Stilton Stuffed Baked Pears Food

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.

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.

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.

PEAR AND STILTON SANDWICHES

Steps:

• Spread each bread slice with the softened butter. Sprinkle the pear slices with the lemon juice. Place half of the pear slices in a single layer on a slice of the bread. Top with half of the crumbled cheese and a second bread slice. Repeat, using the remaining pear slices, cheese and bread.

PAN-ROASTED PEARS WITH HONEY, HAZELNUTS AND STILTON

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place the hazelnuts on a baking sheet and bake until toasted, about 10 minutes. Place the nuts between 2 kitchen towels and rub to remove as much skin as possible. Coarsely chop the nuts and set aside.
• Melt the butter in a medium-size cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add the pears and cook until caramelized on both sides, about 3 to 5 minutes. Lower the heat and add the honey to the skillet. When the honey melts, turn the pears to coat them on both sides. Cover and cook until the pears are tender but not too soft, about 5 minutes.
• Cut each pear half across into 1/4-inch-thick slices, but keep the shape intact. Place each pear half onto 1 plate and fan it forward. Place a piece of Stilton beside the pears and scatter each plate with some of the hazelnuts. Serve immediately.

POACHED PEARS WITH STILTON

Steps:

• Pour wine into a medium saucepan; add lemon juice, lemon zest, sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla bean and seeds. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring, until sugar has dissolved. Continue cooking for 5 minutes more.
• Add pears and reduce heat to a gentle simmer. Place a parchment paper round in saucepan to cover and submerge pears. Cook until pears are easily pierced with a knife, but not mushy, about 45 minutes.
• Using a slotted spoon, transfer pears to a large bowl and set aside. Return saucepan to stove; bring to a boil over medium-high heat and cook until reduced by half. Pour reduced liquid over pears. Place a parchment paper round in bowl to cover and submerge pears; cover bowl and transfer to refrigerator at least 6 hours and up to overnight.
• One hour before serving, remove pears from refrigerator; bring to room temperature. Just before serving, halve and core pears and serve drizzled with reduced poaching liquid and a slice of cheese.

GOAT CHEESE & PEAR STUFFED TENDERLOIN

Steps:

• In a large skillet, saute pears in butter until tender., Cut a lengthwise slit down the center of the tenderloin to within 1/2 in. of bottom. Open tenderloin so it lies flat. On each half, make another lengthwise slit down the center to within 1/2 in. of bottom; open roast and cover with plastic wrap. Flatten to 1/2-in. thickness. Remove plastic., Spread the pears, arugula, cheese and herbs over meat to within 1 in. of edge. Roll up jelly-roll style, starting with a long side. Tie the roast at 1-1/2-inch intervals with kitchen string., Place on a rack in a shallow roasting pan. Combine the oil, salt and pepper; rub over roast. Bake at 425° for 40-50 minutes or until meat reaches desired doneness (for medium-rare, a thermometer should read 135°; medium, 140°; medium-well, 145°). Let stand for 15 minutes before slicing., In a small saucepan, saute shallots in butter until tender. Add sherry; cook over low heat for 4 minutes. Add broth and tarragon. Combine cornstarch and water until smooth; gradually stir into the pan. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 1 minute or until thickened. Serve with beef.

ENDIVE, STILTON AND PEAR TART

Steps:

• Melt butter in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add endive, shallots and curry; sauté until endive is golden, about 8 minutes. Add pears and vinegar and cook until pears are tender, about 2 minutes. Transfer to bowl and cool.
• Preheat oven to 425°F. Place both pastry sheets on lightly floured work surface. Cut one 9-inch round from each pastry sheet. Place 1 round on heavy cookie sheet. Brush pastry with egg. Stir cheese and chives into endive mixture. Arrange endive mixture atop pastry round, leaving 1/2-inch border. Cover with remaining pastry round. Press and crimp edges to seal. Brush tart with egg. Using small sharp knife, cut small hole in center of tart. Freeze 10 minutes.
• Bake tart until puffed and golden brown, about 25 minutes. Let tart stand 1 hour before serving.