Blue Cheese Spread with Spiced Walnuts

Yields Makes about 1 1/2 cups; 6 to 8 servings
AuthorPam Miller, Somerset, California,
When her winery, Single Leaf Vineyards & Winery, participates in big festivals, owner Pam Miller uses this appetizer, which can be made ahead and easily multiplied. It goes well with Single Leaf's Chardonnay.

Ingredients

 1 package (8 oz.) cream cheese
 1/4 cup crumbled blue cheese
 1/4 cup fresh chèvre (goat) cheese
 2 tablespoons butter or margarine, at room temperature
 2 tablespoons brandy or milk
 3 tablespoons thinly sliced chives or green onions
 1/4 teaspoon salt
 1/4 teaspoon pepper
 1/8 teaspoon ground cumin
 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
 1/8 teaspoon ground cardamom
 2 teaspoons chili oil
 2 teaspoons olive oil
 1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
 2 teaspoons sugar
 3 dozen unsalted water crackers or thin apple slices
Nutrition Facts

Servings 0

Amount Per Serving
Calories 299Calories from Fat 69
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 23g36%
Saturated Fat 10g50%
Cholesterol 45mg15%
Sodium 356mg15%
Total Carbohydrate 15g5%
Dietary Fiber 0.8g4%
Protein 6.9g14%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

How to Make It

Step 1
1

Beat cream cheese, blue cheese, chèvre, butter, and brandy until creamy. Stir in 2 tablespoons chives. Mound in a small, shallow dish. If making ahead, cover and chill up to 2 days.

Step 2
2

In a small bowl, mix salt, pepper, cumin, cinnamon, and cardamom.

Step 3
3

Pour chili oil and olive oil into an 8- to 10-inch nonstick frying pan over medium heat. Add walnuts. Stir often until toasted, 5 to 7 minutes. Add sugar and stir until it melts onto nuts, about 1 minute.

Step 4
4

Pour hot nuts into bowl with spices and mix to coat. If making ahead, let cool and store airtight up to 2 days.

Step 5
5

Sprinkle nuts and remaining 1 tablespoon chives over cheese. Spread mixture onto crackers.

Ingredients

 1 package (8 oz.) cream cheese
 1/4 cup crumbled blue cheese
 1/4 cup fresh chèvre (goat) cheese
 2 tablespoons butter or margarine, at room temperature
 2 tablespoons brandy or milk
 3 tablespoons thinly sliced chives or green onions
 1/4 teaspoon salt
 1/4 teaspoon pepper
 1/8 teaspoon ground cumin
 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
 1/8 teaspoon ground cardamom
 2 teaspoons chili oil
 2 teaspoons olive oil
 1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
 2 teaspoons sugar
 3 dozen unsalted water crackers or thin apple slices

Directions

Step 1
1

Beat cream cheese, blue cheese, chèvre, butter, and brandy until creamy. Stir in 2 tablespoons chives. Mound in a small, shallow dish. If making ahead, cover and chill up to 2 days.

Step 2
2

In a small bowl, mix salt, pepper, cumin, cinnamon, and cardamom.

Step 3
3

Pour chili oil and olive oil into an 8- to 10-inch nonstick frying pan over medium heat. Add walnuts. Stir often until toasted, 5 to 7 minutes. Add sugar and stir until it melts onto nuts, about 1 minute.

Step 4
4

Pour hot nuts into bowl with spices and mix to coat. If making ahead, let cool and store airtight up to 2 days.

Step 5
5

Sprinkle nuts and remaining 1 tablespoon chives over cheese. Spread mixture onto crackers.

Blue Cheese Spread with Spiced Walnuts
IngredientsDirections

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