Sadly, as is happening more and more these days, I don’t remember where this recipe came from originally – but it’s a great snack or pre-dinner bite. I love, love, love apples and blue cheese. The candied nuts are a bit more elegant than just using plain nuts, although that would be a quick and easy alternative.
Ingredients:
2 apples Juice from half of a lemon (about 2 tablespoons) 4 ounces cream cheese , room temperature or a little warmer 2 tablespoons dark honey, such as buckwheat honey 1/4 cup blue cheese (about 1 ounce) 1 recipe Spicy Candied Walnuts (see recipe) or 1/2 cup purchased candied nuts, chopped For Spicy Candied Walnuts: 1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts 1 tablespoon packed brown sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla Dash salt Dash crushed red pepper
Preparation:
Core the apples with an apple corer, making sure to remove all of the seeds. Cut apples horizontally into fairly thin rings and brush both sides of rings with lemon juice; set aside.
In a small bowl stir together cream cheese and honey. Spoon cream cheese mixture into a small resealable plastic bag; seal bag. Snip off a corner of the bag. Pipe cream cheese mixture onto apple rings. Sprinkle with blue cheese and Spicy Candied Walnuts. Serve immediately or cover and chill for up to 2 hours.
For Spicy Candided Walnuts:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a 9x9x2-inch baking pan with foil or parchment paper; set aside.
In a small bowl stir together the coarsely chopped walnuts, brown sugar, vanilla, salt and crushed red pepper. Spread nut mixture in prepared pan. Bake about 10 minutes or until nuts are toasted, stirring twice. Cool.