I’m bringing these fun Gorgonzola Cheese Cups filled with a Pear and Hazelnut Green Salad to a surprise virtual baby shower. There’s nothing more exciting than the imminent arrival of a new baby. When that baby is coming to someone as sweet as Jen of My Kitchen Addiction and her husband, that calls for a celebration, full of great food and drinks.
While I know Jen through her wonderful blog (full of amazing sweet and savory dishes, as well as helpful “how to” ideas), I also know her through a decidedly non-food channel.
Many of you may not know this, but Jen is also the venerable leader of Cookie Crushers, the fantasy football team that just might pummel my team, Panfrying Pigskins, in our next matchup. While the weekly competition is fierce in our league, it’s all in good fun. Of course, we do still manage to sprinkle in conversations about football and tailgating food. You just can’t tackle the “food lover” out of a group of food bloggers.
MY OTHER RECIPESWhen Tracy of Sugarcrafter and Amber of Bluebonnets & Brownies came up with the idea of honoring Jen and her little one with a virtual baby shower, I started dreaming of different treats or appetizers I could bring.
Immediately, my mind wandered to my Crispy Parmesan & Rosemary Cups with Spinach & Strawberry Salad. However, I wanted to put a fall twist on it. One of my favorite fall salads is a classic lettuce mix with pears, nuts and Gorgonzola cheese. Of course, you see that salad in almost every restaurant, done in the same way each time.
In this version, the Parmesan and Gorgonzola cheeses are melted into a golden brown circles and gently pressed into muffin tins to form crispy cups. The rest? Just toss baby lettuces with chopped fresh pear, toasted hazelnuts and a simple vinaigrette of balsamic vinegar and extra-virgin olive oil. Gently place the salad inside the cooled cups for a pretty, original appetizer.
Congratulations, Jen! I can’t wait to hear about the arrival of your little one.
The recipe:
In a small bowl, combine the Parmesan cheese and flour.
Heat a small, nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Be sure the pan is fully heated before adding the cheese. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of the Parmesan mixture into a 4-inch circle in the middle of the skillet. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon of Gorgonzola cheese over the Parmesan cheese.
Cook until the circle starts to hold together as you lift it off of the pan and the bottom is starting to brown, about 1 to 1 1/2 minutes.
Using an offset spatula, lift the circle of cheese from the pan and flip to the other side. Cook for an additional 15 to 30 seconds.
Gently press the circle into a muffin tin. Repeat with the remaining cheese, to make a total of 8 cheese cups. Let the cheese cups cool completely in the muffin tin. When ready to use, carefully lift them out of the tin.
In a medium bowl, combine spring mix, toasted hazelnuts, pear, and a simple vinaigrette made of the olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Only use enough vinaigrette to lightly dress the salad.
Place the cheese cups on a serving platter and gently fill with the salad. Serve immediately.
It’s not a baby shower with just salad, so make sure you check out the amazing drinks, desserts and savory dishes by some of my favorite bloggers:
Bluebonnets & Brownies | Raspberry Lemon Fruit Dip
Sugarcrafter | Sweet Potato Cake with Honey Buttercream
My Baking Addiction | Mini Pumpkin Pies
Simple Bites | English Eccles Cakes
Stetted | Roasted Red Pepper and Caramelized Onion Dip
Food for my Family | Homemade Pear Italian Sodas with Cardamom Cream
eat. live. travel. write. | Goat Cheese and Tomato Tartlettes
Gimme Some Oven | Creamy Caramel Apple Dippers
Dessert For Two | Caramel Apple Cookie Cups
Bake at 350 | Soft Sugar Cookies for a Baby Shower
TidyMom | Apple Pomegranate Spritzers
i am baker | Advice to a New Mommy
Healthy Green Kitchen | Guacamole with Pistachios
Tracey’s Culinary Adventures | Caramelized Onion, Gruyere and Bacon Spread
What Megan’s Making | Apple Spice Muffins
Bellalimento | Frozen Berry Shortcake
GoodLife Eats | Coconut Lemon Banana Bread
Gorgonzola Cheese Cups with Pear & Walnut Green Salad Recipe
From the kitchen of Cookin Canuck. www.cookincanuck.com
Ingredients
- 1 cup (packed) Parmesan cheese
- 8 tsp Gorgonzola cheese
- 1 tsp all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (packed) baby spring mix
- 2 tbsp chopped hazelnuts, lightly toasted
- 1 Bartlett pear, cut into 1/2-inch dice
- 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
Directions
- In a small bowl, combine Parmesan cheese and flour.
