Marinated Goat Cheese with Sun-dried Tomatoes and Olives

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This Marinated Goat Cheese with Sun-dried Tomatoes and Olives recipe is an easy appetizer that can be made ahead of time and is a great starter to serve at your holiday parties!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Day Owl Rosè. The opinions and text are all mine. Thank you for supporting the brands that make VV possible. Msg 4 21+

Today I’m excited to share with you a super simple appetizer and wine pairing along with a table setting that is sure to wow all of your Friendsgiving guests! Let’s be honest, we all have high hopes for Thanksgiving dinner but it doesn’t always meet those expectations – there ends up being those awkward table conversations skirting around talking about politics because your uncle voted for a different party than you, the weird jiggly jello-mold with unknown neon bits floating in it that your grandma pulls out for dessert, and the blaring football games that your brother refuses to turn down all day.

Luckily, there is Friendsgiving. Friendsgiving not only lets you pick out the guest list (and fill it with people whose company you really enjoy) but it also lets you steer away from the traditional menu a little bit and make whatever sounds good to you. I always keep my Friendsgiving potluck-style, which takes even less stress off of the host and guarantees you end up with an array of dishes. As for traditions, this year for Friendsgiving, I’m throwing out the traditional red wine we usually drink for Day Owl’s bright citrusy Rosè and pairing it with a super simple appetizer of Marinated Goat Cheese with Sun-dried Tomatoes and Olives. The wine made from an Italian grape (Barbera) that is meant to be enjoyed young so let’s seize the moment and enjoy a glass with friends this holiday season!

This Marinated Goat Cheese with Sun-dried Tomatoes and Olives is a great way to start your holiday party because it can be mostly made ahead of time and will require just a few minutes to assemble on a platter before your guests arrive. I always prefer a make-ahead recipe when having guests over so I can actually enjoy my time with the guests when they arrive instead of hiding in the kitchen. Plus, it’s light enough to keep your guests from filling up before the big feast but delicious enough that they’ll feel satisfied until it’s time to sit down for dinner. Also, it pairs beautifully with Day Owl, a fruit forward California Rosè which has notes of floral red fruit and vibrant orange zest.

And finally, before I share the recipe with you (scroll down if you are too eager to wait), I’m sharing a few quick notes on how I set my Friendsgiving table in these pictures in case you are looking for inspiration:

• Runner: I love my table so much that I hate to hide it under a tablecloth so I opted for a white textured runner. The texture makes it interesting while the white keeps the table from looking too busy.
• Foliage: I’m obsessed with plants (if you couldn’t already tell by how many you can see in the background of these photos). Unfortunately, finding long strips of fresh flower garland can be both hard and expensive so I opted to use fake flowers for the garland and then mix in fresh flowers to make it look more realistic.
• Varied heights: I used the candles to create varying heights for a more interesting-looking centerpiece. Plus, they add a wonderful ambiance once lit for dinner.

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Marinated Goat Cheese with Sun-dried Tomatoes and Olives

Marinated Goat Cheese with Sun-dried Tomatoes and Olives is an easy appetizer that can be mostly made ahead of time and a great starter to serve at your holiday parties!

Ingredients

• 6 oz goat cheese
• 1 cup quality olive oil
• 2 Tbsp chopped green olives
• 1/4 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes
• 1 Tbsp finely chopped rosemary
• zest of 1 orange
• Dash of salt and pepper

Instructions

1. Cut the goat cheese into 1-inch discs (you can also roll them into small balls if the cheese falls apart).
   

2. In a small but deep bowl, combine the olive oil, green olives, sun-dried tomatoes, and rosemary. Gently set the goat cheese into the olive oil mixture so that it's completely immersed.
   

3. Transfer to the fridge and let marinate for at least 1 hour.
   

4. Right before serving, transfer the goat cheese onto a serving platter. Spoon the green olives, sun-dried tomatoes, and rosemary over the goat cheese and drizzle with a little bit of the olive oil.
   

5. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Serve with crackers and a bottle of Day Owl.

NOTE: This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Day Owl Rosé.