Stilton Cheese Pear And Toasted Walnut Cupcakes With Cream Cheese Cucumber Dill Topping Food

CUCUMBER AND LEMONY DILL CREAM CHEESE TEA SANDWICHES

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the cream cheese, fresh dill, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Season the mixture with salt and pepper.
• Lay the slices of bread on your work service and distribute the cream cheese evenly among each slice, spreading into a thin layer. Arrange the cucumber slices in rows over 3 slices of the bread. Top with the remaining bread, and cut into quarters so there are 4 pieces from each sandwich. Serve immediately.

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.

TOASTED DILL DELIGHTS

Steps:

• Combine mayonnaise, dill, garlic powder, celery salt, pepper and Parmesan cheese in a small bowl. Arrange bread slices on baking sheet in a single layer. Broil 6 to 8 inches from heat for 30 to 45 seconds or until lightly toasted. Turn slices over; spread with mayonnaise mixture. Broil 1 minute or until lightly browned. Top each with tomato, green onion and olives. Serve immediately.

LOX AND CREAM CHEESE STUFFED CUCUMBERS

Steps:

• Using a peeler, create stripes on the outside of the cucumber by peeling along length of cucumber, leaving every other section intact. Cut off ends of cucumber and slice into 1-inch rounds. Using a melon baller, scoop out the seeds and inner flesh from the top 2/3's of each cucumber slice. Do not scoop all of the way through. Set aside. In a bowl, combine equal parts cream cheese and sour cream. Mix in salmon, shallots, lemon juice, salt and pepper, combining thoroughly. Transfer the mixture to a pastry bag with a star 8 tip. Pipe the filling generously into each cucumber section. Garnish with sprig of dill. As an alternative, use red pepper cream cheese.

CUCUMBER-WALNUT SALAD

Steps:

• Soak 1/2 thinly sliced red onion in ice water, 5 minutes; drain and pat dry. Combine 1 cup chopped toasted walnuts, the red onion, 6 chopped Persian cucumbers, 1/2 cup chopped parsley and 2 tablespoons chopped dill in a bowl. Add 1 teaspoon sugar, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt and a few grinds of pepper. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons each white wine vinegar and olive oil and toss.

STILTON CHEESE AND WALNUTS WITH DRIED APRICOT AND PISTACHIO DUST ON ENDIVE LEAF

Steps:

• In food processor, combine equal parts Stilton and cream cheese. Puree until a smooth consistency is achieved. Add ground walnuts and puree again. Spoon this mixture into a pastry bag with desired tip. Pipe onto endive leaves. Garnish with dried apricot and pistachio dust. Serve immediately.

ENDIVE SPEARS WITH STILTON CHEESE, TOASTED PECANS, AND SAUTEED PEARS

Steps:

• In a large saute pan, over medium heat, add the butter and sugar. Add the diced pears and cook until well caramelized, approximately 8 minutes.
• In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the garlic, red wine vinegar, salt, fresh ground pepper and olive oil. Add the mixture to the Stilton. Assemble the spears 1 by 1, starting with the cheese then the sauteed pear and topping them off with a toasted pecan. These can be garnished with a sprig of watercress or other herb, if desired. Arrange the spears on a plate by first making a small mound of cream cheese and then sticking each spear into the cream cheese in a floral, 3-dimensional pattern.

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.

STILTON, PEAR AND WALNUT TEA SANDWICHES

Steps:

• Toast the walnuts, then finely chop.
• Remove the core from the pear and slice thinly. Set aside.
• In a bowl, combine the crumbled cheese and nuts.
• Add the butter, tarragon, shallot, optional salt and pepper to this mixture and mix well.
• Spread the seasoned butter onto 8 slices of bread.
• Lay thinly sliced pears on four of the bread slices.
• Cover with the remaining four slices of bread.
• Wrap each sandwich securely with plastic wrap and refrigerate until cold and mixture is set.
• Unwrap the sandwiches and trim the crusts.
• Cut each sandwich into 4 triangles or squares.
• Note: To add a little color to the sandwiches, you might like to sprinkle a bit of the herbs on top of each square or trangle.

STILTON AND PEAR SALAD

Steps:

• In a small bowl whisk together the vinegar, the mustard, and salt and pepper to taste, add the oil in a stream, whisking, and whisk the dressing until it is emulsified. In a bowl toss the lettuce with half the dressing and divide the salad among 4 plates. Halve and core the pear and cut it lengthwise into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Arrange one fourth of the pear slices decoratively on each plate, divide the Stilton and the pecans among the salads, and drizzle the remaining dressing on top.

POTTED STILTON WITH PORT AND WALNUTS

Steps:

• To make the potted Stilton, simply mash the Stilton in a bowl, add the softened butter, the mace and port and continue to stir together well.
• (Traditional potted cheese recipes tend to use unclarified butter, presumably because cheese, especially when it is aided by alcohol, needs less protection from spoilage than meat.).
• Pack into ramekins or an attractive ceramic pot/s. Melt a little butter and pour over the top of the cheese to form a thin seal.
• Scatter the walnuts over the top & press them in slightly, then leave it to set.
• Refrigerate for up to a week. Serve after dinner with crackers or hot, toasted rye bread, with a ripe pear alongside. Alternatively, try as a sandwich filling on wholemeal bread, augmented by plenty of crisp salad leaves to cut through the richness of this delicious potted cheese!