In keeping with the traditional wedding motif of "Something borrowed, something blue," Grant wanted to prepare an exceptional treat for Carly and Ari's pre-wedding party, and for the wedding reception. Using bleu cheese as the primary ingredient, he created these tantalizing delicious appetizers that got rave reviews from the guests. If the blend of apple and onion seem odd, don't worry--you'll find that it's a marriage made in culinary heaven.
Although Grant makes his own phyllo dough, he knows that it's a labor-intensive task that takes some practice. To save time, he suggests using the miniature phyllo shells available in the freezer section a your supermarket (a 1.9-ounce package yields 15 tart shells). If you're a talented baker, or adventurous enough to make your own phyllo dough, some great recipes can be found online.
Once you serve these gourmet treats, your guests will be clamoring for you to make them often!
- 2 teaspoons butter, preferably unsalted
- 1 large Granny Smith apple, peeled, cored, and finely chopped
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 1 cup of crumbled bleu cheese
- 4 tablespoons finely chopped roasted walnuts
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 package (1.9 ounces) of frozen miniature phyllo tart shells
- Dried basil
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F).
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Melt butter in a nonstick skillet over medium heat.
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Add apple and onion: cook and stir until tender (3 to 5 minutes) and remove from heat.
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Stir in bleu cheese, three tablespoons of the walnuts, and salt.
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Spoon a rounded tablespoon of the mixture into each phyllo shell, and place them on an ungreased baking sheet; bake for 5 minutes.
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Remove from oven and sprinkle with the remaining walnuts and a light touch of dried basil; bake another 2 to 3 minutes or until lightly browned.
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Serve warm out of the oven. After they're cooled, they can also be frozen in a freezer container, separating layers with wax paper.