Food and Recipes Recipes Herbed Goat Cheese-Melon Party Bites Be the first to rate & review! Indulge in the warm days of summer with this refreshing combination of watermelon and goat cheese in Herbed Goat Cheese-Melon Party Bites. By Virginia Willis Virginia Willis Virginia Willis is a Food Network Kitchen chef and James Beard award-winning cookbook author. Her first cookbook, Bon Appetit, Y'all premiered in 2008 and since then, she's developed a stellar reputation for chef-inspired recipes for home cooks. She is has been featured in the NY Times, Washington Post, People Magazine, and USA Today. Fans love her knack for giving classic French dishes a down-home feel and reimagining Southern favorites. Beginning in 2019 she lost 65 pounds and has kept it off for well over a year. In 2022, her health journey was documented in Eating Well magazine as a weight loss success story. Virginia has embraced her new outlook on life and has become a cheerleader for those wanting to make their own life changes, "If a French-trained Southern chef can do it, you can, too!" Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on January 6, 2022 Rate PRINT Share Trending Videos Close this video player Photo: Jennifer Davick Yield: 10 to 12 servings Ingredients 1 small watermelon 1 (4-oz.) goat cheese log, softened 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper Garnishes: fresh basil and freshly ground pepper Directions Cut half of watermelon into 1-inch-thick slices. Cut slices into 25 rounds, using a 2-inch round cutter. Scoop just enough melon from tops to form indentations, using a melon baller. Stir together goat cheese, 2 Tbsp. chopped fresh basil, salt, and 1/4 tsp. freshly ground pepper. Spoon into indentations. Chill 1 to 2 hours. Garnish, if desired. Rate It Print