Pear Beginnings

We all want to ‘up the ante’ when company is expected. For a perfect appetizer, make this one up. Everyone will want the recipe and you can smile and then run to the kitchen to pat yourself on the back.

• 1/2 cup pecan halves
• 1 tsp. butter
• 2 tsp. sugar
• 1/4 tsp. paprika
• 1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper
• light pinch of salt
• 2-3 large Bosc pears, washed, pat dry
• 1 tbsp. water
• 3 large endives, trimmed
• 4-5 oz. Balderson’s aged cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Lay the pecans on a baking sheet and toast for only 5 minutes. Remove from the oven.

Transfer the nuts to a frying pan and add the butter, sugar, paprika, cayenne and salt. Toss until the butter and sugar melt and the seasoning has covered all the nuts. Remove to a paper towel to cool down. Chop the nuts up and set aside.

Now grate the pears, making sure to remove the seeds, core and stem. Heat a frying pan . Add the pears. Add the 1 tbsp. water and cook for about 3 minutes. Remove from heat, drain any excess liquid and let cool.

Peel the leaves off the endive and set out on a platter. Place a spoonful of the pears on each leaf and top with the chopped pecans and crumbled cheese.

Serve immediately with a glass of chilled……