Sunday, November 22, 2009

Marsala-Honey Pears with Gorgonzola

This week's theme for I Heart Cooking Clubs is potluck, which means that we can choose any recipe at all. Earlier in the week I was curious about Nigella's lunch box treats, which are made up from crispy rice cereal, cornflakes, quick-cooking oats and sesame seeds. They are held together with rice malt syrup, butter, milk chocolate and rolled into little balls. They were okay, and my son loved them, but I was uninspired with them.

When Saturday rolled around I realized that I didn't want to submit the lunch box treats. They were alright, but not really anything to post about. While flipping through my copy of Nigella's Express, I quickly noticed this recipe for Marsala-Honey Pears with Gorgonzola. I knew instantly that this was the recipe for me! I had all the ingredients on hand, except for the Gorgonzola. A quick trip to the store and I was all set. Marsala-Honey Pears with Gorgonzola - adapted from Nigella Express by Nigella Lawson Serves 6-8
2 pears (approx 1lb total weight), each cut into eights (but unpeeled and uncored)
2 tablespoons olive oil (regular not extra virgin)
3 tablespoons Marsala wine
2 tablespoons honey
1/2 cup walnut halves
1 lb ripe gorgeous Gorgonzola in perfect condition; it should never have seen the inside of your fridge

While you are cutting the pears into eights - i.e., quarter them and halve each quarter- let the oil heat in a large skillet. Fry the pears for 3 minutes a side, and while they are frying whisk the Marsala and honey together in a cup. When the pears have had their time, throw in the Marsala honey mixture and let it bubble up vociferously around the pears. Then transfer them, all bronzed and syrupy, to a plate. Add the walnuts to the dark juices left in the pan and stir-fry them for about a minute until they are themselves darkened in part and sticky all over. Remove them to the plate with the pears and add ingredient X, your Gorgonzola.

Notes/Results: Unlike the lunch box treats, this recipe was very inspiring! It was a wonderful pairing of salty and sweet, as well as crunchy and smooth and it dissappeared quickly! Both the Marsala and the Gorgonzola have a salty flavor that pairs so well with the honey and the pears. I chose Gorgonzola Picante, which has a sharper flavor and is absolutely creamy and delicious. I ended up using sliced almonds and they added the perfect crunch to the pears and cheese. I also put the Gorgonzola on the stovetop to warm and melt while I baked some fresh bread. This allowed the Gorgonzola to come to room temperature and get all melty. A great dish to make for either an appetizer or a dessert. Definitely a make again recipe!!



Don't forget to head on over to I Heart Cooking Clubs to check out all the other "potluck" dishes that were shared this week!

27 comments:

  1. Gorgonzola and Pears...one of my favorite cominations. This looks so decadent!

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  2. That's a nice combo Kim. Gorgonzola can be really strong and I'll bet the pears are a great blend of taste with that cheese

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  3. This sounds like a most fantastic combination.. I bet it was so very delicious. I'd really love to try this.

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  4. Wow.. I love pears and I've always wanted to try cooking something with pears... This dish looks yummy and definitely a great choice for your potluck I'm sure! :)

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  5. That first pic...omg...drool, drool, drool! This sounds like a delicious combo...I would love to snack on it. Now.

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  6. What a great combo and so pretty! :)

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  7. I love the sweet pears with the gorgonzola. It just sings autumn. Now,are you sure the gorgonzola could not have ben refrigerated? Darn. Almost had it.

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  8. Oh my! I would eat this with my fingers and wash it down with a big bottle of bubbly! Such great flavours!

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  9. This looks beautiful. I wish i wasn't allergic to gorgonzola lol.

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  10. Never would have put all those flavors together myself, but I sure want to try it now!

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  11. Ooh, one of my favorite flavor combos! I bet this would be a great happy-hour-at-home snack with a glass of wine and my slippers :)

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  12. this looks sooo good! pear and gorganzola is a combo i just discovered myself, and those two were made for each other!

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  13. I absolutely love Gorgonzola cheese - and I'll bet the pears and honey just put it right to the top.

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  14. Pears and gorgonzola!!!!What a great combo!

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  15. Yum! This and a bottle of wine...who needs dinner?

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  16. This looks super good. I love that combination, pears and gorgonzola. And then the nuts -- yum.

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  17. Kim, this recipe with pears, gorgonzola, honey and nuts is absolutely over the top! Seriously, this would be perfectly paired with a glass of sparkling wine. This recipe is on my list. Thank you!

    Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.

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  18. You make this sound so good! I know I would love this because pears and gorgonzola are two of my favorite things to put on salads. I love the sweet and salty. What a treat!

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  19. OH MY...Gorgonzola Picante, pears and almonds what a wonderful dish. I can almost taste it!

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  20. I definitely have those blogger moments where I make something with the intention of blogging it and then the pictures don't quite turn out or I just don't feel like it is interesting enough. I usually save the pictures for an emergency. In case I ever run out of food to post. As if.

    This looks amazing! I love gorgonzola and the sweet/salty/tangy/heavenly combination with the pears sounds delicious. I really want to try some gorgonzola picante!

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  21. I will have to check out that Nigella book, she is always appearing on our TV here. I like the way she is very down to earth, her recipes remind me of the kind of stuff that Gordon Slater produces (if you know him) there is only so much Jamie Oliver, or Gordon Ramsay I can take. Maybe it's me, but I find many Oliver recipes just plain don't work. Excellent post food looks stunning!!

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  22. woo hoo! i'm stoked to hear about your turkey!

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  23. I know this is gonna sound gross but i just slurped my drool ! Oh i love it !!! How delicious..what a treat !

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  24. That looks seriously wonderful! Hope you and your family have a great Thanksgiving.

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  25. I've actually never had fruit paired with cheese--but it's so popular, so it must be delish!

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