Apricots With Blue Cheese Topping Food

APRICOTS WITH MASCARPONE CREAM

Steps:

• Beat the cream in a chilled bowl with an electric mixer until soft peaks form. Beat in the sugar and set aside. In another bowl, whip the mascarpone cheese with an electric mixer until very soft; beat in the apricot nectar, vanilla extract, and cardamom. Gently fold the mascarpone mixture into the whipped cream.
• Place the apricot preserves and honey into a microwave-safe bowl and heat in microwave oven until warm but not hot, about 30 seconds. Mix well and stir the balsamic vinegar into the honey mixture.
• Stuff each apricot half with a dollop of the mascarpone cream and place the filled apricot halves on a serving dish. Drizzle the fruit and plate with balsamic sauce and serve.

APRICOTS WITH BLUE CHEESE

Steps:

• Cut apricots in half and remove pits, place in large bowl.
• Mix oil and lime juice together and season with salt and pepper, pour over apricots and toss gently.
• Place apricot halves, cut-side-up, on cookie sheets.
• Cut blue cheese into small pieces and place in the centre of each apricot.
• No more than one hour before serving place under preheated broil for one to two minutes or just until cheese softens.

DRIED APRICOTS WITH BLUE CHEESE

Steps:

• Stir nuts in a small frying pan over medium heat until toasted, about 4 minutes.
• Pour from pan and cool.
• In a small bowl or food processor, beat or process cheeses and pepper.
• Spread equal amounts of cheese mixture on each apricot half.
• Press a nut onto cheese.
• Press cheese-side down into minced parsley.
• Serve cheese-side up on a platter.

CHICKEN BREAST STUFFED WITH BLUE CHEESE AND APRICOT

Steps:

• Pound the chicken breasts until thin and even. Sprinkle a little salt and pepper on both sides.
• Place 1/2 and ounce of the blue cheese in the center of each chicken breast and top with 1 T. of the apricot preserves.
• Cut 6 of the dried apricots in half and place 3 slices in the middle of each chicken breast.
• Roll the breasts closed and secure with toothpicks or butchers twine. (I used butchers twine, it's a lot easier.
• Mix the bread crumbs, flour, oregano, rosemary and thyme together in a bowl, then moisten each chicken breast with a little water and roll in the bread crumb mixture. There's no need to completely coat the chicken breast, just a light dusting will do, unless you desire a heavier crust.
• Place chicken breasts in a baking dish and drizzle a small amount of honey on top of each breast. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 45-60 minutes.
• After you take the chicken breast out of the oven, allow it to sit for 10 minutes or so for the blue cheese and apricot mixture to firm up a little.
• Meanwhile, chop the remaining dried apricots into small pieces and place in a small sauté pan with the chicken stock and bring to a boil. Once it boils, add the butter and then allow the mixture to reduce to half. When serving the chicken breasts, pour a little of the mixture on top of each.

BACON-WRAPPED APRICOT BITES

Steps:

• Cut bacon strips widthwise into thirds. In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until partially cooked but not crisp. Remove to paper towels to drain. , Wrap a bacon piece around each apricot; secure with a toothpick. Place in an ungreased 15x10x1-in. baking pan., Bake at 350° until bacon is crisp, 18-22 minutes. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the barbecue sauce, honey and mustard. Serve with warm apricot bites.

CHICKEN SALAD WITH APRICOTS, CELERY, AND BLUE CHEESE

Steps:

• Toss chicken, celery stalks, and 1 tsp. salt in a large bowl. Let sit until ready to serve.
• Whisk buttermilk, vinegar, honey, 1 tsp. pepper, and remaining 1/2 tsp. salt in a small bowl or measuring cup. Pour over celery mixture. Add apricots, blue cheese, mint, and celery leaves and toss just to coat.
• Transfer salad to a platter and season with more pepper.

BEEF FILET WITH BLUE CHEESE SAUCE

Steps:

• Two hours before cooking - rub a little oil on each tenderloin - sprinkle with Garlic Powder and pepper both sides.
• Loosely wrap in plastic and refrigerate for one hour.
• One hour before cooking remove from refrigerator and bring to room temperature.
• rub a little more oil on each filet.
• Heat a non stick skillet until water beads (quite hot). Sear the filets for ONE minute on each side.
• remove immediately from pan and set on wire rack to cool for 30 minutes.
• In the same skillet - on medium to medium high heat add shallots and red wine.
• reduce to a glaze.
• Add beef stock and reduce to a syrupy consistency (abut 10 - 12 mins).
• Add cream and cook until sauce has a beigy color.
• Remove from heat until about 5 mins before serving.
• In a food processor combine the butter and blue cheese set aside for the sauce.
• Preheat oven to 350.
• on a grill pan - place the filets in the oven for 20 minutes (for med rare pictured here).
• Remove from oven and let rest for 5 mins before slicing.
• Heat your sauce gently - put spoon size dollops of the butter and cheese mixture in the pan melting and mixing together.
• lightly salt and pepper to taste.
• To serve- on a plate pour a puddle of the sauce - and place the meat on top.
• Pictured is steamed Green Beans and Cauliflower and a Ceasar Salad. Extremely Low Carb.