Fossil Record Soft Cheese

# What you need:

01 - 9 oz soft cheese (goat cheese, cream cheese, or ricotta)

02 - 1 small bunch fresh herbs (parsley, dill, cilantro, chervil, or mixed)

03 - 1 tbsp olive oil (optional, for brushing)

04 - 3.5 oz assorted nuts (walnuts, pecans, almonds, hazelnuts), preferably in shell

05 - 1/2 tsp sea salt (optional, for sprinkling)

01 - Line a small tray or plate with parchment paper to facilitate removal.

02 - Spread soft cheese into a 3/4-inch-thick oval or round shape on the tray, smoothing the surface with a spatula.

03 - Press fresh herb sprigs or leaves gently into the cheese surface, then carefully lift them to leave detailed fossil-like impressions.

04 - Optionally, brush the cheese surface lightly with olive oil for a glossy finish.

05 - Scatter cracked nuts and some shell fragments around the cheese to evoke an archaeological theme.

06 - Sprinkle sea salt over the arrangement if desired.

07 - Serve immediately with crackers or fresh bread, or refrigerate until ready to serve.

01 -

It requires zero cooking and comes together in minutes, making you look like a culinary genius without the stress.
The visual impact alone gets people asking questions and leaning in closer, turning a simple appetizer into a conversation starter.
It's naturally vegetarian and gluten-free, so it works for almost any gathering without fuss.

02 -

Press the herbs firmly and leave them in place for a few seconds—a quick press won't leave a mark deep enough to see.
Remove herbs slowly and deliberately or you'll smudge the impression; if one doesn't turn out, smooth the cheese and try again.
Cold cheese holds impressions better, so if your kitchen is warm, refrigerate the spread cheese for 10 minutes before pressing.

03 -

Use herbs that are dry to the touch—excess moisture on the leaves can smudge your carefully made impressions.
If you want deeper, more dramatic impressions, refrigerate the shaped cheese for 30 minutes first so it's firmer and holds detail better.