Gorgonzola And Toasted Walnut Spread Recipes

Steps:

• Reserve 1 tablespoon of the Gorgonzola cheese for garnish. In food processor, place cream cheese, remaining Gorgonzola cheese, half-and-half and pepper. Cover and process just until blended.
• Reserve 1 tablespoon of the walnuts for garnish. Stir remaining walnuts into cheese mixture. Spoon into shallow serving bowl. Sprinkle with reserved Gorgonzola cheese, walnuts and the parsley. Serve with bread slices and apple slices.

Steps:

• Reserve 1 tablespoon of the Gorgonzola cheese for garnish. In food processor, place cream cheese, remaining Gorgonzola cheese, half-and-half and pepper. Cover and process just until blended. Reserve 1 tablespoon of the walnuts for garnish. Stir remaining walnuts into cheese mixture. Spoon into shallow serving bowl. Sprinkle with reserved Gorgonzola cheese, walnuts and the parsley. Serve with bread slices and apple slices. Tips: Here's a delicious spread you can make up to 3 days ahead of time. Store covered in the refrigerator. *To toast walnuts, bake uncovered in an un-greased shallow pan at 350°F for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden brown.

Steps:

• To toast walnuts, cook in ungreased heavy skillet over medium-low heat 5 to 7 minutes, stirring frequently until browning begins, then stirring constantly until fragrant and golden brown. Remove walnuts from skillets and spread on plate to cool slightly.
• In blender or food processor, place 1/3 cup toasted walnuts and remaining dressing ingredients. Cover and blend on high speed about 1 minute or until smooth.
• In large bowl, toss remaining 1/3 cup toasted walnuts and salad ingredients. Pour dressing over salad mixture; toss gently until salad is evenly coated.

Steps:

• Reserve 1 tablespoon of the Gorgonzola and 1 tablespoon of the walnuts for garnish.
• In food processor, place the rest of the ingredients except the parsley.
• Cover and process just until blended.
• *If you don't have a food processor, you can mix with an electric mixer on medium speed in a glass bowl.
• Stir remaining walnuts into cheese mixture.
• Spoon into shallow serving bowl.
• Sprinkle with reserved Gorgonzola, walnuts, and the parsley.

Steps:

• Place a baking stone in the middle of the oven and preheat to 470 degrees F.
• On a lightly floured work surface, cut the dough into 4 equal pieces with a bench scraper.
• Using your fingertips, flatten the dough pieces. Transfer 1 of the pieces to the back of a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper and lightly dusted with cornmeal. Cover generously with walnuts and Gorgonzola and top with another piece of dough. Press down on the edges to seal. Using a small palette knife, cut 8 evenly spaced holes in the dough. Stretch the dough to enlarge the holes. Lightly brush the fougasse with olive oil and cover lightly with plastic wrap. Place the loaf in a warm place and let rise for 30 minutes. Repeat to make 1 more loaf.
• Working with 1 loaf a time, slide the fougasse, still on the parchment paper, onto the baking stone. Bake until crispy and brown, about 20 to 25 minutes. Transfer the fougasse to a rack to cool. Repeat with the remaining loaf.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine the pate fermentee and water and, using your hands, break up the dough into the water.
• In another bowl, whisk together the flour, yeast, and salt. Add the flour mixture to the pate fermentee mixture and mix by hand until firm and cohesive, about 3 minutes. Allow dough to rest for 10 minutes.
• Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface. Knead the dough until very elastic and smooth, about 10 to 15 minutes. Take the dough's temperature. It should be at 78 degrees F.
• Transfer the dough to a large bowl and cover with plastic wrap (the plastic should not touch the dough). Place the bowl in a warm place (about 75 to 78 degrees F.) and let rise for a total of 1 hour and 45 minutes. After the first 45 minutes, fold the dough and turn it over in the bowl. (It will somewhat deflate the dough, but it is gentler than what's commonly referred to as "punching down.")
• Let the dough rise, undisturbed, for 1 hour more. (The dough will rise considerably at this point.)
• Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface. Press the dough gently into a rectangle, to degas it.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and yeast. Add the water and, using your hands, mix until incorporated, about 3 minutes. (Alternatively, mix in a mixer on the lowest setting possible.) Cover bowl with plastic wrap and put in a warm place (about 75 degrees F.). Let the dough ferment for 1 hour. Take the dough's temperature. It should be at 75 degrees F.
• Refrigerate the dough at least 10 hours and up to 36 hours. When ready, it will be roughly doubled in size and have a fine network of filaments and holes. Make this recipe the night before you mix the dough.

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine lettuce with cheese and walnuts.
• Combine and whisk together dressing ingredients.
• Toss salad with enough dressing to coat but avoid over-dressing.
• Serve.

Steps:

• Line a loaf pan with plastic wrap.
• Put Gorgonzola cubes into a dish and cover with brandy. Set aside to let the cheese soften.
• Chop about 1/2 of the walnuts.
• Whisk the Gorgonzola mixture with mascarpone cheese. Add whipping cream and whip until creamy and well combined. Fold in the chopped walnuts. Pour the mixture into the prepared loaf pan using a runner scraper to level the top.
• Refrigerate torta for at least 1 hour, or overnight.
• Use the plastic wrap to remove the torta from the loaf pan. Carefully flip it onto a rectangular serving plate. Garnish with remaining walnut halves.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
• To roast the beets: Place the beets, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper in a roasting pan and cook until the beets are tender, about 40 minutes. When they are cool enough to handle, remove the skins and slice the beets.
• Place the beets in a medium-sized mixing bowl and toss with the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper.
• To make the Walnut Gorgonzola Dressing: Place a large skillet over medium-high heat and, when it is hot, add the extra-virgin olive oil. Add the walnuts and cook until they are browned, about 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a small mixing bowl and when the walnuts have cooled to room temperature, add the onion, basil, vinegar and salt.
• Place the Gorgonzola cheese and cream in a blender or food processor fitted with a steel blade and process until smooth. Transfer to the bowl with the walnuts and mix to combine.
• Divide the arugula between 4 to 6 plates and top with equal amounts of beets. Serve immediately with a large dollop of Walnut Gorgonzola Dressing.