there is nothing more delicious than fresh, still warm mozzarella with a touch of salt! But cheese making was a time intensive process that used several gallons of milk, and honestly, that fresh, delicious cheese didn’t last long enough to even make it into the fridge. Since we were only milking one or two does at the time, it didn’t make sense to use a week’s worth of milk on a single batch of cheese – so instead of continuing down the path of cheese making, we switched gears and began experimenting with goat milk soap. You could say the rest is history!
We still enjoy making cheese and with a larger herd, have a much greater milk supply at our disposal, so over the last few years we have been expanding our cheese making adventures and offering some of our cheeses for sale. Due to regulatory barriers, we aren’t able to sell these cheeses at the various farmers markets we attend – but we are able to sell them from our farm and during on-farm events! If you have never had goat cheese before, it is mild, creamy, and the perfect ingredient to level up any dish. Sure, you could eat it straight from the container (we won’t judge, we’re definitely guilty of that), but there are so many uses for this amazing and versatile cheese! We’ve put together a list of recipes that make goat cheese the star of the show and work for any occasion, from a simple lunch at home to impressing your dinner guests. Check them out below and try one next time you are looking for something new and fun to cook! You won’t be disappointed 😊
For An Easy Breakfast or Impressive Brunch
Goat cheese makes a creamy, flavorful addition to any breakfast, and is the secret ingredient to the perfect scrambled eggs. You'll love these Soft Scrambled Eggs with Goat Cheese! You’ll bring together light, fluffy scrambled eggs with veggies and melted goat cheese for a flavorful and quick breakfast. The recipe calls for asparagus, but we think it would be great with any seasonal vegetable, a blend of veggies, or extra proteins like ham or bacon. The recipe is simple, with only four ingredients, so it won’t take time away from your day. Change up your breakfast routine and see what you think!
For Lunch at Work or Home
Do you need a light, refreshing lunch option? Don’t settle for the same, boring salad you’ve prepared before – try this Arugula Goat Cheese Salad! The refreshing greens topped with rich, tasty goat cheese make the perfect sweet and savory blend. Add dried cranberries or another fruit, some almonds, and you are all set. You can even mix and match topics depending on what you have in the fridge! Make it ahead of time and simply pop it out of the fridge and add dressing when you are ready to enjoy. Changing up your lunch time routine has never been so simple (or delicious!)
For A Weeknight Dinner
Is there anything better than a twenty-minute recipe that tastes like a million bucks? Probably not. As someone who absolutely dreads recipes that take hours over the stove to prepare, I can’t say no to a dinner that comes together in less than half an hour. This Creamy Goat Cheese Pasta recipe is exactly that! While your pasta cooks, throw together a quick sauce with tomatoes, seasonings, and herbs. The finishing touch is goat cheese melted into the sauce to create an incredibly creamy, flavorful sauce. Pair your pasta with protein on the side or in the dish, and dinner is done. You can thank us later 😊
On The Side
Goat cheese doesn’t have to be relegated to the charcuterie board served before dinner! It is an extremely versatile ingredient that can be the center of attention or add to the flavor of a complimentary ingredient. The latter is the case in this delicious Roasted Brussels Sprouts recipe. Even picky kids and spouses will love the veggies dressed up with fruit, walnuts, and goat cheese. This dish is full of the that sweet and savory combination that is to die for! Plus, it comes together in just about thirty minutes and can roast in the oven while you finish your meal. While the recipe highlights the dish as a holiday side, we think it could be great any time of year, for a casual dinner to impressing guests.
For The Dinner Party
A meat and cheese board is a little too mainstream these days. Don’t get us wrong, we love a delicious cheese with crackers. But if you are really looking to change things up or serve something unexpected, you have to try this Puff Pastry Appetizer with Goat Cheese and Jam. Light, fluffy, buttery puff pastry makes the perfect vehicle for delivering creamy goat cheese and sweet jam straight to your taste buds. At this point in the post, do we even need to tell you how well the goat cheese will pair with jam? Sweet and savory = dinner guests impressed. We guarantee they will fly off the table!
Aside from being unique and delicious, goat cheese has several benefits that place it a step above cow’s cheese. For one, the higher butterfat content in goats milk makes cheese that is richer and creamier. We raise Nigerian Dwarf goats, who produce the highest butterfat content milk of all domestic goat breeds – so if you’re using Madd House Hill cheese, you’re getting top of the line creaminess! Additionally, goat’s milk containers more essential nutrients than cow’s milk, with extra vitamin A, B, calcium, iron, magnesium, and potassium. Finally, goat cheese is easier to digest. Because it has lower lactose levels and a different protein structure, many lactose intolerant individuals are able to digest goat cheese with no issue. It really is a win-win-win!
Are you dying to try one of these recipes? If you do, please give us a shout us out and let us know how it went! We can’t wait to hear all about your culinary adventures. And if your cheese doesn’t last long enough to make it into a recipe…well, we’ve been there too 😊
Until Next Time,
Madd House Hill