Roquefort Toasts With Peppered Pears Recipes

ROQUEFORT, PEAR AND WALNUT TOASTS

Steps:

• Preheat the broiler.
• Arrange 12 slices of baguette on the broiler pan in a single layer. Toast bread lightly on each side under broiler. Remove broiler pan from broiler. Spread out sliced pears on cutting surface and squeeze the juice of a wedge of lemon over the slices to keep them from browning. Place a slice of pear on each toast and top with Roquefort crumbles and walnut pieces. Return pan to broiler 6 inches from heat source and broil toasts 2 or 3 minutes to melt cheese and toast walnuts. Transfer to a plate and start snacking!

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.

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.

PEARS WITH ROQUEFORT AND SAUTERNES SYRUP

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F Spread the walnuts on a baking sheet. Toast the walnuts in the preheated oven, 5-10 minutes, until fragrant and golden brown. Transfer to a plate to cool. Increase oven temperature to 375°F.
• Remove stems from pears. Slice in half and remove core and any fibers with a melon baller. Rub pears all over with olive oil, then season with salt and pepper. Place each pear (2 halves) in an individual gratin dish.
• Combine the cheese and walnuts. Pack this mixture into the cavity in each pear half. Add 1-2 tbsp Sauternes to each dish. Bake in preheated oven 30-35 minutes, until cheese is bubbly and pears are soft.
• Meanwhile, in a small pot, combine 1/2 c Sauternes with sugar. Bring to a boil, whisking until sugar dissolves and syrup is clear. Remove from heat and let cool while pears finish baking. Drizzle syrup over pears before serving.

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.

WATERCRESS AND ENDIVE SALAD WITH PEARS AND ROQUEFORT

Steps:

• Peel, core and thinly slice the pear. Cut the slices in half so they're not too long. Toss with the lime juice.
• Combine the pears, pecans, watercress, endive, blue cheese and tarragon in a large bowl. Whisk together the vinegar, mustard, salt, pepper, olive oil and walnut oil. Toss with the salad, and serve.

PEAR AND ROAST BEETS WITH ROQUEFORT

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Trim the stems from the beets. Place the beets on a rack and bake them in their skins for about an hour, or until they are tender when tested with a fork. Cool and slip off their skins.
• While the beets are cooling, place the walnuts on a baking sheet and toast them in the oven for about 10 minutes. Remove, cool and chop coarsely.
• Place the watercress leaves and the endive in a bowl. Whisk together the walnut oil, vinegar, salt and pepper and pour the dressing over the watercress and endive. Toss thoroughly and correct seasoning.
• Slice the beets; core and slice the pears. Divide the salad among four plates. Arrange slices of beets and pears on each salad plate. Crumble the Roquefort over the top, sprinkle with walnuts and a little more pepper and serve.

ROQUEFORT PEAR SALAD

Steps:

• Spread Spring Mix out on a large platter or place in a large but semi shallow serving dish. Top with pear slices, crumbled blue cheese, avocado slices, green onions and toasted pecans. In a separate small bowl or a quart sized canning jar, combine olive oil, vinegar, sugar, mustard, garlic, salt & pepper. Blend well or put a lid on your jar and give it a good shake. Serve salad with dressing on the side immediately.

ENDIVE WITH PEARS, WALNUTS, AND ROQUEFORT

Steps:

• In a small bowl, whisk together vinegar, salt, and pepper. Slowly whisk in oils; set aside. In a medium bowl, combine whole and cut-up endive, pear slices, walnuts, and cheese. Drizzle with dressing; gently toss to coat evenly. Divide among four salad bowls. Serve immediately.