Roquefort Pear And Walnut Toasts Food

ROQUEFORT TOASTS WITH PEPPERED PEARS

Steps:

• Heat a griddle pan until very hot, brush or toss the pears with a little oil, sprinkle with the crushed pepper, then griddle for 1-2 mins on each side until nicely striped.
• Put the cheese into a mixing bowl, break it up a little with a wooden spoon, then beat it until almost smooth. Very softly whip the cream in a small bowl, then fold into the cheese and spoon into 2 small ramekins or pots.
• Whisk the dressing ingredients together with some seasoning, turn the leaves in the dressing a few times to coat, then serve with the toasted sourdough, griddled pears and the cheese.

PEARS STUFFED WITH ROQUEFORT AND WALNUTS IN PASTRY

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°F.
• Mash together cheese, bread crumbs, walnuts, and pepper to taste with a fork. Freeze mixture just until firm, about 10 minutes.
• Scoop out center of bottom of each pear with large end of a melon-ball cutter, then continue to remove core to make a 1/4-cup cavity. Fill each cavity evenly with cheese mixture and seal bottom with a small piece of bread.
• Roll out pastry 1/16 inch thick into a 15-inch square on a lightly floured surface with a floured rolling pin. Cut dough into quarters to make 4 equal pieces.
• Stand 1 pear in center of a pastry square and brush pear all over with egg. Bring 1 corner of pastry up toward top of pear, pressing it against pear to adhere. Repeat with adjacent corner, then generously brush extending pastry fold with egg before pressing closely against side of pear. Repeat process with remaining 2 corners. Fold top points of pastry 1/4 inch down (see photo) and brush with egg. Transfer wrapped pear to a buttered large shallow (1-inch-deep) baking pan and chill while wrapping remaining pears (make sure pears are 5 inches apart in baking pan).
• Chill wrapped pears 30 minutes.
• Bake pears in middle of oven 20 minutes, or until fruit is just tender when pierced with a knife and pastry is golden and cooked through (pastry will shrink a bit). Cool pears at least 15 minutes before serving warm or at room temperature.

APPLE, PEAR AND WALNUT STUFFED FRENCH TOAST

Steps:

• For the fruit-nut mixture: Mix the butter with the apples, pears, walnuts and cinnamon in a medium bowl. Refrigerate to chill briefly.
• For the French toast: Meanwhile, in a large flat dish, whisk together the eggs, milk, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt and vanilla.
• Make a deep slice from the side into the center of each bread slice to form a pocket. Stuff a couple spoonfuls of the fruit-nut mixture into each piece (reserve any leftover fruit-nut mixture for serving). Dip the stuffed bread in the egg mixture to moisten on both sides (but not so much that the bread falls apart).
• Heat a large skillet over medium heat and melt 1 tablespoon of butter. In batches, add the stuffed bread and cook until golden brown, flipping gently, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Continue cooking the remaining bread, adding additional butter as needed.
• Put the extra fruit-nut mixture in the skillet and cook a few minutes over medium heat, just to soften the fruit. Spoon over the French toast and serve with warm maple syrup.

MULLED PEARS WITH ROQUEFORT DRESSING

Steps:

• Put the pears in a pan large enough to fit them in a single layer on the base. Pour over the wine and 300ml water, sprinkle over the sugar, then add the cinnamon stick. Put a small saucepan lid on top so the pears stay submerged under the liquid, then simmer for 10 mins until tender, but not mushy. Cool in the liquid, then chill until ready to eat. Can be made the previous day.
• Make the dressings. First, mix the vinegar and oil with seasoning in a bowl. Make the Roquefort dressing by slowly warming the cheese in a pan with the crème fraîche.
• Toast the pecans in a dry pan, then set aside. Take the pears from their poaching liquid, slice them three-quarters of the way up from the base toward the stalk end, then fan out on plates. Toss the watercress in the vinegar and oil dressing, pile onto the plates, then sprinkle over the nuts. Pour the warm Roquefort dressing around the pears or serve in shot glasses or mini jugs on the plates for guests to pour themselves.

TOAST AU ROQUEFORT

Steps:

• Put the cheese and creme fraiche into the container of a food processor or electric blender. Blend thoroughly. Scrape the mixture into a small bowl and add the walnuts. Blend well.
• Toast the bread on both sides.
• Spread one slice of toast with one-sixth of the cheese mixture. Top this with a second slice of toast and spread this with another sixth of the cheese mixture. Repeat with a third slice of toast and top with a final slice of toast. Press gently to make a sandwich. Prepare a second sandwich in the same manner as the first.
• Using a sharp knife with a serrated blade, carefully trim off and discard the crusts of each sandwich. Cut each of the trimmed sandwiches into four rectangles of equal size. Arrange on a platter and garnish with sprigs of chervil.

ROQUEFORT BUTTER AND RED PEAR TEA SANDWICHES

Steps:

• Combine lemon juice and the water in a small bowl; immerse sliced pears until ready to use to prevent discoloration. Blot dry with paper towels before using.
• In a medium bowl, gently stir Roquefort into butter, leaving small bits of cheese. Be careful not to overmix, or the butter will turn blue. Add pepper.
• Spread a thin layer of Roquefort butter on two slices of bread. Line one with pears, overlapping slightly, and top with the other bread slice. Use a serrated knife to trim crusts and cut into three rectangles (about 1 by 3 inches). Repeat with remaining ingredients. Cover with damp paper towels until ready to serve.