Creamy Stilton & pear spread

By Chef_Madel

This easy-stir-together nibble will be a hit at your holiday dinner. Our sophisticated cheese pot has a cream cheese base and is dressed up with flavourful Stilton and crisp chunks of celery and pear. Server it with celery sticks for dipping, spoon into endive leaves or spread on crackers, sliced baguette or pear and apple wedges for an elegant treat.

Ingredients

• 1/2 (8-oz/259-g) container spreadable cream cheese or 1/2 (8-oz/250-g) block light cream cheese, at room temperature
• 1 tbsp (15 ml) milk (optional)
• 2 oz (60 g) Stilton or blue cheese, about 2/3 cup (150 ml) crumbled small pear
• 1 lemon
• 1/2 celery stalk
• 1 green onion

Details

Servings 2

Preparation

Step 1

1. Place cream cheese in a medium-size bowl. If using block cream cheese, stir in milk to make it creamier. Crumble in Stilton. Stir just until evenly mixed. Peel pear only if you wish. Chop into small pieces. Place in a small bowl. Squeeze in about 1 tsp (5 ml) juice from lemon and stir to mix. Finely chop celery. Thinly slice onion. Stir all into cheese mixture.

2. Turn mixture into a decorative bowl and top with more crumbled cheese; if you like. Spread is delicious with crackers or thin slices of toasted baguette. Mixture will keep well, covered and refrigerated, up to 2 days, although pear may darken a little. Bring to room temperature before serving.