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……
Cheese and Bacon Muffins
This will make 6 large muffins. These are absolutely marvelous when served with scrambled eggs.
- 8 strips of bacon, reserving drippings
- 1 1/2 cups flour
- 1/2 cup cornmeal
- 1 tbsp. baking powder
- pinch of salt
- 2 cups grated Balderson’s Cheddar Cheese
- 3 tbsp. melted butter
- 3 tbsp. bacon drippings
- l large egg
- 1 cup milk
- 1/2 cup grated Balderson’s Cheddar Cheese for topping.
Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Cook to crisp and drain bacon, reservings the drippings. When cool, crumble the bacon.
Combine the first six ingredients. Melt the butter and add to the drippings. In a medium bowl, beat the egg lightly with the milk and add to the butter/bacon dripping mixture.
Now add this to the dry ingredients and stir thoroughly being careful not to over mix.
Fill muffin tins 3/4 full and sprinkle the grated cheese on top. Bake for twenty minutes. Scramble some eggs, add a juice and/or coffee. This is getting one step closer to heaven……