Apricots With Blue Cheese Topping Recipes

DRIED APRICOTS WITH BLUE CHEESE

Steps:

• Stir nuts in a small frying pan over medium heat until toasted, about 4 minutes.
• Pour from pan and cool.
• In a small bowl or food processor, beat or process cheeses and pepper.
• Spread equal amounts of cheese mixture on each apricot half.
• Press a nut onto cheese.
• Press cheese-side down into minced parsley.
• Serve cheese-side up on a platter.

ROASTED PEARS WITH BLUE CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Peel the pears and slice them lengthwise into halves. With a small sharp paring knife and a melon baller, remove the core and seeds from each pear, leaving a round well for the filling. Trim a small slice away from the rounded sides of each pear half so that they will sit in the baking dish without wobbling. Toss the pears with some lemon juice to prevent them from turning brown. Arrange them, core side up, in a baking dish large enough to hold the pears snugly.
• Gently toss the crumbled blue cheese, dried cranberries, and walnuts together in a small bowl. Divide the mixture among the pears, mounding it on top of the indentation.
• In the same small bowl, combine the apple cider, port, and brown sugar, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Pour the mixture over and around the pears. Bake the pears, basting occasionally with the cider mixture, for 30 minutes, or until tender. Set aside until warm or at room temperature.
• Just before serving, whisk together the olive oil, 1/4 cup of lemon juice, and 1/4 cup of the basting liquid in a large bowl. Divide the arugula among 6 plates and top each with a pear half. Drizzle each pear with some of the basting liquid, sprinkle with salt, and serve warm.

CHICKEN SALAD WITH APRICOTS, CELERY, AND BLUE CHEESE

Steps:

• Toss chicken, celery stalks, and 1 tsp. salt in a large bowl. Let sit until ready to serve.
• Whisk buttermilk, vinegar, honey, 1 tsp. pepper, and remaining 1/2 tsp. salt in a small bowl or measuring cup. Pour over celery mixture. Add apricots, blue cheese, mint, and celery leaves and toss just to coat.
• Transfer salad to a platter and season with more pepper.

SPICY MOLTEN BLUE CHEESE DIP

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Place cream cheese in bowl of a food processor and pulse to soften.
• Using a mortar and pestle or flat part of a knife, mash garlic and salt together until it forms a paste. Place paste in food processor along with cream, mayonnaise, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce and pepper. Run motor until mixture is smooth. Add blue cheese and chives and pulse just to combine.
• Scrape mixture into a small (1-quart or smaller) gratin dish or baking pan, and bake until dip is melted and bubbling, 30 to 40 minutes. Sprinkle extra hot sauce on top, if desired, and serve hot or warm, with celery sticks and chips or chicken wings if you like.

APRICOTS WITH BLUE CHEESE TOPPING

Steps:

• 1. Cut apricots in half and remove seed, or drain canned apricots well on absorbent paper. Put apricots cut side up on serving plate. Spread each with a teaspoon of cheese. If desired, apricots and cheese may be grilled for about 1 minute or til cheese begins to melt. Serve at once, Makes 24

BLUE CHEESE-TOPPED STEAKS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a small bowl, combine the blue cheese, bread crumbs, parsley, chives and pepper. Press onto 1 side of each steak., In a large nonstick skillet, cook steaks over medium-high heat for 2 minutes on each side. Transfer to a 15x10x1-in. baking pan coated with cooking spray. , Bake until meat reaches desired doneness (for medium-rare, a thermometer should read 135°; medium, 140°; medium-well, 145°), 6-8 minutes., Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, melt butter. Whisk in flour until smooth. Gradually whisk in broth and wine. Bring to a boil; cook and stir until thickened, 2 minutes. If desired, stir in browning sauce. Serve with steaks.

BACON-WRAPPED APRICOT BITES

Steps:

• Cut bacon strips widthwise into thirds. In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until partially cooked but not crisp. Remove to paper towels to drain. , Wrap a bacon piece around each apricot; secure with a toothpick. Place in an ungreased 15x10x1-in. baking pan., Bake at 350° until bacon is crisp, 18-22 minutes. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the barbecue sauce, honey and mustard. Serve with warm apricot bites.

APRICOTS WITH BLUE CHEESE

Steps:

• Cut apricots in half and remove pits, place in large bowl.
• Mix oil and lime juice together and season with salt and pepper, pour over apricots and toss gently.
• Place apricot halves, cut-side-up, on cookie sheets.
• Cut blue cheese into small pieces and place in the centre of each apricot.
• No more than one hour before serving place under preheated broil for one to two minutes or just until cheese softens.