Fig & Blue Cheese Galette
Topped with sweet onions and peppery arugula, this savory starter is wonderful sliced in wedges and served with crisp wine.
Ingredients:
Farm & Larder galette dough, chilled
6-8 figs, washed and halved or quartered
¾ cup blue cheese, crumbled
¼ cup sweet onion, very thinly sliced
1 cup loosely packed arugula
2 tablespoons olive oil
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Preheat oven to 375° and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Unwrap chilled dough and place on a well floured surface. Let sit until edges become soft enough to roll.
2. Roll out dough into 3/4″ inch thick slab on a floured surface and transfer to baking sheet. Brush dough lightly with olive oil, reserving ½ tablespoon, and season surface with salt and pepper.
3. Leaving a 1 inch border around the circumference, dot the interior with fig halves and blue cheese crumbles, then scatter onion slices over. Roll border edges over to create a rustic crust, then brush with remaining olive oil.
4. Bake for 35-40 minutes, until crust is golden brown and cheese is bubbly. Remove from oven and sprinkle arugula leaves over. Slice into wedges and serve warm or at room temperature.
Apple-Pear Galette with Smokey Blue Cheese
Slice this beautiful tart into wedges and serve as an appetizer!
Ingredients:
Farm & Larder galette dough, chilled
1 Lady apple
2 red pears
2 tablespoons butter
2 shallots
½ cup Rogue Creamery smokey blue cheese
¼ cup walnuts, chopped
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 400°. Peel, halve and core the apples and pears and slice into ¼-inch thick pieces. In a small skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add shallots; cook 2 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tender; remove from heat.
2. On a lightly floured work surface, roll the pastry into a 12-by-14-inch rectangle and transfer to a large rimmed baking sheet. Decoratively arrange the apple and pears slices over the pastry to within an inch of the edge. Spread the shallots over top in an even layer, then fold the pastry edge up and over the fruit mixture to create a 1-inch border.
3. Bake for about 40 minutes, until the pastry is starting to brown and the fruit is tender. Sprinkle the galette with chopped walnuts and bake an additional 10 minutes, then remove from the oven and sprinkle over the crumbled blue cheese. Transfer the pan to a rack and let the galette cool. Slice into wedges and serve warm or at room temperature.
Frisée Salad with Figs, Grapes and Blue Cheese
Juicy, crisp and cheesy—this salad has it all.
Ingredients:
½ head frisée, cored and thinly sliced
2 cups mixed summer greens
4-6 fresh figs, washed and halved
1 cup grapes, washed and halved
½ cup crumbled blue cheese
Fresh ground pepper
For vinaigrette:
½ cup olive oil
¼ cup white balsamic vinegar
1-2 tablespoons honey
1 garlic clove, finely minced
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. In a small bowl, whisk together the ingredients for the vinaigrette until thoroughly combined. Season to taste with salt and pepper; set aside.
2. On a serving tray arrange the frisee and greens and then top with the figs, grapes and crumbled blue cheese. Drizzle with the white-balsamic vinaigrette and season with additional pepper as desired.
Smokey Blue Cheese-Stuffed Pears & Arugula Greens
Topped with spectacular slices of blue cheese stuffed-pear, this salad always wows guests.
Ingredients:
2 ripe, but firm, red pears, peeled
Juice from ½ lemon
½ cup crumbled Rogue Creamery smokey blue cheese
Arugula greens
½ cup dried cranberries
Fresh ground pepper
F&L pear vinaigrette
Method:
1. Wash each pear, peel and remove stems. Then, using either an apple corer or sharp paring knife, hollow out the center of each pear by inserting your chosen tool into the top of the fruit and pushing down in a circular motion, hollowing out the flesh and seeds, until you’ve reached the bottom. Pack blue cheese crumbles into the cavity, keeping one hand on the bottom of the pear to prevent the cheese from slipping out.
2. Place a generous portion of arugula greens in a serving bowl. Take each pear and slice into ¼-inch slices, revealing the blue cheese center. Place pear rounds on top of greens, drizzle with the vinaigrette and top with dried cranberries.
Romaine Salad with Blue Cheese & Hazelnuts
Drizzled with our creamy housemade dressing, this crisp salad is topped with fresh blue cheese and earthy, toasted Northwest hazelnuts for a flavorful finish.
Ingredients:
1 head baby romaine lettuce
½ cup chopped hazelnuts
½ cup crumbled Westward Blue cheese (included in box)
Westward Blue cheese dressing (included in box)
Method:
1. Wash lettuce and pat dry with paper towels. Trim root section and cut head in half lengthwise.
2. Pile greens on a serving platter and top with chopped hazelnuts and crumbled blue cheese, then drizzle with dressing. Season with fresh ground pepper to taste.
Blue Cheese & Pear Salad with Arugula Greens
Tossed with a light balsamic vinaigrette, this crisp salad is both bold and beautiful.