- Heat a small, nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Be sure the pan is fully heated before adding the cheese. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of the Parmesan mixture into a 4-inch circle in the middle of the skillet. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon of Gorgonzola cheese over the Parmesan cheese.
- Cook until the circle starts to hold together as you lift it off of the pan and the bottom is starting to brown, about 1 to 1½ minutes.
- Using an offset spatula, lift the circle of cheese from the pan and flip to the other side. Cook for an additional 15 to 30 seconds.
- Gently press the circle into a muffin tin. Repeat with the remaining cheese, to make a total of 8 cheese cups. Let the cheese cups cool completely in the muffin tin. When ready to use, carefully lift them out of the tin.
- In a medium bowl, combine spring mix, toasted hazelnuts, pear, and a simple vinaigrette made of the olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Only use enough vinaigrette to lightly dress the salad.
- Place the cheese cups on a serving platter and gently fill with the salad.
- Serve immediately.
DessertForTwo says
So cute for a party! Love these 🙂
Rachel Cooks says
I am loving all the baby shower recipes. Wish it were a real party! These are so fun and dainty!
Cassie says
These are gorgeous. I’m salivating over here. I love the cheese cups! So versatile.
Heidi @foodiecrush says
I’ve made little parm cups like this but you hit it out of the park with gorgonzola. What a fab entertaining idea. But then, I’d expect nothing less coming from you!
Deborah says
These are the perfect appetizer!!
Barbara @ Barbara Bakes says
What a great idea! Perfect for a party.
Bev @ Bev Cooks says
Shuuuuuuuut UP.
Jen @ My Kitchen Addiction says
Thank you for such a sweet post, Dara! I am so lucky and blessed to have such great friends, and I am still somewhat speechless as I read through all of the blog posts. I will also add that it’s very unlikely that my team will beat yours in our next fantasy football match up. I seem to have a knack for starting all of the wrong players!
And, I have to add that this is the *perfect* recipe for the shower. This recipe has all of the flavors of my favorite salad at a local restaurant, but in a mini form. I absolutely love gorgonzola and pear, and I can’t wait to give these adorable little salad cups a try. Yum!
Liz @ The Lemon Bowl says
Love all of these recipes!! Congratulations Jen!!
Angie says
How exciting is a new baby! Your recipe looks perfect for a shower.
Alison @ Ingredients, Inc. says
these look amazing Dara! LOVE
Nancy@acommunaltable says
The only thing that would be better is if I had a couple of these IRL right now!! I think these just might be the perfect fall appetizer Dara – brilliant!!!
Elizabeth@ Food Ramblings says
love the cheese muffin tin!
Lindsey (Cafe Johnsonia) says
Absolutely brilliant! I’m totally making these for the holidays.
Holly says
what a great recipe and a wonderful idea to celebrate a friend’s new baby with a virtual shower! I have pinned this and, if I can master making the cheese cups without burning the cheese, then this will become a great appetizer for me to share with friends. Thanks!
addie @ culicurious says
great idea, Dara 🙂 a great twist on a classic!
Erin @ Dinners, Dishes, and Desserts says
These little cups are adorable, and I love how you made them! This is the perfect appetizer to have for a shower!
Paula - bell'alimento says
Love these cheese cups I make them all the time and the rosemary added to is faboosh! xoxo
Kiran @ KiranTarun.com says
Perfect cute party food!
Noble Pig - Cathy says
I want a platter to myself…love all the flavors here!
bridget {bake at 350} says
A. Dara, your photography is so beautiful!
B. Fantasy football! I had no idea!
C. These salad cups are WAY TOO cool! I just love them! So creative!
Laura (Tutti Dolci) says
I love these, what great little salad bites!
carrian says
These look fantastic!
Frank @Memorie di Angelina says
Who knew that party food could be so delicate, so healthy and so delicious?
Kari@Loaves and Dishes says
I love cheese cups! You’ve made them even better with blue cheese. What great flavor combos!
Dara @how_to_eat says
These look beautiful! What a creative spin on the traditional salad appetizer.
Tracy says
Oh my goodness, I can’t even tell you how perfect these beautiful little cups are!! Not only for Jen’s shower, but for a lazy Sunday watching football (you know I’ll be making them asap)! Thank you so much for bringing these along!
Amber | Bluebonnets & Brownies says
Dara, thank you so much for this beautiful post for Jen’s shower. Such a perfect perfect appetizer for Fall, and for a little autumnal baby! I think I’d love to have these at my next dinner party too.
Donna says
Wow – what a delightful twist to add gorgonzola!
Jen at The Three Little Piglets says
Those are just gorgeous! And such a clever way to make salad a finger food for parties!
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