After a busy weekend and week last week, I was more than ready for a laid back, chill out weekend this weekend. Â In fact, I committed myself to laying low and even declined attending a birthday party because honestly, I just didn’t feel like going. Â I was however, very much up for a girls night in, and that is exactly what happened on Saturday night. Â Since Marc was working all night, I took advantage of the empty house I had a couple of girlfriends over for appetizers, cocktails, and some much needed girl chat.
I had originally planned to have them over for a full dinner, but after thinking about it, appetizers are so much more fun and casual, so I went with that. Â First up: baked goat cheese and marinara dip. Â It’s really no secret my obsession with goat cheese, and when I saw something similar to this on the menu of a restaurant, I knew I had to try to make it at home. Because really, what is better than cheese and bread? Â Not much.
This appetizer turned out not only delicious, but pretty easy too. Â While you could definitely go all Sandra Lee and semi-homemake it with a jar of store-bought marinara, I opted to make my own. Â Try it – it’s not that hard! Â It’s a fairly basic marinara sauce, with the typical onion, garlic, and crushed tomatoes, but then I added a bunch of dried spices and a splash of red wine to deepen the flavor even more. Â I loved the combination of the marinara sauce with the tangy goat cheese, especially with the buttered and toasted baguettes.
This was perfect for our girls night in and I think it would also work well for any dinner party appetizer or football party. Or in my case tonight, eating the leftovers for dinner!
Warm goat cheese and girls nights. Mmmm. I think I need this in my life! What a fun recipe! Great idea about making your own marinara sauce–I bet that would make all the difference. YUM!
Thanks Allison!
Mmm that hot, melty cheese looks so good!!
Melty cheese is the best, right?!
I so need to make this. I love, love, LOVE goats cheese. Yum!
You would love this if you love goat cheese!
I have a full blown love of goat cheese too – this looks soooo good. I love doing appetizers with friends! It’s so much fun – I guess since it’s so different from a normal dinner at our house!
I’m a major goat cheese lover….and marinara sauce lover…and bread lover…..I JUST LOVE THIS DIP!
Absolutely delicious! Took this dip to Gourmet Group lunch in my neighborhood and it was a huge hit. Marina would be good alone in spaghetti too. Thanks for sharing!!
So happy to hear this Andrea!