From our friend

Ingredients

Wedge of Brie cheese or small round
Assorted dried fruits: Cranberries, cherries, blueberries, dates, apricots, raisins, plums, prunes
Tablespoon of honey

Directions

Dice the assorted dried fruits of your choice. Mix with honey; enough to adhere to cheese.

Arrange the fruit on top of Brie in a fashion pleasing to the eye.

Serve with French bread or favorite crackers or crostini.

Bon Appétit!

Cook’s note:

Be our guest and substitute your favorite dried fruits.

Jan 1 2012

Cranberry Mango Brie Tartlets

A sweet and savory treat all-in-one!

Serves 12

Ingredients

1/2 of a 17.3-ounce package Pepperidge Farm® Puff Pastry Sheets (1 sheet), thawed
6 teaspoons New England Cranberry Co.® Cranberry Mango Chutney*
6 teaspoons Alouette® Crème de Brie® Spreadable Cheese
Sprig of thyme
Sprinkle of crushed red pepper
Dash of extra-virgin olive oil

Directions

Preheat oven to 375°F.
Lightly flour surface and unfold thawed pastry sheet. Divide pastry sheet into 12 squares, 2 ½ inches per side. Press the pastry squares gently into 12 greased mini-muffin pan cups.*
Layer each mini-muffin pan cup with ½ teaspoon chutney, followed by ½ teaspoon brie, a few leaves of thyme, a sprinkle of crushed red pepper, topped with a dash of olive oil.
Bake for 20 minutes or until the tartlets are golden brown. Allow the tartlets to cool for 5 minutes before enjoying. Bon Appétit!

Cook’s note:

Although I used cranberry mango, be my guest and substitute your favorite chutney.
If using a 24 cup mini-muffin pan, as I did, fill the 12 remaining cups with water.

Nov 11 2011

The Cheese Stands Alone

Who doesn’t remember that fond childhood nursery rhyme that ends “the cheese stands alone.” Cheese, like a treasured nursery rhyme, brings with it a reassuring feeling of coziness and comfort.

Whichever way you slice it, cheese has the power to be the ultimate comfort food or solo menu dish. Who doesn’t love cheese paired with their favorite glass of wine?

Question: Where’s one place cheese stands alone?

Answer: Cheese reigns supreme in France.

Cheese rates top billing in France; whether a tasty treat, a savory main course, or a sweet end to a satisfying meal.

So put on a pot of hot, bubbling fondue; perfect for a chilly wintry night and share your favorite childhood cheese memory. Smile! Say cheese … you’ve just traveled to France. ~ NRVANA

Destination:  France
Bonjour, your passport has been stamped! 

Note to the Epi-curious:  Confirm your travel plans
by sharing your very own cooking nirvana experience -
be it a treasured memory, location, or recipe.

P.S.

A happy coincidence! France is the birthplace of cheesecake.

Shangri La Cafe

Brie with Bounty of Dried Fruits
Cranberry Mango Brie Tartlets

Next stop – California Dreamin’

My Cooking Nirvana

A Passport to Global Flavors

Tag Archives: France

Brie with Bounty of Dried Fruits

Cranberry Mango Brie Tartlets

The Cheese Stands Alone