Balsamic Roasted Pear With Warm Goat Cheese Food

ROASTED PEARS WITH BLUE CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Peel the pears and slice them lengthwise into halves. With a small sharp paring knife and a melon baller, remove the core and seeds from each pear, leaving a round well for the filling. Trim a small slice away from the rounded sides of each pear half so that they will sit in the baking dish without wobbling. Toss the pears with some lemon juice to prevent them from turning brown. Arrange them, core side up, in a baking dish large enough to hold the pears snugly.
• Gently toss the crumbled blue cheese, dried cranberries, and walnuts together in a small bowl. Divide the mixture among the pears, mounding it on top of the indentation.
• In the same small bowl, combine the apple cider, port, and brown sugar, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Pour the mixture over and around the pears. Bake the pears, basting occasionally with the cider mixture, for 30 minutes, or until tender. Set aside until warm or at room temperature.
• Just before serving, whisk together the olive oil, 1/4 cup of lemon juice, and 1/4 cup of the basting liquid in a large bowl. Divide the arugula among 6 plates and top each with a pear half. Drizzle each pear with some of the basting liquid, sprinkle with salt, and serve warm.

ROASTED BABY PEARS WITH HERBED GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• In a small bowl, mix the goat cheese, herbs, and 2 tablespoons olive oil; season with salt and pepper. Halve the pears and scoop out the seeds and cores. Stuff each pear half with about a tablespoon of the cheese. Wrap each stuffed pear with a slice of bacon and place it on a baking sheet. Drizzle some olive oil over the pears and season them with salt and pepper. Bake them until the pears are tender and the bacon is crisp, about 25 to 30 minutes. Place the pears onto a platter, drizzle with the honey, and garnish with the arugula.

BALSAMIC ROASTED PEAR WITH WARM GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Pre-heat oven to 400º F.
• Melt butter in ovenproof baking dish.
• Arrange pears, cut-sides-down, in a layer of the butter and roast for about 20 minutes, or until tender.
• Pour balsamic vinegar over pears and roast 5 minutes longer.
• Remove pears from baking dish and arrange on serving plates.
• Add honey to the juices in the baking dish, stirring until melted and combined.
• Add the slices of goat cheese to the hot mixture and warm the cheese until just soft.
• With a spatula, place the warm goat cheese on the plates next to each pear and drizzle with the balsamic and honey sauce.

WARM GOAT CHEESE SALAD WITH PEAR

Steps:

• Slice the goat cheese into four 1/2" disks. If the cheese crumbles, use your hands to form it back into a disk. Pour the bread crumbs onto a plate and toss with the thyme and a pinch each of salt and pepper.
• Dip the goat cheese into the egg, then into the crumb mixture, turning to coat evenly. Place the disks on a plate and into the freezer for 15 minutes to firm up.
• Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Place the goat cheese on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray and bake for 10 minutes, until the cheese is soft and the crumbs are toasted. Remove. While the oven is still hot, toast the walnuts for 5 minutes.
• Toss the lettuce with the vinaigrette and pear. Divide between 4 plates. Top with walnuts and goat cheese.

ROASTED-PEAR AND GOAT CHEESE SALAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. To make the vinaigrette, combine the vinegars with the salt and pepper in a salad bowl. Slowly whisk in the pumpkinseed oil and then the canola oil. Adjust the seasoning with additional salt and pepper to taste, and set aside.
• Place pears in a roasting pan that has been lightly sprayed with oil. Lightly spray the pears, and roast for 40 minutes, or until golden and nearly soft. Remove from the oven, and allow to cool slightly.
• To assemble the salad, place the pear quarters in the center of each of four plates. Toss the mesclun with the vinaigrette; then, add the goat cheese in small pinches and toss carefully. Surround the pears with the goat cheese salad. Sprinkle the toasted pumpkin seeds over the arrangement. Drizzle 1 tablespoon pumpkinseed oil over the pears, and serve.

BALSAMIC-ROASTED PEARS WITH PEPPER AND HONEY

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Melt butter in an 8-inch square glass baking dish in middle of oven, about 3 minutes.
• Arrange pears, cut sides down, in 1 layer in butter and roast in middle of oven until tender, about 20 minutes.
• Pour vinegar over pears and roast 5 minutes more.
• Transfer pears, cut sides down, to serving plates with cheese and spoon some of juices from baking dish over pears. Drizzle pears and cheese with honey and sprinkle with pepper.

BALSAMIC-GLAZED PEAR AND GOAT CHEESE CROSTINI

Steps:

• Slice pears stem side up into 12 quarter-inch width vertical planks. Cut large slices in half lengthwise for a total of 48 slices.
• Heat vinegar, butter, and honey in large frying pan over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring constantly, until reduced by half, about 2 tablespoons. Add pear slices and continue cooking for 1 minute, turning once.
• Place 2 pear slices on each baguette round and top with 1 teaspoon goat cheese. Sprinkle almonds over cheese and garnish with fresh pepper, if desired.
• *To toast almonds, place in heavy frying pan and toast over medium heat, stirring constantly, for 1 to 2 minutes or until tan with toasted aroma.

GRIDDLED PEARS WITH GOAT'S CHEESE & HAZELNUT DRESSING

Steps:

• Combine the hazelnuts with the oil, vinegar and a pinch of sea salt flakes. Slice each pear into six wedges.
• Heat a griddle pan over a high heat and griddle the pear wedges until slightly charred. Arrange three in a line on each plate. Tuck some watercress around the pears, then crumble over the goat's cheese. Dot over the hazelnut dressing.