Endive Spears With Stilton Cheese Toasted Pecans And Sauteed Pears Recipes

Steps:

• Put the jalapenos in a small bowl. Heat the vinegar, sugar, garlic, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 cup water in a small saucepan until just simmering. Pour the liquid over the jalapenos and refrigerate, covered, at least 1 hour and up to 3 days.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Lay the prosciutto on a baking sheet lined with parchment and bake until a few shades darker and crispy, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain (they will crisp more as they cool).
• Separate the endives into leaves, keeping 16 nicely-sized leaves (discard the remaining or reserve for another use).
• Beat together the goat cheese, cream cheese, parsley, chives, lemon zest, a pinch of salt and a few grinds of pepper in a separate bowl.
• With a spoon, dollop the cheese mixture onto the endive leaves, leaving the base of the stem bare so that they can be picked up easily. Break the prosciutto into small pieces and put a piece on each endive. Put a pickled pepper on each and arrange decoratively on a platter.

Steps:

• Make dressing:
• Chop shallot and crush star anise. In a blender blend shallot, oil, orange juice, and Port until emulsified. Transfer mixture to a small bowl or jar and add star anise and salt and pepper to taste. Chill dressing, covered, at least 4 hours and up to 1 day. Pour dressing through a sieve into a bowl and discard solids. Whisk dressing until combined well.
• Make salad:
• Preheat oven to 400°F. and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Halve and core pears. Cut pears lengthwise into 1/4-inch-thick slices and arrange in one layer on baking sheet. Roast pears in middle of oven until pale golden, about 10 minutes, and cool on baking sheet.
• Separate endive leaves, and, if desired, cut leaves crosswise into 1 1/2-inch-thick pieces.
• On a platter or 4 salad plates arrange pears, endive leaves, and Stilton and drizzle dressing on top. Garnish salad with parsley or chervil.

Steps:

• Combine first seven ingredients mix well.
• Trim ends of endive and separate heads into spears.
• Spread cheese mixture on endive spears.
• Serve immediately or cover and chill up to 2 hours before serving.
• Garnish with basil sprigs.