Bruschetta Topping: Warm Herbed Goat Cheese paired with Chardonnay provided by Fine Cooking Serve this topping family-style in a little gratin dish, and let guests spread the warm cheese on the bread themselves. Yields about 1 cup.

1/2 pound fresh goat cheese
2-1/2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh thyme
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Freshly cracked black pepper
1 or 2 leafy sprigs thyme for garnish

Heat the oven to 350°F. Stir the goat cheese, chopped thyme, and olive oil together in a small bowl until blended. Spread the cheese mixture in a ceramic crock or small gratin dish -- no need to get it perfectly even. Drizzle the cheese with a bit more olive oil and top with a few grinds of black pepper. Lay the thyme sprigs on top. Bake the cheese until it's warm and creamy, about 10 minutes.

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