Walnut-Crusted Baked Goat Cheese & Green Apple Salad

• Cheese:
• (4) 2 oz rounds of fresh mild goat cheese, each about 1 inch thick
• 1-2 TBSP extra virgin olive oil, or as needed
• 1/2 cup walnuts, tasted and chopped fine
• 1/4 cup toasted breadcrumbs
• 1 tsp chopped fresh thyme
• Vinaigrette:
• 6 TBSP walnut oil
• 2 TBSP extra virgin olive oil
• 2 TBSP balsamic vinegar
• 1 TBSP sherry vinegar
• Salt & freshly group black pepper
• Toppings:
• 1/2 cup walnut halves
• 4-6 cups mixed salad greens
• 1 Granny Smith green apple

1. Prepare cheese:
2. Put cheese rounds on plate & cover with olive oil, let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes.
3. Combine finely chopped toasted walnuts, breadcrumbs& thyme on a plate. Dip cheese rounds into the nut mixture & make sure all sides are coated, gently press the coating into the cheese. Place cheese rounds on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
4. Make vinaigrette:
5. Whisk walnut oil, 2 TBSP olive oil & vinegars in small bowl. Season to taste with salt & pepper.
6. 20 minutes before serving salad:
7. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
8. Spread the 1/2 cup of walnuts on a cookie sheet and toast (about 8 minutes). Once cooled. chop coarsely.
9. Toss with enough Vinaigrette to coat.
10. Bake cheese rounds (about 10 minutes).
11. Toss greens & dressing (reserve 3 TBSP). Plate salad greens & sprinkle w/ toasted walnuts.
12. Cut apple in half, core, slice thinly (use mandoline). Put 6 slices of top of each plate & drizzle on the reserved dressing. Put a cheese round on each. Serve immediately.

goat cheese, extra virgin olive oil, walnuts, breadcrumbs, thyme, vinaigrette, walnut oil, extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, sherry vinegar, salt, toppings, walnut halves, mixed salad greens

Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/member/views/walnut-crusted-baked-goat-cheese-green-apple-salad-1274706 (may not work)