Fresh Berries and Goat Cheese Spinach Salad

Not only does goat milk make our goat milk soaps super rich and nourishing, but it can also be a nutritious ingredient in your kitchen. Gourmet Goat loves to share her favorite recipes made with goat milk and goat cheese, and here is her latest: Fresh Berries and Goat Cheese Spinach Salad!

Fresh Berries and Goat Cheese Spinach Salad:

Ingredients:

• 1 Container of Strawberries
• 1 Container of Blackberries
• 8 Cups Spinach Leaves
• 1 Cup Candied Walnuts
• 3 Ounces Crumbled Goat Cheese
• 2 Cups Orange Juice
• Raspberry Vinaigrette
• 1 Loaf of Pumpernickel Bread
• Olive Oil

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 375 degree Fahrenheit.
2. Wash the strawberries, blackberries and spinach individually. After rinsing, pat the excess water off with a paper towel.
3. Cut the strawberries into quarters and place in a large bowl.
4. Pour the orange juice over the strawberries, making sure all the strawberries are covered.
5. Slice the bread at a slight angle and brush both sides with olive oil. Place the bread on a cookie sheet and cook for about 10 minutes.
6. In a large serving bowl or dish combine the spinach, blackberries and walnuts.
7. Remove the strawberries from the orange juice and add them to the salad.
8. Take the bread out of the oven after the 10 minutes or when it is evenly crunchy and set aside.
9. Add the crumbed goat cheese and then toss in the raspberry vinaigrette.
10. To serve, put a serving of the salad in the center of a large plate and place a piece of bread on the edge.

Want more goat cheese recipes? Check out Maggie Foard’s cookbook, “Goat Cheese.”

Recipe Created by our social media and marketing intern, Taylor.

Photo credit: Taylor Harkins

How to Make a College Care Package

Care packages are a great way to help  a new college student feel at home in their new surroundings. Gifting Goat thought it would be nice to send a care package with a theme… college showers. The reputation college bathrooms have for being dirty is not a wives tale. The recipient of the care package will be grateful to have certain luxurious amenities even if they have to shower in the not-so-luxurious dorms. Gifting Goat suggests you include these few things in the care package…

1. Shower Shoes: it is absolutely amazing how dirty shower floors can be, so send off a pair of fun shower sandals. We loved these nautical shower sandals from Dorm Buys.
2. Clear Complexion Goat Milk Soap: skin has a tendency to break-out in new environments. Making first impressions is important so include a Clear Complexion soap in the package, as this soap is designed for acne-prone skin. The bottom layer helps prevent new blemishes from forming, while the top layer helps to heal current scars. Learn more here.
3. A Travel Soap Container: bar soap is cleansing but it is important (especially in showers used by multiple people) to keep your soap clean. Send along a travel container so they can store their soap in their room. You can find tips on how to use a travel soap container on our “Travel with Chivas” blog post.
4. Something Fun: this little hippo is a toothbrush holder. You can suctions him to the mirror and keep a toothbrush protected from dust and other bacteria… not to mention he is cute! We also found this little guy at Dorms Buy.

Photo credit: Taylor Harkins

Green Goat Shares Green Back-to-School Basics with Recycled Paper!

Recycling and using recycled materials is important to us!  So, we package our soaps with 100% recycled paper and we do NOT use any plastic packaging for our soaps. The Green Goat  knows that recycled goods are also important to you in all parts of your life, so he looked at the basic back-to-school shopping list and navigated through “The Ultimate Green Store” to find green alternatives for you, or your kids.

1. Notebook: Environotes Recycled Notebook contains 30% post-consumer recycled materials and Environotes recycles 98% of their scrap materials from notebook production.

2. Pencils: EarthWrite Pencils contain 60% post-consumer waster and the casing is made from recycled newspaper.

3. Ruler: TreeSmart Recycled Newspaper Ruler is made with recycled newspaper and recycled plastic.

4. Binder: The cover of the Universal Eco-Friendly Round Ring Natural Kraft Binder is made from 100% recycled materials and is dye-free.

5. Backpack: The Solar Converter Bag allows you to charge your phone, ipod and camera on the go with the 4 watts of solar power generated from the solar panels.

Since having a green and healthy lifestyle is important to us, we do what we can to incorporate those values into our product line.  In addition to using recycled paper to package our soaps, we use fresh goat milk from our farm and herbs from our herb garden to make our wonderful goat milk soap. Using local ingredients helps to reduce our carbon footprint.  Also,  our goat milk facial cremes are made with 82% organic content and our lip balms are made with 76% organic content. To find out more about our mindful product line click here.

