Blue Cheese Spread with Spiced Walnuts |
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Prep Time: 0 Minutes Cook Time: 0 Minutes |
Ready In: 0 Minutes Servings: 1 |
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When her winery, Single Leaf Vineyards & Winery, participates in big festivals, owner Pam Miller uses this appetizer, which can be made ahead and easily multiplied. It goes well with Single Leaf's Chardonnay. Ingredients:
1 package (8 oz.) cream cheese |
1/4 cup crumbled blue cheese |
1/4 cup fresh chèvre (goat) cheese |
2 tablespoons butter or margarine, at room temperature |
2 tablespoons brandy or milk |
3 tablespoons thinly sliced chives or green onions |
1/4 teaspoon salt |
1/4 teaspoon pepper |
1/8 teaspoon ground cumin |
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon |
1/8 teaspoon ground cardamom |
2 teaspoons chili oil |
2 teaspoons olive oil |
1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts |
2 teaspoons sugar |
3 dozen unsalted water crackers or thin apple slices |
Directions:
1. Beat cream cheese, blue cheese, chèvre, butter, and brandy until creamy. Stir in 2 tablespoons chives. Mound in a small, shallow dish. If making ahead, cover and chill up to 2 days.
2. In a small bowl, mix salt, pepper, cumin, cinnamon, and cardamom.
3. Pour chili oil and olive oil into an 8- to 10-inch nonstick frying pan over medium heat. Add walnuts. Stir often until toasted, 5 to 7 minutes. Add sugar and stir until it melts onto nuts, about 1 minute.
4. Pour hot nuts into bowl with spices and mix to coat. If making ahead, let cool and store airtight up to 2 days.
5. Sprinkle nuts and remaining 1 tablespoon chives over cheese. Spread mixture onto crackers.
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