Blue Cheese Spread

Apparently looking back in the rear view mirror is now being called Throwback Thursday. The day where one selectively posts a photo or shares a memory of themselves on any one of the social media venues out there. Up until now I haven't jumped in this relatively new phenomenon. Could it be I am slow to be 'hip' or worse yet, a social 'outlier'? Shudder the thought. But just in case I am delusional about myself, I decided to throw myself into this phenomenon and change my social status, so to speak. However, technically this throwback doesn't belong to my collection of memories, it belongs to one of my friends. The discovery of this Blue Cheese Spread recipe goes back twenty-five years when she and her husband were at Domaine Chandon in Napa. While they were definitely not there for the Blue Cheese Spread, it was one of the many memorable takeaways and it also became a timeless classic recipe in their household. And one (along with some champagne) that could be guaranteed to throw them back to their first visit there (and not only on Thursdays).

There really isn't anything better than having an easy go-to, can be put together in minutes recipe. As much as I have a tendency to skew to the more labor intensive appetizer recipes (a glutton for punishment or more is better thinking?), I secretly love simple. Especially when simple involves a great blue cheese, fresh herbs and a baguette.

You can make the Blue Cheese Spread look retro (or should I say a little throwback) by shaping it into a ball. Or you can spread it out on a platter or serve in a bowl. So many presentation options for something that takes so little time to make. 

My two favorite blue cheeses are Maytag (made in Iowa) and Point Reyes Blue (made in California). Both would work perfectly in this spread. I generally prefer to buy a wedge of blue cheese versus blue cheese crumbles. One can always turn a wedge into crumbles, but cannot turn crumbles into a wedge. Because sometimes you just want to serve a wedge of cheese.

Softened cream cheese is mixed with a half-cup or two ounces of the blue cheese of your choice in a small bowl. To soften the cream cheese, you can leave it out of the refrigerator for several hours or overnight.

Two tablespoons of finely chopped chives and flat leaf parsley are added next. When I was making this spread I was wishing I had the chives and parsley I had planted at the east coast farmhouse. So until I grow pots of herbs here in the midwest, the herbs available at the grocery store have to do.

Two to three tablespoons of chopped, roasted walnuts (baked for 10-12 minutes in a preheated 350 degree oven) are mixed in last. And that is it. You are done. It doesn't get any easier. You can make this spread early in the day or make it just before serving. If you make early in the day, remove from the refrigerator about an hour before serving so it spreads easily.

The only 'hard' part of this recipe is making the what to serve with the Blue Cheese Spread decision. A sliced baguette, crostini, crackers, sliced apples, sliced pears? So many delicious options. 

Blue Cheese Spread (aka Patty's world famous spread inspired by a recipe created by Domaine Chandon)
Ingredients
8 ounces cream cheese, softened (recommend Philadelphia Brand)
2 ounces (weighed on scale) or 1/2 generous cup blue cheese, crumbled (recommend either Maytag Blue or Point Reyes Blue Cheese)
2 Tablespoons flat leaf parsley, finely chopped
2 Tablespoons chives, finely chopped
1/4 cup walnuts, toasted and chopped (plus additional for sprinkling on top)
Baguette slices, crostini, crackers and/or freshly sliced pears or apples
Champagne, wine, beer
Optional: Serve along with dried apricots and/or fresh seedless grapes.

Directions
1. Mix softened cream cheese and blue cheese crumbles until thorough combined.
2. Mix in chopped herbs and half of the toasted walnuts.
3. Arrange spread on platter or place in bowl. 
4. Sprinkle top of blue cheese spread with remaining chopped walnuts and/or some additional chopped chives.
5. Serve immediately with baguette slices, crostini or crackers.
Note: If refrigerated, allow to sit out at least one hour before serving.

There is another back story to this recipe. Recently my friend's husband posted a picture of a plate of crackers and a smear of the blue cheese spread on his Facebook page. It wasn't the photo that captured my attention (even though it really did look delicious), it was the words accompanying the picture. He was giving a shout out to his wife for her world famous spread. I mean seriously, how cool is that? You might say he is definitely a man who knows how to make his wife feel like no one else could possibly compare to her (or her Blue Cheese Spread). More importantly, he is someone who also knows both words (he is probably one of the best storytellers on the planet) and actions matter.

A quote found this week "We can't always find the right words to say, but our actions often say enough. After all, they tend to speak louder than words" along with reading the Facebook posting resonated with me. They reminded me how great it is when you have those in your life where their words are inseparable from their actions. But if expecting to give or receive both is too much, well then at the end of the day, remember actions might really matter most and might just be the most telling.