Back a few weeks ago, we held our annual Christmas gathering. I love this time of year because we get to see friends that have a history with us from high school, college and our children's activities (from the past as our children range in age from 18-27). It's an evening of great friends, good food and amazing conversation...and a little bit of wine. As much as Jeff and I love to make many of the servings, all of our friends come with appetizers and desserts to fill in the meal.
This year, Patty and Mark Steinhoff brought the BEST appetizer. When Patty came in and handed me the plate, I thought it was thumbprint cookies so I put them in the dining room with the rest of the desserts. Patty said, "Oh, those aren't dessert, those are appetizers." She then proceeded to tell us about how easy they were and the 4 ingredients needed...flour, butter, blue cheese and fig preserves. These little savories were amazing, they melted in your mouth with a buttery cheese flavor and a little bit of sweet. It reminded me of a grown up cheese cracker but more addicting. They were small which meant you could pop them in your mouth and just enjoy the savory experience.
Well, last night I decided to make them for a family holiday gathering. I put the butter, flour and cheese in a food processor, as it formed a ball I took it out and placed it on the pastry board. It looked a little grayish and I thought...this doesn't look right? I went to the computer to look up the recipe. There it was Blue Cheese and Fig Savories by The Runaway Spoon. Patty was right and I was doing everything according to the directions. So, I rolled out the dough, cut the savories and placed the fig preserves on top. Into the oven for about 10 minutes and there they were...Fig and Blue Cheese Savories.
I couldn't wait to get them to the party. I love to see how people like the recipes we make because that is the make or break to whether they will become a blog article. Everyone loved them! I'm always amazed how much the kids liked them as well as the adults. When I was young, there is no way you could have gotten me to taste something with blue cheese and fig. Too radical! (Oh, I just dated myself!)
If you are heading out tomorrow night for New Year's Eve, be the hit of the party and make a platter of Fig and Blue Cheese Savories. They are quick, easy and DELICIOUS!
Happy New Year and enjoy the blessings in 2013.
Ingredients for Fig and Blue Cheese Savories
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, cut into tablespoons
4 ounces blue cheese, crumbled
Ground black pepper
Fig preserves (about 1/4 cup)
Preparation:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Place the flour, butter, and blue cheese along with few grinds of black pepper into a food processor.
3. Process the dough until it comes together and starts to form a ball.
4. Place the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead a few times to pull the dough together.
5. Roll out to 1/8 inch thick with a floured rolling pin.
6. Cut rounds out of the dough with a floured 1-inch cutter (we used a 3/4 inch cutter)
and transfer the rounds to the parchment-lined baking sheet.
7. Using the back of a round half-teaspoon, make an indention on top of each dough round.
8. Spoon about 1/8 teaspoon of fig preserves onto each dough round.
9. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until the preserves are bubbling and the pastry is light golden on the bottom.
Let cool on the baking sheet for at least 10 minutes, then remove to a wire rack to cool.
Makes about 4 dozen with the 1 inch cutter and 6 dozen with the 3/4 inch cutter.
These can be stored for two days in an airtight container, place wax paper between layers.
Written by Tricia White
