Cooking Demo at Local Chocolate Shop...

Was asked to offer up a cooking demo this afternoon. We decided to start a monthly series to offer a simple cooking demonstration for the locals in the neighborhood. To start off the series, I demonstrated how to make a simple and inexpensive appetizer for the budget-minded host or hostess. Everyone had a great time! Check out the pics and the recipe.

Here is the recipe:

Goat Cheese Filled Parmesan Cups with House-Made Bacon

-- FILLING --

• 6 ounces fresh goat cheese
• 5 tablespoons heavy cream
• 1 tablespoon parsley
• Pinch of lemon zest
• Salt and pepper to taste

-- PARMESAN CUPS --

• 12 tablespoons Shredded Parmesan Cheese

-- GARNISH --

Your favorite Thick Sliced Bacon cut into ½” cubes and slowly cooked in a skillet until golden brown and crisp. Place bacon pieces on a paper towel and set aside. (For my recipe, I used my house-made bacon. There is a “How-To” HERE.

PREPARATION: For the filling, put goat cheese in a stand mixer and whip until creamy; add cream, zest, parsley, salt and pepper and whip until smooth; set aside.

Heat oven to 350 degrees. For the Parmesan crisps, using a sheet pan lined with parchment paper, place 2 tablespoons Parmesan on the pan and spread with your finger to create a circle about 2 1/2 inches in diameter. Repeat until all Parmesan is used.

Bake in a 350-degree oven until a light golden color is achieved, about 6 to 10 minutes. Be sure not to overcook. Have an empty paper egg carton ready. Then remove the pan from the oven and, using a spatula, remove the crisps one at a time. Mold them into the egg carton, creating free-form bowls. Set aside to cool and harden.

Fill the crisp with the filling using a piping bag or a small spoon.

Garnish with bacon pieces.

Makes 6-8.

Here are some pics: