NOW CLOSED: Add your own French Goat's Cheese related tip or recipe - you could win a cheesy hamper worth £100

[NewGirlHelenMumsnet]

On 24 November 16 MNers, 2 MN Blogging Network bloggers, GeraldineMumsnet and NewGirlHelenMumsnet all went along to a cookery school in Central London to learn about, cook with and sample lots of French goat's cheeses.

This thread is for their feedback but we'd like to open this up to all of MN - so if you didn't attend please do add your own tip, comment or recipe featuring French goat's cheese to this thread. Everyone who does so will be entered into a prize draw where one person will win a hamper of French goat's cheeses, French wine and cheese labels worth £100. Feel free to upload your own recipes to the MN recipe pages or share any you learnt about on this thread.

If you attended the event, please let us know all about it - we'd like to know...

What was the highlight of your Easy Cheesey Chèvre masterclass experience?

Did you find the cheese tasting seminar provided you with some interesting facts, tips and advice on French goat's cheese? If so please share!

Was there anything that surprised you about French goat's cheese that you didn't know before?

After tasting the French goat's cheeses did you have a particular favourite? Here's the list of cheeses you would have seen:
French goat's cheese log - French goat's cheese mini log - Spreadable fresh French goat's cheese - French goat's cheese camembert - Selles-sur-Cher

• Crottin de Chavignol - Sainte-Maure de Touraine - Valençay - Banon - Rocamadour - Tomme de chèvre

Were you surprised by any of the flavours of the French goat's cheeses? If so, how?

Have you been encouraged to experiment more with French goat's cheese as an ingredient following the masterclass?

Were you previously aware of the nutritional benefits of French goat's cheese?

Were you aware of the variety of French goat's cheese available here in the UK?

Did you enjoy Sophie's French goat's cheese recipes? Do you plan to recreate them at home?

Would you recommend French goat's cheese to a friend or family member?

Did you enjoy the Caves de Tourangelles Touraine Sauvignon Blanc wine? Do you think you would buy this? (RRP around £8.50)

Plus any other information you'd like to share with MN.

Many thanks
MNHQ

Bluebirdsunshine....great blog :)

I wish I'd noticed the trial - would have entered for it in a shot!

I do like French goat's cheese anyway, though most of the ones I've tried have been bought direct from farms over there. I have bought the log-shaped ones over here for cheeseboards. I have a couple of friends who are intolerant of cow's milk and can eat goat's. It's really nice to see the selection (nice website) now available. Thanks!

Thanks Filly Blogging is so addictive, I love it.

Ok, here's my feedback from a great event.

Highlight: The talk by the cheese man (sorry can't remember his name) - really interesting, well delivered, entertaining and spontaneous.

Did you find the cheese tasting seminar provided you with some interesting facts, tips and advice on French goat's cheese? If so please share!

Yes very interesting to learn about the different types, the origin, what to do with them.

Was there anything that surprised you about French goat's cheese that you didn't know before?

I hadn't really thought about the lactose intolerance aspect, good to know in case this is an issue for any friends or their dc. I also didn't know about how much the goats' diet and their proximity to billy goats could affect the taste of the cheese!

After tasting the French goat's cheeses did you have a particular favourite?

I loved the Selles-sur-Cher, the Crottin de Chavignol and the Rocamadour

Were you surprised by any of the flavours of the French goat's cheeses? If so, how?

I love ash-covered goats cheese but it was surprising how different they tasted when you could try three one after another. I hadn't appreciated before how they varied.

Have you been encouraged to experiment more with French goat's cheese as an ingredient following the masterclass?

Not yet but I will, some of the recipes looked great and I really enjoyed the fishcakes we made.

Were you previously aware of the nutritional benefits of French goat's cheese?

No!

Were you aware of the variety of French goat's cheese available here in the UK?

I live near a great cheese shop and also have a Waitrose nearby so do get quite a good selection on offer locally.

Did you enjoy Sophie's French goat's cheese recipes? Do you plan to recreate them at home?

Enjoyed the fishcakes and will make. Muffins were fun to make, I couldn't stay to take mine home but judging by the comments I don't think I would make them!

Would you recommend French goat's cheese to a friend or family member?

Yes definitely.