Picture credit: (1)gwsports.com (2)chivasskincare.com

Gourmet Goat’s White Bean and Mushroom Goat Cheese Burgers

Not only does goat milk make our goat milk soaps super rich and nourishing, but it can also be a nutritious ingredient in your kitchen. Gourmet Goat loves to share her favorite recipes made with goat milk and goat cheese, and here is her latest: White Bean and Mushroom Goat Cheese Burgers. Not a fan of mushrooms? Don’t worry, you will barely taste them!

White Bean and Mushroom Goat Cheese Burgers:

Ingredients:

• 2 Cups White Mushrooms
• 1 Cup Yellow Onions
• 15 Ounce Can of Lightly-Salted White Beans
• 3 Cloves Garlic
• 1 Egg
• 2 teaspoons Dried Rosemary Leaves
• 1/4 teaspoon Sea Salt
• 1/8 teaspoon White Pepper
• 3/4 Cup Old Fashioned Oats
• 1 Cup Butter Lettuce
• 1/4 Cup Pine Nuts
• 2 Tablespoons Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
• 6 Whole Wheat English Muffins
• 1 Tablespoon Butter
• 4 Ounces Goat Cheese

Directions:

1. Wash and dab dry the mushrooms with a paper towel. Remove the stems and chop the caps.
2. Rinse and drain the white beans.
3. Chop the onion, 2 cloves of garlic, and lightly beat the egg.
4. Put the mushrooms, beans, onions, 2 cloves of garlic, egg, rosemary leaves, sea salt, and white pepper in a food processor. Mix until all the ingredients are combined. (Don’t over mix. The mixture should still be wet but not fully processed).
5. Put the mixture into a medium sized bowl and mix in the old fashioned oats.
6. Form the mixture into 6 individual patties. Brush each side of the patty with olive oil. Set aside.
7. To make the pesto, chop the last garlic clove, tear the butter lettuce into smaller pieces and put both ingredients into the food processor. Add the pine nuts and 2 Tablespoons of olive oil. Mix until a chunky paste is formed. Set aside.
8. Heat a grill pan or saute pan over medium-high heat. Cook the patties for 5 minutes on each side.
9. Toast the english muffins then lightly butter.
10. Spread the pesto on one side of the english muffin. Place pieces of goat cheese on top of the pesto. Add the grilled patty and the other side of the english.
11. Eat immediately!

Want more goat cheese recipes? Check out Maggie Foard’s cookbook, “Goat Cheese.”

Recipe Created by our social media and marketing intern, Taylor.

Photo credit: Taylor Harkins

Guru Goat Shares “Secrets of Longevity” from Dr. Maoshing Ni

Dr. Maoshing Ni shares his secrets in his book, ”Secrets of Longevity- Hundreds of Ways to Live to be 100.” Guru Goat started reading this book and wanted to share some of his secrets that she found most pertinent to natural health and skin care:

Secret #2: Gone With the Wind

” Common colds and flus can turn into serious respiratory diseases such as pneumonia, which claims many lives among the elderly. Eastern medicine sees colds and flus as “wind” disorders… Western medicine calls them adaptogens, which increase the body’s defense mechanisms and help the immune system work better in times of stress. They can be found separately in health food stores or in a formula called Jade Screen in Chinese pharmacies. In addition, wash your hands frequently with soap and water and inhale vapors from eucalyptus, oregano, and lavender tea, which are antibacterial, antiviral, and decongesting.” (page 129)

When washing your hands, try using one of our soaps made with these specific essential oils: eucalyptus, oregano and lavender.  Not only will these soaps keep your hands clean, soft and moisturized, but the pure essential oils in each of them will also have a light aromatherapeutic effect. 

Lavender Pine Chamomile goat milk soap: with lavender and eucalyptus essential oils, as well as pine, spruce needle and chamomile

Santa Rosa Valley goat milk soap: with lavender and eucalyptus essential oils, as well as orange, grapefruit and rose geranium

Lemongrass goat milk soaps: with lavender and eucalyptus essential oils, as well as lemongrass, tea tree and peppermint

Lavender Oatmeal goat milk soap: with lavender essential oil, as well as rosweood, rose geranium, and grapefruit

Note: We do not have any soaps made with oregano essential oil because the scent is quite pungent and not really pleasant for body care in our opinion.  Inhaling the vapors from this oil is still very effective.

