Pear Chutney Bruschetta With Pecans Blue Cheese 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.

BRUSCHETTA WITH TOMATOES, BLUE CHEESE, AND PECANS

Steps:

• In a small bowl, mash the cheeses together with a fork, leaving the mixture somewhat chunky.
• Mix in the pecans.
• Preheat the broiler.
• Arrange the bread on a small baking sheet and broil the slices for about a minute on each side, just until golden.
• Watch it carefully so it doesn't burn.
• Rub one side of each piece of bread with garlic.
• Spread some of the cheese mixture over each slice and arrange 2 or 3 overlapping tomato slices on top.
• Pepper the tomatoes lightly, then garnish with basil and serve.

PEAR CHUTNEY AND GOAT CHEESE BRUSCHETTA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Slice bread diagonally into 32 scant 1/2-inch-thick slices; reserve ends for making bread crumbs another day. Place bread slices on 2 cookie sheets. Toast bread 10 minutes or until crusty and dry, turning slices over once. Transfer bread to wire racks to cool.
• Meanwhile, prepare pear chutney: Peel and core pears; cut into 1/2-inch pieces. In nonstick 12-inch skillet, cook pears, sugar, raisins, vinegar, ginger, five-spice powder, and salt over medium heat 25 to 30 minutes or until all of liquid evaporates and sugar caramelizes, stirring frequently during the last 10 minutes of cooking. Mixture will become very thick and turn dark brown. Cool chutney to room temperature.
• Just before serving, assemble bruschetta: Spread 1 rounded teaspoon goat cheese evenly on each toasted bread slice. Top each with 1 scant tablespoon pear chutney and a parsley leaf.