Martha Stewart's Goat-Cheese Salad with Basil Vinaigrette Does Double Duty

Goat Cheese Salad with Basil Vinaigrette

Happy Canada Day!!!!!!

Thank you for joining me once again as I travel along with Mary of One Perfect Bite on a culinary journey.  Gourmet Live brought out a list of the 50 most influential women in food...Fifty women game changers. Some are chefs, some are food writers, and some are women who are passionate about the creative process. You could certainly add or detract women from this list, but no matter what these women have all influenced us in one way or another. Being a woman and passionate about food myself I wanted to explore and not only learn from the masters but recreate some of their dishes to better understand what has shaped and molded them into who they are today. Follow us on this journey while we take an in depth exploration of these women's lives and what makes them who they are.

One of my favourite well-travelled bloggers Mary of One Perfect Bite invited bloggers to travel along on a culinary journey throughout the year. For 50 weeks we will experiment with dishes from each of the 50 influential women on "the list". Whether you agree or disagree with the authors chosen fifty it will be an enjoyable and creative outlet to cook from the masters. My cohorts for this adventure can be found below. If you would like to join in  please contact Mary. This is an informal event and you have the flexibility to follow along when you can. She will be posting every Friday.

Martha Stewart is known the world over and is our 4th Game Changer. She first started her career as a model, then stockbroker turned lifestyle guru and businesswoman. Everyone knows her name and everyone has been touched by her in way or another whether you have her sheets on your bed or her cookbooks on your shelves. This cannot be denied.

This self-made woman is a self-trained gourmet cook having taught herself from Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking. She started a catering business in the late 1970s, and soon became known for her gourmet menus and unique, creative entertaining.  In 1991, she expanded her empire and became Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc., with the release of her magazine, Martha Stewart Living. Stewart's lifestyle empire has grown to include two magazines, a checkout-size recipe publication, a popular cable television show, a syndicated newspaper column, a series of how-to books, a radio show, an Internet site, and $763 million in annual retail sales. Even with a little poncho-wearing "time off" in 2004 she is definitely a force to be reckoned with!

From her empire where do you start with choosing just one recipe to highlight in this challenge. It became easy when I needed a red and white dish for my Is My Face is Red (and White) Challenge in honour of Canada Day. So far this years challenge has consisted of Rhubarb Lemonade, Red Pepper Hummus Sushi and Canadian Whiskey and Brown Sugar Flank Steak with Smashed Red Potatoes. Watch for dessert next!!!!This salad recipe is simple, classic and a perfect way to bring a little sunshine into your day with freshly picked sundappled tomatoes and fragrant basil from your garden or farmers market. It does double duty!!!!

What have we been up to.......

Mary of One Perfect Bite - Spaghetti 101
Joanne of Eats Well With Others - Blueberry Lattice Pie
Claudia of A Seasonal Cook in Turkey - Peanut Butter Cookies
Taryn of Have Kitchen, Will Feed - Plum Kuchen
Heather of Girlichef - Strip Steak with Chimmichuri and Roasted Potato Wedges
Miranda of Mangoes and Chutney - Chicken Drumettes
Jeanette at Jeanette's Healthy Living - Cold Sesame Noodles
April of Abbys Sweets -Velvet Chocolate Cake with Instant Chocolate Frosting
Susan from theThe Spice Garden - Pate au Choux

**Tomato and Goat-Cheese Salad with Basil Vinaigrette**

1/2 cup packed fresh basil leaves, plus more for garnish
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons white-wine vinegar
Coarse salt and ground pepper
3 ounces fresh goat cheese
3 medium tomatoes, cored and sliced crosswise 1 inch thick

1. In a blender, combine basil, oil, vinegar, and 1 tablespoon water. Blend until smooth, 2 to 3 minutes. Season vinaigrette with salt and pepper.

2. With dental floss or a warm knife (wiped clean after each slice), thinly slice cheese. Arrange tomatoes and goat cheese on a serving plate; drizzle with dressing to taste. Serve garnished with basil leaves.

Serves 4

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