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Blue Cheese, Mascarpone And Pear Bites

This recipe is a positively wonderful combination of cheese and fruit. A fresh, crusty baguette and ripe pears complement the blend of sharp blue cheese and creamy mascarpone to perfection. As you may have guessed, it is a pretty rich and filling appetizer, so serve sparingly if you want your guests to eat their meal! Blue Cheese, Mascarpone And Pear Bites

Blue Cheese, Mascarpone And Pear Bites

Ingredients ~
1 French baguette
2 tablespoons melted butter
4 ounces mascarpone cheese
1/4 cup crumbled Maytag blue cheese
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 ripe Anjou pears
2 tablespoons sliced almonds, lightly toasted

Preparation ~
Preheat the oven to 400°F.

Slice sixteen 1/4-inch thick slices from the baguette and arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet. Brush both sides of each baguette slice with butter. Bake until they turn a light golden brown, about 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool.

Combine the mascarpone cheese, blue cheese and lemon juice in a small bowl. Wash and core the pears with a paring knife, then slice each into 8 rounds.

Place one pear round on each slice of toasted baguette, top with some of the cheese mixture and smooth with a knife to cover the pear slice evenly. Top each with a few slices of toasted almond, arrange on a platter and serve.

Makes 16