Blue Cheese and Pears

Blue cheese and pears have been a favorite of my family’s for a long time. It is a popular combo we have out when we are enjoying a nice bottle of wine. Instead of having guests serve the cheese and pears separately I thought it would be nice to include them together in one dainty bite. I added the candied walnut as an extra bonus on top! It reminds me a delicious salad I’ve had with all three ingredients…such a great combination. If you wish, drizzle with balsamic vinegar to finish off this scrumptious appetizer recipe. The pears are best if you serve them on an ice cold tray. I do recommend chilling one and then keeping it over ice when you put these appetizers out.

Blue Cheese Pears with Candied Walnuts

4 ripe pears

1 wedge blue cheese crumbled

Candied walnuts (recipe follows)

Slice pears in 1/4 inch slices and then half those, cutting off area were the seeds are. Sprinkle a few crumbles on each slice. Press a piece of candied walnut on one of the crumbles. Serve as is or drizzle lightly with balsamic vinegar.

1/2 cup sugar

1 1/2 cups raw walnut halves

1/8 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spread walnuts out on a baking sheet and bake for 5 to 7 minutes. Walnuts should be nicely toasted but not burned. Set aside to cool.

Place sugar in small sauce pan and turn to medium heat. Stir sugar with wooden spoon until it is completely melted and a light yellowish/brown color. Quickly add all the walnuts and stir them around to coat.

Spread the walnuts out on wax paper, quickly separate the walnuts with two forks before they cool. Sprinkle the walnuts with salt and cool completely.