Blue Cheese Walnut Spread

Perusing the Foodgawker site today a photo from DG stood out from the crowd.  A simple mound of cheese topped with chopped walnuts surrounded by apples.  Hmmm... a shot that definitely deserved further investigation.  The cheese turned out to be a creamy Blue Cheese Walnut Spread.   So simple, a mixture of cream and blue cheeses topped with walnuts.  As a blue cheese fan, this seemed to be something for me.

Frequently as I'm preparing dinner my husband and I will share a glass of wine along with some sort of appetizer as we rehash the day.  However, work frequently takes him away for varying periods of time and I'm left to fend for myself with no one to talk to.  Tonight was one of those nights with my love thousands of miles away in Shanghai.  Usually I don't partake in the appetizer or wine when he is gone, but this recipe looked so appealing that I couldn't resist!

30,000 feet... the road to Shanghai

A quick internet search showed numerous recipes for similar spreads, but as I read though, I kept returning to the simplicity of this one.  3 ingredients mixed together, sliced fruit and a glass of wine... what could be easier?   Loving blue cheese like I do, I did increase the blue to cream cheese ratio and decided to mix some of the walnuts into the spread in addition to adding a sprinkle to the top.  A bowl of perfectly ripe organic pears sitting on my counter waiting to be sliced filled the fruit portion and I was off to check for wine.  Scanning the wine "cellar" I chose a nice Merlot (hopefully it wasn't that expensive bottle he was saving!) and poured a much needed glass.

Spreading a bit of the cheese onto my perfect pear the aroma of the blue cheese wafted before me.  The first bite was absolutely amazing...  So much better than I had ever imagined something so simple could be!  With the holidays just around the corner, this recipe will definitely be showcased.  Perfect for the buffet table or simply a quick appetizer for rehashing the day... it's a keeper.  Good on it's own, but better shared!.

Blue Cheese Walnut Spread

4 oz. low fat cream cheese

2 oz. blue cheese

chopped walnuts, raw or toasted

In a small bowl mash the cheeses with a fork.  Add a tablespoon of the chopped walnuts, stir to combine and place on serving plate.  Add sliced apples, pears or crackers.  Top the cheese with a sprinkle of walnuts and serve!