Ingredients:
4-6 cups arugula greens
1 D’Anjou pear, cored and thinly sliced
½ cup blue cheese, crumbled
¾ cup olive oil
¼ cup balsamic vinegar
1 clove garlic, crushed
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, balsamic vinegar and garlic until well combined. Season to taste with salt and ground pepper.
2. In a large serving bowl, combine arugula greens and pearl slices. Toss with about half of the vinaigrette, adding more to taste as desired. Crumble blue cheese over top and serve.
Double the Cheese Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Melty Fontina layered in between slices of Gruyère cheese bread? We say, yes please!
Ingredients:
8 ounces Fontina cheese, grated
Sliced Gruyère cheese bread
Butter
Method:
1. Generously butter a slice of bread and lay butter-side down in a skillet. Add a generous amount of grated Fontina and top with another slice of buttered bread. Repeat with as many sammies as you please.
2. Cook over medium-high heat, flipping once the bottom side is golden brown and Gruyère cheese starts to soften. Toast for another 2-3 minutes until the other side is golden brown. Remove from the skillet and enjoy!
Variations: Triple the cheese, if you like (mozzarella or cheddar would both work well!); or, try layering caramelized onions and/or thinly-sliced apple inside the sandwich, too.
Savory Roasted Squash, Two Ways
After roasting, this side is topped with either fresh thyme, honey and walnuts, or hazelnuts and blue cheese, for a spectacular finish.
Ingredients:
1 fall squash of your choice, such as Delicata, seeded and quartered
2 tablespoons olive oil, plus additional for drizzling
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
For Honey-Herb Topping:
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons fresh thyme
¼ cup toasted walnuts, chopped
For Blue Cheese Topping:
¼ cup crumbled blue cheese
¼ cup toasted hazelnuts, chopped
Method:
1. Preheat oven to 400°. Place squash quarters skin side down on a heavy baking sheet and brush flesh generously with olive oil using a brush. Sprinkle each piece with salt and pepper, and bake for 30-40 minutes until squash is tender. Remove from oven and allow to cool just slightly.
2. For honey-herb topping: Transfer squash to a serving dish and brush lightly with additional olive oil before sprinkling the pieces with fresh thyme and walnuts, finishing with a healthy drizzling of honey. For blue cheese topping: Transfer squash to a serving dish and brush lightly with olive oil before sprinkling blue cheese and hazelnuts over each piece of squash.
Grilled Fig Salad
These warm grilled figs are the perfect complement for summer salad greens.
Ingredients:
8 cups salad greens, such as this week’s Little Gem Romaine lettuce
4 figs
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
2 teaspoons dark brown sugar
Pinch ground cinnamon
¼ cup olive oil
2 teaspoons freshly-squeezed lemon juice
½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Snip the tiny stem end off each fig and cut in half lengthwise. Mix vinegar, brown sugar and cinnamon together in a medium bowl. Add figs and gently toss to coat. Let marinate while you preheat a grill (indoor or outdoor).
2. If necessary, coat your grill with a little olive oil. When ready, grill the figs, reserving all of the marinade in the bowl, for about 2 to 3 minutes per side or until grill marks appear. Do not overcook as the figs will become too mushy. Remove figs to a plate.
3. To the reserved marinade, add olive oil, lemon juice, mustard, salt and pepper, whisking well to completely incorporate.
4. Place greens in a large salad bowl. Toss with dressing, then divide among 4 individual serving plates. Place 2 fig halves on each plate of greens and serve.
Blue Cheese-Stuffed Roasted Pears with Arugula
Roasted and topped with cranberries, hazelnuts and blue cheese, these pears from the Barefoot Contessa are incredibly flavorful.
Ingredients:
3 ripe, but firm, pears
3 ounces Westward Blue cheese
¼ cup dried cranberries
¼ cup hazelnuts, coarsely chopped
½ cup apple cider vinegar
Freshly-squeezed lemon juice
3 tablespoons port or dessert wine
¼ cup brown sugar
¼ cup olive oil
6 ounces arugula greens
Sea salt
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 375°. Slice pears lengthwise into halves. With a small sharp paring knife and a melon baller, remove the core and seeds from each pear, leaving a round well for the filling. Toss the pears with some lemon juice to prevent them from turning brown. Arrange them, core side up, in a baking dish large enough to hold the pears snugly.
2. Gently toss the crumbled blue cheese, dried cranberries, and walnuts together in a small bowl. Divide the mixture among the pears, mounding it on top of the indentation.
3. In the same small bowl, combine the apple cider, port, and brown sugar, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Pour the mixture over and around the pears. Bake the pears, basting occasionally with the cider mixture, for 30 minutes, or until tender. Set aside until warm or at room temperature.
4. Just before serving, whisk together the olive oil, ¼ cup of lemon juice, and ¼ cup of the basting liquid in a large bowl. Divide the arugula among 6 plates and top each with a pear half. Drizzle each pear with some of the basting liquid, sprinkle with salt, and serve warm.