Marinated Goat Cheese Appetizer

Wow your guests during the holidays or anytime with an appetizer featuring creamy goat cheese drizzled in a mixture of olive oil, fresh thyme and garlic, plus fennel seeds for a finishing touch. Serve it with whole wheat crackers and you’ve got a delicious snack that’s pretty healthy, too. Best of all, you won’t wear out your joints working in the kitchen.  

To make this recipe you will need a knife, a wide shallow bowl, a small bowl and a spoon for mixing.  

Nutrition information (per serving)*: Total Fat (13g); Carbohydrates (1g); Sodium (87mg); Sugar (0g); Fiber (0g); Cholesterol (9mg); Protein (4g)

1 - 4-oz. log of goat cheese 
1/4 cup olive oil 
2 sprigs thyme (or 2 tsp. dried thyme), 
2 tsp. garlic, chopped 
1 tsp. fennel seeds 
Salt and pepper, to taste  
Whole wheat crackers, for serving  

Ingredient Tips & Benefits 

• Goat cheese may be easier for some people to digest, especially if they are lactose intolerant. It’s also a lower calorie cheese than other cheeses, and provides healthy fats, calcium, protein and probiotics.   

• Fennel has been used since ancient times for many medicinal purposes. Fennel seed has long been used to aid digestion and treat gastrointestinal issues, but it is also being studied for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.  

• When you have a choice of crackers or breads to serve, it’s best to opt for whole grain. Refined grains turn into sugar more quickly in the body which can cause inflammation. 

*Disclaimer: All nutritional information provided is approximate and based on USDA measurements. Actual amounts may vary based on exact ingredients used, how they are prepared and serving size.