Poached Pears With Stilton Recipes

POACHED PEARS WITH QUINCE PASTE IN PARMESAN CLOAKS

Steps:

• Peel pears, leaving stems intact, then core from bottom with melon-ball cutter to create a 2 1/2-inch-deep cavity. Rub pears all over with lemon juice in a large bowl.
• Bring wine, sugar, vanilla bean, and zest to a boil in a wide 6-quart heavy pot (at least 12 inches in diameter) over moderate heat, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Add pears, arranging them on their sides in 1 layer, along with any lemon juice from bowl (pears will not be covered by liquid), then reduce heat to low and poach pears, covered, turning occasionally, until just tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Carefully transfer pears with a slotted spoon to a 13- by 9-inch baking dish, standing pears upright and reserving liquid in pot.
• When pears are cool enough to handle, fill cavities with quince paste and stand pears upright in dish again.
• Boil liquid in pot over high heat until syrupy and reduced to about 3/4 cup, 10 to 15 minutes. Pour syrup over pears and cool, basting occasionally with syrup. Chill, covered, basting occasionally with syrup, until cold, at least 2 hours.
• Drizzle each pear lightly with syrup and slip a parmesan cloak over stem. Serve with cheese shavings on the side.

POACHED PEARS WITH STILTON

Steps:

• Pour wine into a medium saucepan; add lemon juice, lemon zest, sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla bean and seeds. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring, until sugar has dissolved. Continue cooking for 5 minutes more.
• Add pears and reduce heat to a gentle simmer. Place a parchment paper round in saucepan to cover and submerge pears. Cook until pears are easily pierced with a knife, but not mushy, about 45 minutes.
• Using a slotted spoon, transfer pears to a large bowl and set aside. Return saucepan to stove; bring to a boil over medium-high heat and cook until reduced by half. Pour reduced liquid over pears. Place a parchment paper round in bowl to cover and submerge pears; cover bowl and transfer to refrigerator at least 6 hours and up to overnight.
• One hour before serving, remove pears from refrigerator; bring to room temperature. Just before serving, halve and core pears and serve drizzled with reduced poaching liquid and a slice of cheese.

POACHED SUMMER PEACHES WITH STILTON STRAWBERRY SALAD

Steps:

• Begin by poaching the peaches. Bring the Beaume de Venise, sugar, and water to a boil. Add the peaches to the hot liquid. Cover the pot with parchment paper and bring to a rolling boil. Remove pot from heat and let the peaches sit in the hot liquid until it cools down. Peel skins off and set aside. Dice the strawberries and place them in a bowl. Toast the walnuts and chop into small pieces and add them to the strawberries. Crumble the Stilton and mix with the strawberries. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Carefully place a phyllo sheet on a flat surface and lightly brush with the melted butter. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar. Place another sheet of dough on top of the other and repeat process 5 times. Cut the pastry in a long, 1-inch width triangle, place it on a silpat or a parchment lined baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and sprinkle crumbled Stilton. Allow to cool on a wire rack. To serve, slice the peaches in half and remove the pit. Place peaches in center of 4 plates, scoop strawberry salad and place on top of peaches. Drizzle the Balsamic Reduction, add a few Candied Walnuts around plate, and top with Stilton crisps.
• Preheat oven to 275 degrees F. To candy the walnuts, combine the honey with the walnuts, spread over a baking sheet, and bake for 20 minutes. Balsamic reduction: 3 cups balsamic vinegar Place the Balsamic vinegar in a small sauce pan, bring to a boil, and allow the vinegar to reduce to 3/4 of a cup. Remove from the heat and set aside.
• Place the Balsamic vinegar in a small sauce pan, bring to a boil, and allow the vinegar to reduce to 3/4 of a cup. Remove from the heat and set aside.

ENDIVE SPEARS WITH STILTON CHEESE, TOASTED PECANS, AND SAUTEED PEARS

Steps:

• In a large saute pan, over medium heat, add the butter and sugar. Add the diced pears and cook until well caramelized, approximately 8 minutes.
• In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the garlic, red wine vinegar, salt, fresh ground pepper and olive oil. Add the mixture to the Stilton. Assemble the spears 1 by 1, starting with the cheese then the sauteed pear and topping them off with a toasted pecan. These can be garnished with a sprig of watercress or other herb, if desired. Arrange the spears on a plate by first making a small mound of cream cheese and then sticking each spear into the cream cheese in a floral, 3-dimensional pattern.

PAN-ROASTED PEARS WITH HONEY, HAZELNUTS AND STILTON

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place the hazelnuts on a baking sheet and bake until toasted, about 10 minutes. Place the nuts between 2 kitchen towels and rub to remove as much skin as possible. Coarsely chop the nuts and set aside.
• Melt the butter in a medium-size cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add the pears and cook until caramelized on both sides, about 3 to 5 minutes. Lower the heat and add the honey to the skillet. When the honey melts, turn the pears to coat them on both sides. Cover and cook until the pears are tender but not too soft, about 5 minutes.
• Cut each pear half across into 1/4-inch-thick slices, but keep the shape intact. Place each pear half onto 1 plate and fan it forward. Place a piece of Stilton beside the pears and scatter each plate with some of the hazelnuts. Serve immediately.

STILTON-STUFFED BAKED PEARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine sugar and butter in a small bowl and stir until well blended. Add cheese, cranberries and pecans. Stir well.
• Cut 1 inch off stem end of each pear; reserve top. Remove core from stem end, and scoop out about 2 tablespoons pulp from each pear to form a cup, using a melon baller or spoon. If necessary, cut about 1/4 inch from base of pears so they will sit flat. Place the pears in a 13 x9 inch baking dish. Fill each pear with about 2 tablespoons sugar mixture, and replace top on each.
• Combine juice and port in a small bowl, pour into baking dish. Bake pears at 375 degrees for 30 minutes or until tender. Serve warm.

POACHED PEARS WITH RISOTTO

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat and stir in the rice. Cook the rice until it turns translucent, and begins to toast, about 3 minutes. Stir in 1/3 of the hot milk until it has been absorbed by the rice, about 5 minutes. Pour in half of the remaining milk, and stir until absorbed before stirring in the remaining milk. Stirring in the milk should take 15 to 25 minutes total, and the rice should be mostly soft with just a little firmness in the center. Add the chocolate and 2 tablespoons of sugar, and stir 5 minutes more.
• Meanwhile, bring the water, 2 tablespoons of sugar, and cinnamon stick to a simmer in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the pears, return to a simmer, then reduce the heat to medium, and continue simmering uncovered until the pears are tender, about 10 minutes.
• Spoon the risotto into serving bowls and place pears on top.