OK, I am always trying new and different recipes for spreadable cheese. Why? Because I am a cheese lover. And for me, there is nothing better than spreadable cheese on a cracker as part of a perfect appetizer spread. Suffice it to say, I wish I had tried this recipe years ago. Instead of letting it happily reside in my “must try soon” pile of recipe printouts for more years than I care to disclose. (Bad me!)
Anyway, I had a small wedge of some expensive Rogue Creamery “Oregon Blue” cheese in my fridge I really needed to use. So, when I asked Jim what I could bring as my contribution for a dinner party Jim and Margo were hosting for our friend Tim’s (of Tim and Phyllis fame) birthday, I searched through my mile high pile of “must try soon” recipes and found this jewel.
And I must admit, it was only by showing amazing restraint that any of this mixture was left to share. I kept diving in to “taste and adjust seasoning” when it was just perfect after the first bite. It was just that good! Easy to make and beautiful besides.
So, my advice to you is to make this spread sooner rather than later. You will not regret that decision.
Well, that’s it for now. After several days of research, I’ve finally booked our next trip, I know what I’m going to fix for dinner, and the principal character in my book has once again, found herself in a terrible jam.
And speaking of my latest read, I am currently enjoying a series by Cara Black. (And thank you Laura for introducing me to this series.) The protagonist’s name is Aimée Leduc. Aimée is a private detective in Paris without any restraint when it comes to putting herself in obviously harmful situations any normal person would run from in a New York minute! But then, isn’t that true of any hero in a mystery book? I mean really, what kind of a story would it be if as a reader you didn’t want to shout at the protagonist to not go into that dark alley or burning building, or get in that car with someone you suspect of being a killer, etc. etc.? What bloody fun would it be if the books featured realistic protagonists? None! I believe that’s why books of this genre are called – fiction! Duh! Fiction. Because no reasonably sane person, with half an ounce of sense, would EVER be as reckless as most protagonists in murder mysteries. Finding realism in the actions of mystery genre protagonists is tantamount to expecting certain politicians to be honest and have our country’s best interests at heart. Pure fiction!
And on that happy literary and political analogy, from our home to yours, peace and love to all.
4 oz. sharp cheddar cheese, grated
1 oz. blue cheese, crumbled (use really good blue or bleu cheese)
4 oz. (½ block) cream cheese, room temp.
2 T. mayonnaise
1 T. unsalted butter, room temp.
1½ tsp. Worcestershire sauce
scant ¼ tsp. seasoned salt, or more to taste
freshly ground black pepper, not too much
lg. pinch granulated garlic
pinch granulated onion
½ c. chopped toasted pecans
Place the cheddar cheese, blue cheese, cream cheese, mayo, butter, W. sauce, seasoned salt, pepper, granulated garlic, and granulated onion in the bowl of your food processor. Whirl until smooth. Taste and adjust seasoning.
Turn out onto a pretty plate and form into a rounded half ball. (So much easier to form the cheese mixture into a dome shape, rather than a ball shape. Also, it is much easier for people to serve themselves from a dome shape rather than breaking into a ball shaped slippery edible.) Then press the toasted pecan bits into the cheese.
Wrap the whole thing, plate and all in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for several hours or up to 3 days. Let the cheese come to room temperature before serving. (If you forget this step, or it hasn’t come to room temperature yet, you can nuke on high for 15-20 seconds. If the cheese indents easily with the tip of a clean finger, then you are good to go!)
Serve with plain tasting crackers because this cheese spread is incredibly tasty and fully flavored, and fancy crackers are simply not required. Spend your hard-earned money on good blue cheese!