Pear And Stilton Bruschetta Food

BLUE CHEESE AND PEAR BRUSCHETTA

Steps:

• Cut pears into a small dice, and place in a small bowl.
• Sprinkle pears with lemon juice and toss. Add the parsley, blue cheese, and oil and toss gently and thoroughly.
• Season to taste with freshly ground black pepper. Set aside.
• Preheat the broiler. Arrange bread slices in a single layer on a baking sheet and toast under the broiler until lightly browned and crisp, 1 to 2 minutes per side.
• Spread each toast round with a teaspoon of mascarpone. Top with a generous tablespoon of the diced pear mixture, mounding it up high and pressing it firmly.
• Finish each one with a sprinkling of walnuts and serve.

PEAR & PROSCIUTTO BRUSCHETTA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to Broil. In a small bowl, mix pear, onion, 1 Tablespoon olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and thyme. Set aside to marinate for 5 minutes. While Pears are marinating, lay baguettes slices on a cookie sheet. Using a pastry brush, brush the tops of each with olive oil (about 3 Tablespoons total) Heat bruschetta slices in oven for 3 - 5 minutes. WATCH CAREFULLY as your baguette may burn. You want a slightly golden top. DO NOT OVER COOK. (Your oven will cook different than mine so watch close, cooking times are estimates.) Remove from oven. Sprinkle each with crumbled blue cheese and allow blue cheese to slowly warm and melt. While Baguette slices are still warm but not burning hot, Spread blue cheese onto each slice. Spoon pear mixture onto the blue cheese. Top with sliced prosciutto. Serve Immediately.

PEAR, STILTON, AND PROSCIUTTO BRUSCHETTA

Steps:

• Peel, quarter, and core the pears. Toss them with the lemon juice in a medium bowl, then lightly brush all sides of each piece with oil.
• Brush one side of each baguette slice with oil.
• Grill the pears on medium heat, with the lid closed as much as possible, turning occasionally, until crisp-tender, about 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from grill and cut each quarter into about eight slices.
• Grill the baguette slices and the prosciutto over direct medium heat with the lid open about 1 to 2 minutes, until the bread is lightly toasted on one side and the prosciutto is crisp. Remove from the grill and chop the prosciutto.
• Combine the cheeses in a small bowl, spread about 1 tablespoon of the mixture on the grilled side of each baguette slice. Place about 3 slices of pear on top of the cheese and top with some chopped grilled prosciutto, then drizzle with a small amount of honey.

PEAR & GORGONZOLA CROSTINI

Steps:

• Halve and core the pears, then cut each one into 12 small wedges. Place in a heavy-based saucepan with the honey, port and wine. Cook for 5-10 minutes or until the pears are just tender when pierced with the tip of a sharp knife (they shouldn't be soft).
• Carefully tip the pears into a sieve set over a small saucepan and allow them to drain thoroughly.
• Reduce the liquid in the saucepan by two-thirds - it should have a syrupy consistency like runny honey. This will take 10-12 minutes. Pour the syrup into a small bowl and allow to cool while you prepare the bruschettas.
• Preheat the grill to hot. Cut the bread into 24 slices and brush both sides of each slice with olive oil. Grill until the bruschettas are golden on both sides. This only takes a minute, so keep watch.
• Spread each bruschetta with a little gorgonzola and top with a poached pear wedge. Arrange the bruschettas on a serving plate and drizzle with the port syrup using a teaspoon. Sprinkle over a little mustard and cress.
• Prepare ahead: you can poach the pears the day before and serve them cold - they're just as nice. Take them out of the syrup and reduce, then store the pears and syrup in separate plastic containers in the fridge. If the syrup is too thick the next day, add a little warm water, and if it is too thin, you can reduce it by simmering for a minute or two.

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.

PEAR, DATE & WALNUT SALAD WITH CREAMY STILTON DRESSING

Steps:

• Cut the pear quarters into thin slices and toss in a bowl with the lime juice to help protect their natural colour. Blend the crème fraîche with half the stilton, ginger syrup to taste, and enough water (3-4 tbsp) to give a smooth, thick coating consistency. (Don't add too much water or it may separate.)
• Scatter the pear slices over six serving plates and follow with the walnuts, dates and remaining cheese. Can be prepared to this stage up to an hour ahead.
• Drizzle each salad with a little of the dressing and some walnut oil. Season with a grinding of pepper - you shouldn't need salt, as the cheese is salty. Mix the salad leaves and watercress very lightly with just a bit more dressing - some leaves should be touched by the dressing, some untouched. Gently pile the leaves on top of each salad.

STEAK & STILTON BRUSCHETTA

Steps:

• Heat a griddle pan. Rub the steak with the olive oil, season, then cook for 2-4 mins on each side or until done to your liking. Put the steak on a plate to rest.
• Put the roll halves cut-side down in the pan for 2 mins to soak up the meat juices and toast until golden brown. Spread the toasted side with the mustard and pile the watercress on top.
• Cut the steak in half, sit on top of the watercress, then crumble over the stilton. Drizzle with a splash of balsamic vinegar, tip over any steak resting juices and serve.

STILTON-STUFFED BAKED PEARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine sugar and butter in a small bowl and stir until well blended. Add cheese, cranberries and pecans. Stir well.
• Cut 1 inch off stem end of each pear; reserve top. Remove core from stem end, and scoop out about 2 tablespoons pulp from each pear to form a cup, using a melon baller or spoon. If necessary, cut about 1/4 inch from base of pears so they will sit flat. Place the pears in a 13 x9 inch baking dish. Fill each pear with about 2 tablespoons sugar mixture, and replace top on each.
• Combine juice and port in a small bowl, pour into baking dish. Bake pears at 375 degrees for 30 minutes or until tender. Serve warm.