HOT BAKED BRIE WITH CRANBERRY, HOMEMADE OLIVE OIL CRACKERS AND GARDEN GOODIES

The idea behind this as your first course is that it can be placed in the middle of your table and you can talk and nibble away. 

Baking a round of brie transforms the cheese into a decadent melting pot almost like a cheats version of a fondue. It is perfect for dipping goodies into.  I served mine with homemade these crunchy olive oil crackers and some crunchy raw vegetables.  

OLIVE OIL CRACKERS

Preparation time - 40 minutes

Cooking time - 10 minutes

Skill - easy

Makes - 24 crackers

Ingredients 

1  cup flour

1  cup semolina flour or whole wheat 

1 tsp salt

1 tsp chopped rosemary leaves (optional)

⅔  cup warm water (approx)

⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil, plus extra for brushing

Sea salt flakes and cracked pepper to finish

Method

Combine the flour, salt, and herbs in a bowl.

Add the oil and ⅔ of the warm water.

Mix together well if the dough is too dry add a little more water until you get a soft, pliable dough which is slightly sticky to touch.

Lightly dust your workbench.  Turn out the dough and knead for a couple of minutes.

Cover the dough and rest for 30 minutes.

Preheat the oven 200 C (180C fan-forced)

Lightly grease 2 baking trays with olive oil

Divide the dough into 4.

Rub a little oil over the bread and roll out as thin as you possibly can, the thinner the better.

Cut into strips, rounds or triangles. 

Brush with oil and sprinkle with sea salt.

Continue with the remaining dough.

Bake until golden and crisp (4-6 minutes each side) Turn over half way through cooking.

Cool completely before eating.

Store in an airtight container for up to a week.

BAKED BRIE

This recipe can be easily modified for larger gatherings

Preparation time - 10 minutes

Cooking time - 12 minutes

Skill - easy

Serves 4-6 

Ingredients

1 round of brie 

2 Tbsp cranberry jam/jelly

Fresh rosemary, thyme or summer savoury sprigs

Preheat the oven 200 C (180 fan-forced)

Place the brie into a snug oven proof vessel, (this will prevent the cheese from collapsing).

Spread over the cranberry jam, poke in some herbs and bake until the cheese is gooey (10-12 minutes).

To serve, arrange sprigs of herbs around the outside of the cheese to form a reef, you could add olives, nuts etc 

Serve an array of raw vegetables such as carrots, radishes, fennel and celery sticks alongside. Arrange the crackers and enjoy whilst the cheese is hot.