This is your Goat Cheese Mousse with Red Wine Caramel Sauce and Strawberry Compote

This appetizer is a sexy way to start your cocktail hour. You will be pleased with yourself for serving an amazing recipe. Serve with these puff pastry crackers and enjoy!

Ingredients

2 cups dry red wine

1/2 cup ruby port

1 teaspoon whole black peppercorns

1 shallot, minced

2 thyme sprigs

1 cup sugar

Directions:

In a saucepan, bring the wine, port, black peppercorns, shallot, thyme sprigs and 1 cup of the sugar to a boil, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Using a moistened pastry brush, wash down any sugar crystals on the side of the pan. Cook over moderate heat, without stirring, until syrupy and reduced to 1 cup, about 35 minutes. Strain and discard the solids. Let the caramel cool slightly.

Strawberry Compote

Ingredients:

4 cups strawberries, hulled (2 pints)

½ cup sugar

2 tsp finely grated orange zest

2 Tbl water

Directions:

in a medium saucepan, toss the strawberries, orange zest, water and the remaining 1/2 cup of sugar.

Bring the strawberries to a boil and simmer over moderate heat until slightly thickened and jammy, about 15 minutes. Transfer the compote to a bowl and let cool.

Goat Cheese Mousse

Ingredients:

One 11-ounce log of fresh goat cheese, softened

3 Tbl heavy cream or ricotta

½ tsp thyme, basil or chives

Pinch of freshly ground pepper

Puff Pastry Crackers or crostini

Those Nuts or toasted walnuts

Garnish: Blood Orange Avocado Oil and fresh basil

Directions:

In a medium bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the goat cheese, cream or ricotta, ground pepper and chopped herb until creamy. Spoon the mousse into a bowl and drizzle with blood orange avocado oil and chopped basil. Serve with the strawberry compote, caramel, crostini and those nuts or walnuts so guests can assemble their own.

Puff Pastry Cracker

Ingredients:

1 17.03 oz frozen puff pastry, thawed overnight in the refrigerator

1 egg well beaten

Assorted toppings, such as:

-Mélange Pour Le Pain- A classic French blend for bread toppings made of sesame seeds, minced onion, minced garlic and salt

-Dukkah – An Egyptian condiment used for dipping breads. It is a blend of nuts, coriander, cumin, sesame seeds, salt, chili flakes and spices

-sesame seeds

-finely grated parmesan cheese with a hint of cayenne pepper

-parmesan cheese, garlic powder and cayenne

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Remove one piece of puff pastry from the box. Roll it out about 14x12 inches. Brush it with egg wash and sprinkle with desired toppings.

Place in the freezer until frozen about 10 minutes. Remove and cut into cracker squares. They will shrink when baked.

When ready to bake preheat oven to 375 degrees

Line the sheet pan with parchment paper and place the crackers about ¼ inch apart. Bake 10-13 minutes or until golden brown.