Baked Goat Cheese Salad Dressed with the Drums and Carissa's Wierd

There is an old adage that states "finders keepers, losers weepers." Recently I exercised my finders rights when I entered an empty lounge and noticed an abandoned magazine sitting on the table. The magazine (Family Circle) featured a number of recipes that sounded delicious. I tried one last night, a baked goat cheese salad, and after just one bite I felt bad for the person who left the magazine behind. There was no doubt in my mind that, wherever they were, they were shedding tears.

Baked Goat Cheese Salad (adapted from Family Circle)

(printable version)

-4 slices of multi-grain bread
-2 Tbs. wheat germ
-1/2 cup walnut pieces
-1/2 teaspoon oregano
-salt and pepper
-1 log (8 oz) herbed goat cheese
-12 ounces baby spinach
-2 Tbs. balsamic vinegar

1. Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Pulse one slice of bread in a food processor until crumbed. Transfer crumbs to a cookie sheet.

3. Slice the remaining pieces of bread into small squares. Place on the cookie sheet with the crumbs. Spray both crumbs and bread squares with cooking spray and then sprinkle with oregano, salt and pepper. Bake in the oven for 10 minutes.

4. Toast the walnuts on a second cookie sheet for 10 minutes (can be done simultaneously with the bread).

5. Cut the goat cheese log into eight equal pieces. Coat the cheese with non cooking spray and dip into the crumb mixture until goat cheese is completely covered. Place the goat cheese slices on a cookie sheet and form into circles (about 2 1/2 inches in diameter). Sprinkle with wheat germ. Bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 8 minutes.

6. In a bowl toss the spinach, dressing, walnuts and bread pieces. Top the salad with goat cheese discs and serve immediately.

Forget the Bacos or the croutons, the best topping for any salad is The Drums. Just a week has passed since the release of their first full length (self-titled). If you don't own it yet, you are missing out on some great cooking music. Here is a video for my favorite track, "Forever and Ever Amen" as well as a link to download another track "It Will End in Tears."

Before Band of Horses existed, Ben Bridwell (and former Band of Horses members Mat Brooke and Sera Cahoone) were part of the defunct band Carissa's Wierd. Arising from the wreckage, on July 13th, Carissa's Wierd will be releasing a retrospective called They'll only Miss You When You Leave : Songs 1996-2003 (pre-order here). Here is the video for one of the tracks on that album, "Die."