Herbed Coated Goat Cheese Balls - cooking recipe

Ingredients

3 tablespoons olive oil
36 slices baguette (0.5 inch thick)
3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh Italian parsley (flat leaf)
2 1/2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh thyme leaves
2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh rosemary leaves
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1 teaspoon coarsely cracked fresh black pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 (11 ounce) log soft fresh goat cheese
1 1/2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil or 1 1/2 tablespoons meyer lemon olive oil

Preparation

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Arrange bread slices on 2 heavy baking sheets. Drizzle 3 tablespoons of olive oil over the bread. Bake until crostini are pale golden and crisp, about 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, stir herbs, lemon zest, pepper, and salt in a medium bowl to blend. Using about 2 teaspoons of cheese for each, form the goat cheese into 1\" balls. Roll cheese balls in the herb mixture to coat completely. Arrange balls on a platter.
Drizzle extra virgin olive oil over and around the cheese balls. Serve with crostini. Garnish with herb sprigs.
Can prepare crostini and cheese balls 1 day ahead. Store crostini in air tight container at room temperature. COver and refrigerate cheese balls.