Aged Cheese With Apricot Paste And Toasted Almonds Recipes

AGED CHEESE WITH APRICOT PASTE AND TOASTED ALMONDS

Steps:

• Put the apricots in a small bowl and cover with warm water.
• Cover bowl and set aside 30 minutes.
• Drain, reserving liquid.
• Purée plumped apricots in a food processor with 1/3 cup reserved soaking liquid until very smooth.
• Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
• Put the purée into a small saucepan with the sugar and lemon juice.
• Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring often.
• Then reduce heat to medium-low and cook until the purée thickens slightly and deepens in color, about 12 minutes.
• Stir often.
• If necessary, reduce heat or remove pan from heat for a few moments to avoid scorching.
• Little by little, sprinkle pectin over the fruit, stirring constantly to help it dissolve.
• When all the pectin has been stirred in, increase heat to medium-high and cook 1 minute longer, stirring constantly.
• Transfer to an 8-inch square pan, spreading evenly.
• Let cool completely, then cover and refrigerate until fully set, about 2 hours.
• The paste may be made up to a week in advance and refrigerated, covered.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Put almonds in a small baking dish, drizzle with olive oil and toss to evenly coat.
• Toast almonds until they begin to turn deep golden brown, about 12 minutes.
• Stir a few times to brown evenly.
• Remove from oven, sprinkle with salt and toss to coat.
• The nuts may be toasted a day ahead and stored in an airtight container.
• To serve, slice cheese into ½-inch slices or into individual wedges and put to one side of individual serving plates.
• Cut apricot paste into 2-inch squares or diamonds and set 2 or 3 pieces opposite the cheese, with a small pile of toasted almonds alongside.
• Note: This dish was inspired by the classic Spanish pairing of manchego cheese, an aged sheep's milk cheese, with quince paste.
• Other cheeses to consider are a sharp cheddar or other sheep's milk cheeses.

ALMOND, APRICOT, AND CREAM CHEESE CROSTATA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F. Blend almond paste and 3 tablespoons sugar in processor until finely chopped. Add cream cheese, egg yolk, and vanilla and blend until filling is smooth. Unroll crust on heavy rimmed baking sheet. Spread filling over crust, leaving 1 1/2-inch plain border. Arrange apricot quarters, rounded side down, in spoke pattern in 2 concentric circles atop filling. Fold dough border up over edge of filling. Brush exposed apricots with warm jam. Sprinkle with remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar.
• Bake crostata until crust is golden brown and apricots are tender and slightly browned, about 43 minutes. Sprinkle with crushed amaretti. Cool 30 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

AMARETTO CHEESE-FILLED APRICOTS

Steps:

• Gently loosen a long side of each apricot, splitting apricots to resemble clamshells. In a small bowl, beat the cream cheese, 1/4 cup almonds, cherries and amaretto until blended. Spoon 1-1/4 teaspoons filling into each apricot. , Place remaining almonds in a small shallow dish; roll exposed cheese portions of apricots in nuts.

BAKED APRICOTS WITH ALMOND TOPPING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Butter a 9-inch square baking dish. Process almonds and brown sugar in a food processor until almonds are finely chopped. Add butter; process until just combined.
• Place apricot halves, cut sides up, in buttered baking dish. Cover top of each apricot half with almond mixture. Bake until apricots are soft and almond mixture is deep golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes. Transfer 3 apricot halves to each serving plate. Serve warm.

AMARETTO CHEESE-FILLED APRICOTS

Steps:

• In small bowl, mix cream cheese, 1/4 cup of the almonds, the cherries and amaretto with spoon. Spoon into small resealable food-storage plastic bag. Cut 1/2 inch off 1 corner of bag.
• With fingers, open apricots along one side so they resemble partially open clamshells. Pipe about 1 teaspoon cheese mixture into each apricot.
• Finely chop remaining almonds. Dip cheese edge of apricots into almonds. Refrigerate 1 hour before serving to chill.

APRICOT & ALMOND CHEESE LOG

Steps:

• Mix reduced-fat cream cheese, apricots and zest until well blended. Shape into 6-inch log.
• Roll in nuts until evenly coated on all sides. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap.
• Refrigerate 30 min. Serve as a spread with the crackers.

APRICOT ALMOND TORTE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, beat eggs, sugar and vanilla on high speed until thick and lemon-colored. Combine flour, almonds, baking powder and salt; gradually fold into egg mixture alternately with the whipped cream., Transfer to two greased and floured 9-in. round baking pans. Bake 22-28 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely., In a large bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar and salt until smooth. Beat in extract. Fold in whipped cream., Cut each cake horizontally into two layers. Place bottom layer on a serving plate; spread with 1 cup frosting. Top with another cake layer; spread with half the preserves. Repeat layers. Frost sides of cake; decorate the top edge with remaining frosting. Sprinkle with almonds.

LUSCIOUS CHEESE CREPES WITH APRICOT SAUCE

Steps:

• In blender process milk, eggs, melted butter or margarine, sugar and vanilla until blended.
• Add flour and process until smooth.
• In omlet pan or 8" skillet sprayed with cooking spray, pour 1/4 cup batter and tilt pan to allow batter to coat bottom.
• Cook over medium heat 1 minute or until cooked.
• Loosen edges and turn onto plate; keep warm.
• Repeat with remaining batter.
• Evenly spread cream cheese down center of each crepe; sprinkle with toasted almonds, roll up and set aside.
• In same skillet, bring remaining butter or margarine, preserves and liqueur to a boil.
• Reduce heat to low and add crepes.
• Cook spooning sauce over crepes, 1 minute or until crepes are heated through.
• Sprinkle with toasted almonds.
• Carefully slide crepes onto serving platter and serve immediately.

APRICOT CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a 9-inch springform pan with parchment paper.
• Combine almond flour, brown sugar, and almonds in a bowl. Add melted butter; stir with a fork until the mixture resembles wet sand. Spread on the bottom of the parchment-lined pan.
• Combine apricots and water in a saucepan; bring to a boil and simmer until very soft, about 10 minutes. Drain; mash apricots into a pulp. Add amaretto; mix well. Sweeten with 1 teaspoon white sugar.
• Beat cream cheese, 3/4 cup white sugar, 1/2 cup sour cream, cornstarch, and 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract in a bowl using an electric mixer on low speed. Add eggs one at a time; mix well. Fold in 2 tablespoons of apricot pulp; reserve remainder for topping. Pour cheesecake batter into the pan, covering the crust.
• Bake in the preheated oven until edges are puffed and surface of cheesecake is firm except for a small spot in the center that will jiggle when the pan is gently shaken, about 45 minutes.
• Beat 1 1/2 cups sour cream, 3 tablespoons white sugar, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract together until combined. Remove cheesecake from the hot oven; spoon topping over the surface and return cake to the oven for 8 minutes more.
• Cool to room temperature, about 1 hour. Refrigerate for 6 to 8 hours. Top with remaining apricot pulp.

PHILADELPHIA® APRICOT-ALMOND SPREAD

Steps:

• Place cream cheese on serving plate.
• Top with jam; sprinkle with almonds.
• Serve with crackers.