I'm tired, y'all. It's the last few weeks of school until summer break and I am dragging my booty just as much (if not more) than my sweet little girl. I'm tired and the struggle to eat real food couldn't be any greater. It's so easy to talk yourself out of eating the right things, the good things, the healthier things. I have found one way to make it easier to not fall into that trap though, and that's by following the K.I.S.S. method.
Keep. It. Stupid. Simple.
This baked feta isn't fake. It's simple. It's a REAL dish. It's a REAL bite. It's REAL. It's RAW. And it is beautiful.
Feta needs nothing in my mind. It's perfect in and of its own. But, if you're going to do anything to it, baking it with just a handful of other ingredients is definitely the way to go. Plus, it's pretty impressive looking and tasting as an appetizer.
For this baked feta, I decided to go with a raw milk feta from a local farm because I know it, love it, and trust it. A quick pour of extra virgin olive oil, along with some lemon and olives and you are good to go!
Snackable 'appetizer' style bites are what I've been all about lately. Mostly because of their ease and simplicity. And you know what? It's kept me cooking almost all of my meals at home just as planned all week long!
Yeah. There's a lot of olive oil there. But, it's not so much for eating as it is for helping to heat the cheese and olives easily. Plus, it's a relatively healthy fat when compared to some alternatives out there. Bonus points for the Mediterranean dieters.
TheSkinnyFork.com Raw milk feta cheese that's baked in olive oil along with olives, lemon, and plenty of seasoning to make for a perfectly warm and spreadable cheese appetizer! Prep Time: 5 Minutes • Cook time: 20 Minutes
Servings: 8 • Serving Size: 1 Oz. + Olives • Calories: 214 • Fat: 21 g • Saturated Fat: 6 g • Carb: 3 g • Fiber: 1 g • Protein: 4 g • Sugar: 1 g • Sodium: 371 mg
• 8 Oz. Block Raw Milk Feta
• 1/2 C. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 1 C. Mixed Olives
• 1 Lemon, Divided
• 1/2 Tsp. Salt-Free Garlic & Herb Seasoning
• Pinch Red Chili Flakes
• A Few Cranks of Fresh Cracked Pepper
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Place the 8 Oz. block of feta into an oven safe baking dish (one that you will be serving out of.) Pour the 1/2 C. of extra virgin olive oil over the block of cheese. Arrange the 1 C. of mixed olives around the block of cheese. Cut the lemon in half and squeeze the fresh juice from one half over the cheese; cut the other half in half and place it into the baking dish. Sprinkle the 1/2 Tsp. of garlic and herb seasoning over everything, followed by the red chili flakes and fresh black pepper. Place the dish into the oven to bake for about 20 minutes or until slightly bubbling and the cheese is softening to become spreadable. Once done, remove from the oven and serve right away with your choice of crackers, bread, or even veggies!
Step-by-Step Photos:
Nutritional Claims: Low Carb, Sugar Conscious, Low Potassium, Kidney Friendly, Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Gluten Free, Wheat Free, Egg Free, Peanut Free, Tree Nut Free, Soy Free, Fish Free, Shellfish Free, Pork Free, Red Meat Free, Crustacean Free, Celery Free, Mustard Free, Sesame Free, Lupine Free, Mollusk Free, Alcohol Free, No Sugar Added, Kosher
