Blue Cheese With Date Spread Recipes

BLUE CHEESE WITH DATE SPREAD

Steps:

• In a food processor fitted with a metal blade, combine blue cheese and cream cheese. Process until smooth and blended. Transfer to air-tight container and chill in refrigerator for at least 4 hours.
• Once chilled, form cheese into 6 even sized balls and roll each blue cheese ball in chopped dates. Serve cheese set on clean basil leaves. Arrange on a platter or cheese board with assorted crackers.

WARM DATES WITH BLUE CHEESE AND PROSCIUTTO

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• With a small paring knife, slit each date lengthwise and spread open just enough to remove the pit while leaving the date intact. Fill the cavity of each date with a small piece of blue cheese and fold the date over the cheese, pressing it back into its original shape.
• Cut a strip of prosciutto as wide as each date is long and wrap it around twice, enclosing the date almost completely. Place the dates on a sheet pan and bake for about 8 minutes, until the prosciutto is browned and the cheese starts to melt.
• Cool slightly and serve warm.

ZESTY/PEPPERY/SWEET-BLUE CHEESE AND DATE SPREAD -- OR BALLS!

Steps:

• Measure 1 1/2 cups pecans (or double that amount if making cheese balls) into an large iron skillet, toasting over medium heat, stirring constantly ~ remove from heat and finely chop! (Or, preheat oven to 350 degrees ~ Spread pecans on a baking sheet and toast 5 minutes.).
• Set nuts aside; they will be added last!
• In a mixing bowl, combine (by hand or using an electric mixer), cream cheese, blue cheese cheddar cheese, salt, lemon zest, and freshly grated black pepper until fluffy!
• Stir in dates and 1 1/2 cups toasted pecans.
• For easier handling, chill for an hour to firm up, if making into cheese balls. Coat with additional toasted, chopped pecans.
• Serve this zesty spread (or balls) chilled, or at room temperature, with apple slices, celery sticks. tortilla chips, and/or crackers.
• NOTE: Cooking time is the chill time, although I thought the flavor greatly improved after chilling overnight! The recipe can easily be doubled to serve a larger number of people!

BRANDIED BLUE CHEESE & DATES ON CRACKERS

Steps:

• Beat cheeses, brandy & chives in a sml bowl w/an electric mixer till well-combined.
• Slice dates into very fine strips.
• Just b4 serving, spread or pipe cheese mixture onto crackers & top w/date strips & parsley.
• NOTE: Cheese mix can be prepared 2 dys ahead of need, covered & stored in refrigerator.