Dandelion Salad with Lardons and Goat Cheese Phyllo Blossoms

ingredients

• goat cheese blossoms
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  2 2/3 tablespoons whipped butter
  2 tablespoons hydrogenated fat
  2 tablespoons margarine
  4 1/2 teaspoons olive oil
• 1 cup soft mild goat cheese (1 cup) at room temperature
• 3 tablespoons heavy cream
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 3 (17- by 12 inch) sheets phyllo dough, thawed if frozen
• salad
• 3/4 cup slab bacon, rind discarded if necessary and bacon cut into 0.125 inch-thick slices, then cut into 1 inch-wide pieces (to form lardons)
  3/4 cup Canadian bacon
  3/4 cup smoked ham
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped shallot
• 2 1/2 tablespoons Sherry vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 pounds dandelion greens, stems and center ribs discarded and leaves cut into 2 inch pieces (2 1/2 quarts)
• Special equipment: a muffin tin with 6 (0.5- or 1/3 cup) muffin cups

directions

Make goat cheese blossoms:

Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 375 degrees. Brush muffin cups with some melted butter.

Stir together goat cheese, cream, egg, mustard, and pepper in a bowl until combined well.

Cover phyllo with 2 overlapping sheets of plastic wrap and then a dampened kitchen towel. Arrange 1 sheet of phyllo on a work surface, then brush with some melted butter. Cut phyllo into 4 (8.5- by 6 inch) rectangles and arrange 2 of them 1 over the other in a crisscross pattern, then line a muffin cup with overlapping phyllo. Line another muffin cup with remaining 2 phyllo rectangles in same manner. Repeat procedure with remaining 2 phyllo sheets and melted butter, lining remaining 4 muffin cups.

Spoon goat cheese filling into cups and loosely gather edges of phyllo over center (if pieces of phyllo break off, arrange in center).

Bake phyllo blossoms until tops are golden brown and sides are golden, 30 minutes, then transfer from pan to a rack to cool slightly.

Prepare salad while goat cheese blossoms bake:

Cook bacon in a 12 inch heavy skillet over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until browned and crisp, about 12 minutes. If necessary pour off all but 1 tablespoon fat. Add oil and shallot to skillet and cook, stirring, until softened, about 2 minutes. Add vinegar, quickly stirring and scraping up brown bits, then stir in sugar and salt. Immediately pour hot dressing and bacon over dandelion greens in a large bowl and toss well.

Divide salad among plates and put a warm goat cheese blossom alongside each salad. Serve immediately.

Cooks' notes:

Dandelion greens can be washed and trimmed 1 day ahead and chilled in a sealed plastic bag lined with dampened paper towels. Bacon can be cut 1 day ahead and chilled, covered.

Goat cheese phyllo blossoms can be baked 3 hours ahead and kept at room temperature. Reheat in a preheated 350 degrees oven until warmed through, about 10 minutes.