This is my favorite holiday appetizer. The cranberries are so very festive and combined with the blue cheese mixture it’s slightly sweet, tart and tangy. It hits my taste buds in all the right places. But be warned it does have blue cheese, and there tend to be some people with a hatred for blue cheese. I should know I use to be one of them, but this recipe has turned me around to really loving blue cheese. Try it for your next holiday party.
Ingredients: 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened, 4-ounce package crumbled blue cheese, room temperature, 1 cup (4 ounces) finely shredded Cheddar cheese, room temperature, 2 teaspoons vegetable oil, 1 medium sweet onion, sliced, quartered, 1 teaspoon sugar, 1 cup Fresh or Frozen Cranberries, 1/4 cup sugar, 1/4 cup water, 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar, 1/4 cup coarsely chopped pecans (optional)
To start dice your onion
and add oil to the skillet over medium high heat
soften the onions for a few minutes
and then add sugar, mix well, and then let continue cooking to caramelize the onions, lower the heat slightly and stir every few minutes, will take about 10 minutes
While the onions are caramelizing,
start on the cheese spread, in your mixer of by hand (if you want a work out)
add a block of cream cheese
crumble in the blue cheese
then beat until smooth
then add in the shredded cheese and beat until incorporated
Be sure to scrape the sides down
then layer the cheese mixture into a serving dish and refrigerate for at least 1 hour
Once the onions have caramelized, remove them from the skillet and set aside
In the same skillet add the cranberries
and sugar
and water, stir until sugar has dissolved
turn the heat up to about medium and wait for the cranberries to pop open and soften about 5-6 minutes
once the mixture has thickened add the balsamic vinegar
and the onions back in
stir well and let cool
when your ready to serve just spoon the cranberries on top of the cheese mixture
and go ahead and try some
no one will ever know!
Cranberry Caramelized Onion Cheese Spread
Ingredients:
1 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened
1 4-ounce package crumbled blue cheese, room temperature
1 cup (4 ounces) finely shredded Cheddar cheese, room temperature
2 teaspoons vegetable oil
1 medium sweet onion, sliced, quartered
1 teaspoon sugar
1 cup Fresh or Frozen Cranberries
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup water
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup coarsely chopped pecans (optional)
Directions:
Combine cream cheese and blue cheese in a medium mixing bowl; beat with electric mixer until smooth and creamy. Add Cheddar cheese; beat until well blended. Spread in shallow serving bowl. Cover; refrigerate at least 1 hour to blend flavors.
Meanwhile, heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion; cook and stir 2 to 4 minutes or until tender. Reduce heat to medium-low; stir in 1 teaspoon sugar. Cook for 10 to 12 minutes or until onion is soft and golden, stirring occasionally. Remove onion from skillet; set aside,
In same skillet, combine cranberries, remaining sugar and water. Cook over medium heat about 5 minutes or until cranberries pop and mixture thickens, stirring occasionally. Stir in vinegar and onions. Cool slightly.
To serve, bring cheese spread to room temperature. Spoon cranberry mixture over cheese spread; sprinkle on pecans. Serve with assorted crackers.
listed @ Eat at Home