Baked Cheese With Quick Walnut Bread Pears Food

BAKED CHEESE WITH QUICK WALNUT BREAD & PEARS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. To make the bread, mix the flours, salt, bicarbonate and the walnuts in a mixing bowl. Then stir in the buttermilk and oil, followed by enough milk to make a very soft, sticky dough.
• Dust a baking tray with wholemeal flour and shape the dough into a round, flat-ish loaf on it. Dust with a little more flour, slash the top a few times and bake for 30-35 mins until risen, crusty and cooked through - it should sound hollow when you tap the bottom of it.
• Cool bread to just warm (or leave to cool completely if preparing ahead), then get the cheese ready. Unwrap the cheese and put back into the box. Tie string around the box in case the glue melts in the oven. Drizzle the cheese with walnut oil, season, then put in the oven for 10 mins. Serve with slices of the warm walnut bread and pears.

FRESH PEAR BREAD

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine the eggs, sugar, oil and vanilla; mix well. Combine flour, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda and salt; stir into the egg mixture just until moistened. Toss pears with lemon juice. Stir pears and walnuts into batter (batter will be thick). , Spoon into 2 greased 9x5-in. loaf pans. Bake at 350° for 55-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks.

ROASTED PEAR QUICK BREAD

Steps:

• Make the roasted pears: Heat the oven to 400 degrees. On a large baking sheet, toss the pears with the melted butter, vanilla and salt and spread in an even layer on the pan. Transfer to the oven and roast until pears are tender and beginning to brown at the edges, about 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool to room temperature.
• While the pears cool, make the streusel: In a medium bowl, stir together the oats, brown sugar, flour and cinnamon to combine. Add the cubes of cold butter and use a pastry cutter or your hands to work the butter into the other ingredients until the mixture becomes clumpy. Stir in the almonds. Set aside.
• Make the quick bread: Lightly grease a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan, and lower the oven temperature to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda and salt to combine. Set aside.
• In a large bowl and using an electric mixer, or in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the oil, butter and brown sugar until well combined, about 1 minute. Add the eggs one at a time and mix well to incorporate after each addition, scraping the bowl as necessary. Beat in the almond extract if using.
• With the speed on low, gently add in half the flour mixture and mix until incorporated. Add the buttermilk in a slow, steady stream and mix to combine, then add the remainder of the flour mixture and mix until just incorporated. Add the cooled roasted pears and use a rubber spatula to gently fold them into the batter. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and spread in an even layer.
• Sprinkle the streusel evenly over the loaf. Bake the quick bread until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean and the streusel is golden brown, 55 to 65 minutes. If the streusel is getting too dark before the interior is fully baked, tent with foil. Let cool for 20 minutes in the pan, then unmold onto a cooling rack to cool completely before slicing and serving.

PEAR-WALNUT-CRANBERRY QUICK BREAD WITH VANILLA BEAN GLAZE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly brush one 9-by-5-by-3-inch loaf pan or three 6-by-3-by-2-inch mini loaf pans with melted butter and set aside.
• Combine the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, salt, baking soda, cinnamon and nutmeg in a medium bowl. Add the cranberries and walnuts and toss together. Set aside.
• Whisk together the melted butter, yogurt, vanilla extract, eggs and grated zest if using in a small bowl. Stir in the shredded pears. Fold this mixture into the flour mixture until just incorporated.
• Transfer the batter to the prepared loaf pan(s). Tap the bottom on a hard surface a few times and smooth the top. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 55 to 60 minutes for the regular and 35 to 40 minutes for the minis. Transfer to a wire rack to cool for 30 minutes, then turn the bread out and let cool completely on the rack.
• Whisk together the confectioners' sugar, milk and vanilla bean seeds in a small bowl.
• Pour the glaze over the bread and allow to set at room temperature, 15 to 20 minutes. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

PEAR, WALNUT & BLUE CHEESE TART

Steps:

• To make the pastry, blitz the walnuts in a food processor until they resemble breadcrumbs. Add the flour and a large pinch of salt. Pulse briefly to combine, then add the butter and pulse until it resembles large crumbs. Add the egg yolk and pulse until the dough comes together (add 1 tbsp cold water if it seems dry). Squash the dough into a disc, then wrap in baking parchment and chill for at least 30 mins.
• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/ gas 5. Heat the butter and 1 tbsp oil in a heavy-based frying pan or skillet over a medium heat, and cook the shallots, sage and chard stalks for 5-8 mins until soft and starting to caramelise. Add the chard leaves and continue to cook until wilted, then remove from the heat.
• Put the chilled pastry between two sheets of baking parchment and roll out to the thickness of a £1 coin. Use it to line a 20cm tart tin, then chill for 30 mins until firm. Toss the pear slices in 1-2 tsp oil on a baking sheet.
• Scrunch up a sheet of baking parchment and use it to line the pastry case, then fill with baking beans. Bake for 15 mins, alongside the pears. Remove both from the oven. Remove the parchment and beans from the pastry case, then bake for 8-10 mins more, until the bottom is golden and crisp.
• Lightly beat the eggs in a bowl, then season with some nutmeg and whisk in the crème fraîche. Stir in the cheese. Pour half the mixture into the tart case, then layer in two-thirds of the chard mixture. Arrange the roasted pear slices and remaining chard mix on top, then pour over the remaining custard. Dot over the walnut halves, then bake for 28-30 mins, or until golden and cooked through. Leave to cool for 20 mins, then slice and serve.

GOAT'S CHEESE, PEAR & WALNUT TARTINES

Steps:

• Heat a griddle pan. Cut the pears into quarters or eighths, brush with the oil and season. Cook for a few mins until charred on all sides, then drizzle with the honey.
• Meanwhile, toast the bread. Spread with the goat's cheese and top with the sticky pears, chives and walnuts. Drizzle over the balsamic vinegar and serve with some dressed salad leaves.

WALNUT QUICK BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F - Spray two mini loaf pans or one 8x4 loaf pan.
• Combine dry ingredients (except optional 1/4 cup nuts) in a med size bowl; set aside.
• Crack the egg into a measuring cup and stir to break yolk.
• Add milk up to the 3/4 cup mark; then add vanilla and oil.
• Make a well in the flour mixture and pour wet ingredients into the dry ingredients.
• Mix until combined. Don't over mix. If batter is very stiff add an additional tbsp milk.
• Transfer batter to prepared pan(s).
• Sprinkle on optional 1/4 cup chopped nuts and lightly press down so they adhere.
• Bake for 38 minutes or until tested done.
• Cool on a rack for 1/2 hour. While still warm, wrap well and let set overnight for best texture. Can be frozen.
• Variations: Pecans/rum extract; Coconut/vanilla or coconut extract; Almonds/almond extract.