Did you enjoy the Caves de Tourangelles Touraine Sauvignon Blanc wine? Do you think you would buy this? (RRP around £8.50)

I did enjoy it, it went surprisingly well with the cheese. Probably would buy - perhaps if there was a discount for 6 bottles.

Thanks again for a great event.

A very nice recipe passed on to me via a veggie friend

Ingredients
2 small butternut squash
garlic clove , crushed
3 tbsp olive oil
a pinch dried chilli flakes
1 tsp thyme , chopped
courgette , cut into 2cm chunks
red pepper , cut into 2cm chunks
2 small red onions , cut into thin wedges
200g cherry tomatoes
50g pine nuts
100g goat's cheese , crumbled
1 tbsp breadcrumbs
1 tbsp parsley , chopped
1 tbsp parmesan

Heat the oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Cut the squash in half and scoop out the seeds then cut criss-cross patterns over the cut-side of each one. Mix together the garlic, 2 tbsp olive oil, chilli and thyme and brush this mixture over the flesh. Bake for about 30-40 minutes until the flesh is tender.
To make the filling, put the courgette, pepper and onion in a roasting tin and drizzle with 1 tbsp olive oil. Season and roast for about 20-25 minutes until tender and starting to brown at the edges. Add the cherry tomatoes and pine nuts and cook for another 10 minutes.
Mix the breadcrumbs, parsley and parmesan. Arrange the roasted vegetables and goat's cheese in the squash halves, scatter with the breadcrumb mix and bake for a further 10 minutes or until golden and bubbling.

Is very yummy and really quick and easy to prepare.

Mmmmmm envious of all you goats cheese tasters! Quick and very easy buffet recipe - bake small short crust pastry tarts, while still warm, fill with a spoonful of caramelised onion chutney(home made or bought) and add a nice slab of goats cheese on top. Grill for a few minutes to let it just colour/melt a little...and eat as many as you can before the guests arrive!

Yes, I forgot my manners. A big thank you to Mumsnet for inviting me along! Enjoyed myself immensely and lovely to come up from the 'Burbs for a glam, foodie trip into London!

We haven't done it yet but I reckon there's a place for doing a French version of Moussaka using a goat's cheese rather than Feta...Watch this space!

I've hardly been able to make myself read this thread as I was so disappointed I couldn't make it in the end. I have, however, and I am extremely envious!

Is it really lower fat? My one and only recipe for goats cheese is certainly not low fat however it started out.

I fry up leftover potatoes with garlic, thyme, salt and pepper. Then stir in a chopped up [rind] goats cheese and let it cook and melt and coat everything until it forms a delicious crust on the bottom. Break up and toss it all in a bowl with a green salad and a large glass of wine and eat in front of favourite tv programme.

There, fried cheese, potatoes and wine on the sofa, though of course you could remove the wine and the sofa and up it's health benefits.

I will definitely be trying some of these other recipes. Glad you all had a great time.

Chop up some sun dried tomatoes and mash them up with a nice soft goats cheese. Stuff it into a chicken breast and wrap it in streaky bacon (smoked if you like). Pin it together with cocktail sticks or the like and fry on all sides until browned. then bung it straight into the oven (an oven-proof griddle works great guns for this) and cook until the chicken is not pink, but still moist and the cheese is oozy. Mmmmm.

Alternative more detailed recipe

Hi
Thanks for all the feedback, tips, recipes etc. All wonderful!
I put you all into a hat and paulapantsdown is the winner of the hamper! Well done.

Hate to be a pooper... Bit didn't ppd say she wasn't there? I. Which CSS I do help she gets lots and lots of lovely goats cheese and wine and has her own tasting!

Hi - the team at French Goat's cheese wanted me to pass on the following: "Thanks again everyone for your feedback - great to hear your comments and tips. In terms of some of your questions you can find an extensive range of French goat's cheeses in most good delicatessens and supermarkets, French markets and cheese shops. The delicious Caves de Tourangelles Touraine Sauvignon Blanc wine you drank is available from The Good Wine Shop in Kew and at Nicolas stores. Enjoy!

We've also noticed some comments on the muffins and would recommend that if you are re-creating them at home you leave them in the oven for a full 20 minutes until they are well risen and golden. As we only had a short time with you at the event we would have liked them to be in the oven for a bit longer but hopefully next time round they will be perfect and will make a great afternoon tea treat!"