Secret #1: Keep Cool on the Outside…

” Experiencing extremes of temperature can endanger one’s health and even one’s life. To strengthen the body and make it more resistant to environmental temperature changes, I recommend taking cold showers. This constricts the blood vessels at the surface and extremities of your body, driving tremendous blood flow into the internal organs to increase oxygenation and transport waste away from these vital body parts. If you are not used to the practice, however, acclimate yourself gradually. Begin by scrubbing your body with cold towels. After a few days, run your shower or bathwater at a slightly cooler temperature than you are used to, and use less hot water each week until you can switch to a completely cold shower.” ( page 246)

Of course, we recommend taking your cold shower with our one of the goat milk soaps mentioned above.

Book Information: ” Secrets of Longevity- Hundreds of Ways to Live to be 100.” by Dr. Maoshing Ni. Published by Chronicle Books.

Attending a No Gift Wedding? Give Them Something They Will Cherish

Being invited to”No Gift”* events is always a challenge for me since I find comfort in wrapping presents. So, at the last “No Gift” wedding I attended I gave them a goat! Let me explain…

Chivas Skin Care partnered with The Nomad Foundation to donate a herd of goats to the nomadic Tuareg people of Niger. You can Donate a Goat to a Nomadic Tribe for only $55. The best part about this gift is that the recipient will receive a gift box containing one Leslie Clark print certifying the donation, and a goat milk soap of your choice.  Okay, so yes, it is a small gift for the recipients, but the main point is that they can feel good about having a donation made in their name, rather than another Le Creuset cooking pot.

Of course I wanted to make this gift extra special so I wrote a little poem to go along with it…

I had originally bought you a huge boat,

But you asked for no gifts so I just got you a goat.

While we celebrate your wedding,

To Niger is where your goat is heading.

You will probably never see your new pet,

But I hope you never forget.

Every time you use this soap,

Remember that your goat has brought others hope.

Wishing you two all the best!

The couple I gave this to thought it was hysterical. They loved the idea of “having” a goat. They appreciated the donation and I was glad they had something to unwrap. Everyone was happy… even the goat!

*Note:  Here’s what Emily Post says about the issue of “no gift” weddings:  “Often a second-time bride or groom or an older couple feels that they have everything they need and prefer that their guests not give them a gift. Regardless, the joy and happiness a wedding represents include the giving of gifts to celebrate that happiness, and the printing of ‘No Gifts Please’ on the invitation is not acceptable. Again, family members and attendants can share this information with guests or can provide the name of a favorite charity to which guests may contribute in lieu of giving a nuptial gift.”

Gourmet Goat’s Arugula and Goat Cheese Summer Salad

Not only does goat milk make our goat milk soaps super rich and nourishing, but it can also be a nutritious ingredient in your kitchen. Gourmet Goat loves to share her favorite recipes made with goat milk and goat cheese, and here is her latest: Arugula and Goat Cheese Summer Salad.

Arugula and Goat Cheese Summer Salad:

Ingredients:

• 1 Package Arugula
• 1 Cup Pine Nuts
• 1/2 Cup Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
• Salt
• Pepper
• 1/4 Cup Heavy Cream
• 4 Ounces Goat Cheese
• 1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice
• 1 Cup Tomatoes, Chopped
• 1/2 Cup Vinaigrette
• 2 Tablespoons Balsamic Vinegar

Directions:

1. In a food processor, add 2 cups arugula, 1/2 cup pine nuts. Slowly add olive oil while the processor is on. Mix until fully incorporated. Add salt and pepper and set aside.
2. Mix heavy cream, goat cheese, lemon juice, 1 Tablespoon of water and season with salt and pepper. Mix until smooth.
3. In a medium bowl, toss remaining arugula, pine nuts, and tomatoes with vinaigrette.
4. Spread 2 Tablespoons of goat cheese mixture on each salad plate.
5. Place the salad over the goat cheese mixture and drizzle with the arugula pesto and balsamic vinegar.

Want more goat cheese recipes? Check out Maggie Foard’s cookbook, “Goat Cheese.”

Recipe adapted from Chef Ashley Quick of Flyte Restaurant recipe for Poached Tomato and Goat Cheese Salad.

Photo credit: Taylor Harkins

Gourmet Goat’s Red Velvet Cupcakes with Goat Cheese Frosting

Not only does goat milk make our goat milk soaps super rich and nourishing, but it can also be a nutritious ingredient in your kitchen. Gourmet Goat loves to share her favorite recipes made with goat milk and goat cheese. Gourmet Goat loves dessert and has been trying to find a way to incorporate goat cheese. It took two weeks but she did it! She is proud to share her latest recipe: Red Velvet Cupcakes with Goat Cheese Frosting.

