Stilton Penne With Zest Food

BLUE CHEESE PASTA

Steps:

• Boil the pasta according to pack instructions. In a saucepan, melt the butter, then gently fry the onion until golden. Add the garlic and sage, fry for a further 2 mins, then remove the pan from the heat. Drain the pasta and reserve some cooking water. Stir through the buttery onions, stilton and 2 tbsp cooking water, then sprinkle with the toasted walnuts to serve.

LEMON SPAGHETTI

Steps:

• Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes. Meanwhile, whisk the oil, Parmesan, and lemon juice in a large bowl to blend.
• Drain the pasta, reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid. Toss the pasta with the lemon sauce, and the reserved cooking liquid, adding 1/4 cup at a time as needed to moisten. Season with salt and pepper. Garnish with lemon zest and chopped basil.

LEMON RICOTTA PANCAKES WITH FIGS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, whisk together the ricotta, buttermilk, eggs, sugar, lemon zest, lemon juice, and vanilla. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt. While stirring with a rubber spatula, add the flour mixture to the ricotta mixture and mix just until combined. Set aside for 5 minutes.
• Heat a large (12-inch) saute pan over medium heat. Pour in a tablespoon or two of the clarified butter and heat until the butter sizzles. Stir the batter with a rubber spatula. Using a standard (2 1/4-inch) ice cream scoop, drop level scoopfuls of batter into the pan and allow them to cook for a few minutes, until bubbles appear all over the top. While the pancakes cook, distribute the figs on the pancakes, then turn to cook on the other side, until they spring back when lightly touched. Repeat with the remaining batter, adding clarified butter to the pan as needed. Transfer to plates, sprinkle with lemon zest, dot with butter, and drizzle with maple syrup. Serve hot.

PENNE WITH GRIDDLED STEAK, STILTON & SHALLOTS

Steps:

• Boil the pasta. Meanwhile, heat the oil, add the shallots and gently fry until they are softened and lightly coloured. Remove from the frying pan with a slotted spoon.
• Increase the heat under the frying pan, season the steaks and fry on each side for 3-4 mins, depending on their thickness and how you like them cooked. Remove from the heat, transfer to a board and leave to rest for a few mins.
• Drain the pasta, return it to the pan with the shallots and stilton, then heat gently until the cheese starts to melt. Take the pan off the heat. Slice the steak and add to the pan with the watercress. Toss everything together and serve.

STILTON CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Set oven at 325 degrees F.
• Combine melted butter and crushed cookies in a bowl until mixed and press into the bottom of a 9-inch spring-form pan.
• Crumble Stilton into a bowl.
• Add cream cheese and sugar, then beat with an electric mixer until well blended.
• Beat in eggs, one at a time until smooth and creamy.
• Add vanilla.
• Stir in flour, sour cream and dry vermouth or lemon juice until well blended.
• Pour cheese mixture over crust.
• Bake in oven for 1 hour, or until firm.
• Turn off heat and let cake cool in oven for 1 hour.
• Cool on wire rack 1 hour and cover pan with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
• Loosen cake from spring-form side with a narrow knife and remove side when ready to serve.
• (This cheese cake freezes well).

STILTON CHEESE, PASTA AND WALNUT SALAD

Steps:

• Cook the pasta according to packet instructions, drain, toss in olive oil and let cool completely.
• Whisk together the dressing ingredients.
• Add salt and pepper to taste.
• Toss the salad leaves in a little of the walnut dressing so that each leaf is covered in dressing.
• Add the crumbled stilton cheese and toss again gently.
• Garnish with the walnut halves.
• Serve the rest of the dressing with the salad.