Blue Cheese And Pecan Strudel Recipes

ROQUEFORT AND PEAR STRUDEL

Steps:

• For dough:
• Combine 2 cups flour, 3/4 cup warm water, oil, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in large bowl of stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment. Mix on medium speed 3 minutes (dough will be sticky). Remove strudel dough from bowl and divide in half. Form each dough half into ball; wrap each in plastic. Refrigerate 1 dough ball overnight for strudel; freeze second dough ball for another use.
• For filling:
• Melt 1 1/2 teaspoons butter in heavy large skillet over high heat. Add pears and sauté until soft, about 4 minutes. Strain pear mixture, discarding juices, then transfer pears to rimmed baking sheet, spacing apart; cool completely. Transfer cooled pears to large bowl. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.
• Add cheese, pecans, flour, and lemon juice to pears and toss gently to combine.
• Place 36x24-inch cotton cloth or clean cotton tablecloth on large work surface; secure all 4 corners to work surface with tape to keep in place. Dust cloth lightly with flour. Unwrap refrigerated strudel dough and place in center of prepared cloth; sprinkle lightly with flour. Using rolling pin, roll out dough as thinly as possible without tearing, dusting dough lightly with flour as needed to prevent sticking.
• Line rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Slide hands under center of dough and gently pull with palms (not fingers) toward edges, being careful not to tear dough and stretching to thin rectangle. Gently pull dough edges with floured fingertips to form 34x18-inch rectangle. Using sharp knife, trim edges to form 33x17-inch rectangle. Cut dough rectangle lengthwise in half, forming two 33x8 1/2-inch rectangles. Brush each dough rectangle lightly with melted butter, then sprinkle each evenly with 1 tablespoon sugar and 1 tablespoon dried breadcrumbs. Starting 1 inch in from 1 short end of dough, spoon filling crosswise atop each dough rectangle in 1 1/2-inch-wide log, leaving 1-inch plain border on long sides of both rectangles. Starting at edge of cloth closest to filling and using cloth as aid, lift edge of cloth and start rolling up strudel dough (not cloth) over filling, enclosing filling completely and forming 2 strudels. Tuck in short ends of dough and pinch to seal. Transfer strudels to prepared baking sheet. Brush strudels all over with melted butter. Chill at least 1 hour and up to 6 hours.
• Position rack in bottom third of oven and preheat to 375°F. Bake strudels until golden brown, about 40 minutes. Cool strudels on baking sheet 30 minutes.
• Cut strudels crosswise into 1-inch-thick slices. Serve warm or at room temperature.
• Test-Kitchen Tip:
• Although only half of the strudel dough is used in this recipe, you'll need to make a full batch of the dough to achieve the best texture. The remaining dough half can be stored airtight in the freezer for up to one month.

BLUE CHEESE-APPLE STRUDELS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the apples, lemon juice, thyme, nutmeg and pepper. Toss to coat. Add cheese and walnuts; set aside., Place one sheet of phyllo dough on a work surface. Brush with butter and sprinkle with 2 tablespoons bread crumbs. Layer with two more sheets of phyllo, brushing each sheet with butter and sprinkling with bread crumbs. Layer with another sheet of phyllo. (Keep remaining phyllo dough covered with plastic wrap and a damp towel to prevent it from drying out.), Spoon 1-1/2 cups apple mixture along the long end of phyllo to within 2 in. of edges. Fold long sides 2 in. over filling. Roll up jelly-roll style, starting with a long side. Repeat, making two more strudels., Transfer strudels to a parchment paper-lined 15x10x1-in. baking pan. With a sharp knife, cut slits in the top of each strudel. Brush with remaining butter. Bake at 375° for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm.

PECAN BLUE-CHEESE SPREAD

Steps:

• Place nuts in food processor and process until finely chopped; it takes about 10 seconds.
• Add both cheeses.
• Process until very smooth; again, it should only take about 10 seconds.
• Pack into a bowl and refrigerate until serving; this is best if allowed to chill for a few hours.
• A dribble of brandy or port added when you add the cheeses doesn't hurt.

CARAMELIZED ONION, FIG, AND BLUE CHEESE STRUDEL

Steps:

• preheat oven to 350.
• combine first 4 ingredients in small saucepan. bring to boil and cook 5 minutes. removed from heat and let stand for 30 minutes.
• Coat a medium nonstick skillet with cooking spray; place over medium heat until hot, add onions and vinegar and cook 20 minutes until deep golden, stirring frequently. Removed from heat; stir in fig mixture and cheese. set aside.
• Place one phyllo sheet on work surface (cover remaining dough to keep from drying); lightly coat with cooking spray. working with one sheet at a time, coat remaining 7 sheets and place one on top of the other. place a sheet of plastic wrap over phyllo, pressing gently to seal sheets together; discard plastic.
• spoon onion mixture along 1 long edge of the phyllo, leaving a 2-inch border. fold over the short edges of phyllo to cover 2 inches of onion mixture on each end.
• starting at long edge with 2 inch border, roll up jelly-roll fashion (do not roll tightly or strudel will split). place strudel seam side down on a jelly-roll pan coated with cooking spray. Score diagonal slits into top of strudel with a sharp knife. Lightly spray top of strudel with cooking spray.
• Bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until golden brown. Sprinkle with powdered sugar. serve warm.

BLUE CHEESE AND PECAN CRACKERS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Using electric mixer, beat cheese, butter and pepper in medium bowl until just blended (some cheese should still be in separate pieces). Using rubber spatula, mix in flour, then chopped pecans. Form dough into 1-inch balls. Arrange rounds on ungreased baking sheets. Flatten to 2 1/2-inch rounds. Press pecan half onto each. Bake until golden on bottom and at edges, about 35 minutes. Transfer to racks and cool.