Friday, January 22, 2016

Blue Cheese and Walnut Endive Bites | Friday Night Bites


It is hard to believe it is already Friday!  Frankly I am thrilled to simply chill this weekend.  Or as like to say “chillax” – chill + relax. My work week was full of many miles on the car, a crammed BART ride to San Francisco for an all day meeting and never a dull moment during the work week.  All good - but so happy it is FRIDAY!




You know the drill – with a Friday night comes Friday Night Bites and wine.  This week I am opting for a refreshing appetizer.  I adore an appetizer with endive.  It is like having a natural vessel for numerous toppings.  The slight crunch is satisfying along with the savory and sweet combination of toppings.  This delightful bite would go perfect with a glass of chardonnay.  We just enjoyed the Acacia Chardonnay and thought it was a perfect pairing.

What is on your agenda for this weekend? Please share any fun Friday night appetizer ideas you would like to see.  Cheers to YOU!


Blue Cheese and Walnut Endive Bites

1/3 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
2 tablespoons honey, divided
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
3 tablespoons orange juice
16 Belgian endive leaves (about 2 heads)
1/3 cup (1 1/2 ounces) crumbled blue cheese
16 small orange sections (about 2 navel oranges)
2 tablespoon minced fresh chives
1/4 teaspoon cracked black pepper

Preheat oven to 350°.

Combine walnuts plus 1 tablespoon honey; spread on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray or parchment paper to prevent sticking. Bake at 350° for 10 minutes, stirring after 5 minutes.

Combine 1 tablespoon honey, vinegar, and orange juice in a small saucepan. Bring mixture to a boil over high heat, and cook until reduced to 3 tablespoons (about 5 minutes).

Fill each endive leaf with 1 orange section. Top each section with 1 teaspoon of cheese and 1 teaspoon walnuts; arrange on a plate. Drizzle the vinegar mixture evenly over leaves, and sprinkle evenly with chives and pepper.




2 comments:

  1. Yum, they look delish Lisa and I think they would even be legal on a low fat eating regime. Bravo!

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  2. I just made some Belgian endive bites this weekend and was just cruising Pinterest for some popovers and found your blog. I used to be a manager for Neiman Marcus and really enjoyed reading about your recipe that I will certainly bake very, very soon. Glad to find you to enjoy your recipes from now on! Be well and happy cooking and baking!

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