"Blue Cheese and Walnut Crackers" are also great to stack and add to a holiday gift basket. A nice homemade treat that is not a sweet! My daughter, Mary, has made these crackers several times for various events and last year added them to our holiday cookie baskets much to the delight of our family and friends.
Don't shy away from making crackers even if this is your first time! The crackers are easy to mix and shape into logs, cover with chopped walnuts, slice and bake. The dough can be prepared ahead and frozen for a quick, last minute addition to cocktails with friends.
1/4 pound (1 stick) unsalted butter at room temperature
8 ounces Stilton cheese (blue cheese), crumbled (about 12 ounces with rind), at room temperature
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp.black pepper
1 extra-large egg beaten with 1 tbsp. water for egg wash
1/2 cup roughly chopped walnuts
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and blue cheese together for 1 minute, or until smooth. With the mixer on low speed, add the flour, salt and pepper and mix until it's in large crumbles, about 1 minute. Add 1 tbsp. of water and mix until combined.
Dump the dough onto a floured board, press it into a ball, and roll into a 12-inch long log. Brush the log completely with the egg wash. Spread the walnuts in a square on a cutting board and roll the log back and forth in the walnuts, pressing lightly, and distributing them evenly on the outside of the log. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or for up to 4 days.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Cut the log 3/8ths-inch thick with a small, sharp knife and place the crackers on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper or silicone baking sheet. Bake for 22 minutes until very lightly browned. Rotate the pan once during baking. Cool and serve at room temperature.
This recipe is from the Food Network file of caterer and extraordinary entertainer, Ina Garten.
No comments:
Post a Comment