Red Velvet Cupcakes with Goat Cheese Frosting:

Ingredients:

• 1 Package Red Velvet Cake Mix ( and the required ingredients on the box)
• 4 ounces Mild Goat Cheese, at room temperature
• 14 ounces Light Cream Cheese, at room temperature
• 2 Tablespoons Butter, at room temperature
• 2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract
• 2 Cups Powdered Sugar

Directions:

1. Follow the instructions on the red velvet cake mix box to make the batter.
2. Place the cupcake liners in the cupcake pan and fill each about 2/3 full with red velvet cake batter.
3. Cook cupcakes according to package suggestions.
4. To make the frosting, use a mixer to combine the goat cheese, cream cheese, butter and vanilla. Mix until smooth.
5. Add 1/4 cup of powdered sugar at a time to the frosting mixture. Mix until smooth.
6. After the cupcakes have cooled, generously frost the tops of each cupcake. You can add sprinkles, or cupcake toppers if you like.

Making these for a special occasion? Check out these adorable cupcake liners from Cupcake Social. We love these Cherry Blossom Designer Cupcake Liners! These quality cupcake liners with red accents are perfect for Red Velvet Cupcakes.

Want more goat cheese dessert recipes? Maggie Foard shares her favorites in her cookbook “Goat Cheese.” Click here to see the cookbook.

Recipe created by our social media and marketing intern, Taylor Harkins.

Photo credit: (1) Taylor Harkins (2)cupcakesocial.com

Looking for a Unique Bridesmaids Gift?

Looking for a nice gift to give all your bridesmaids? Consider the Chivas Mini Starter Kit! Read more below to learn why…

#1 If you know you already love Chivas products, the Mini Starter Kit is a great way to share a little of everything with your friend.  It includes (1) Mini Original goat milk soap (2) Mini Sweet Nothings goat milk facial creme (3) Original Vegan lip balm (4) Sweet Nothings bath salt sachet.

#2 All these goodies are packaged up in a small kraft gable box, so you don’t even have to wrap them up! (You can always tie on a bow for a little flair).

#3 Priced at only $20 each, you can buy these affordable gifts for all your bridesmaids (even if you have a large wedding party).

#4 Or if you want to splurge, you can give the Mini Starter Kit in conjunction with a necklace, shawl or clutch, which are other common bridesmaids gifts.

#5 Last, but not least, shouldn’t the gifts you give be in alignment with your core values: natural, local, fair trade & eco-friendly?

Click here to learn more about the Chivas Mini Starter Kit.

* Note:  We also specialize in custom gifts, including bridal shower, bachelorette party, wedding favors.  Click here to learn more about Chivas’s custom wedding gifts.

* Note: We know it can be hard to resist the temptation to buy something for yourself on our website… so we suggest you check out our Sweet Nothing bath salts. Preparing for a wedding can sometimes be stressful so relax and enjoy a warm, detoxifying bath with our bath salts!

Gourmet Goat and Her Gourmet Gals Make a Goat Cheese Dinner: Part 3

Goat Cheese Dinner: Part 3

Gourmet Goat has been trying some of the recipes in the “Goat Cheese” cookbook by Maggie Foard. First on the menu was, Layered Pesto, Chevre and Tomato Torte with Pine Nuts, then Bruschetta with Olive Oil and Herbs and for the final dish… Pizza Margarita.

The recipe bellow was slightly altered by Gourmet Goat and her gourmet gals. The original recipe can be found in the “Goat Cheese” cookbook by Maggie Foard.

Pizza Margarita

Ingredients:

• 1 Pre-made Pizza Crust
• 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
• 3 Heirloom Tomatoes ( Yellow and Red), Sliced and Seeded
• 6 Ounces Goat Cheese, Sliced
• 3 Ounces Mozzarella, Sliced
• 4 Cloves Garlic, Chopped
• 1/2 Cup Fresh Basil, Sliced

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
2. Brush the pre-made crust with olive oil.
3. Slice tomatoes and arrange on the crust, leaving an inch around the edge.
4. Arrange the cheese slices on top and sprinkle with garlic and basil.
5. Drizzle a little more olive oil over the top.
6. Bake the pizza for about 10-15 minutes, or until golden brown around the edges.
7. Let the pizza rest for a few minutes before cutting and serving.

If you want to try this recipe or if you want to know more ways to incorporate goat cheese into your meals check out “Goat Cheese” cookbook by Maggie Foard by clicking here.

Book Information: “Goat Cheese” by Maggie Foard, page 48. Publisher: Gibbs Smith.

Photo Credit: Taylor Harkins

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