Cheddar & Apple Pizza
I had the great honour of being invited back to the "Wheatland Cafe" on CTV this week. Call me crazy, but I just love the opportunity to cook on television! It is a challenge to find a recipe that viewers would be interested in recreating, simple enough for them to do so, and still teach them something new. On top of all that, I have to be able to demonstrate the recipe in a matter of minutes, and make sensical words come out of my mouth at the same time! I love playing with "television magic" (putting something in the oven just to have a perfectly cooked "double" come out seconds later). I have pretended to have a cooking show since I was a little girl, so I think that's why I always jump at a segment! So, many thanks to CTV Regina, CJ Katz, and JC Garden for having me on the show!
I dug back several years in my cookbook collection for this easy, quick dessert! It is one of my favourites and can be adapted in so many ways with different fruits and cheeses (can you say "Pear & Gorgonzola"?). It can be made the day ahead, although fresh and warm from the oven is always best! Serve it with ice cream or your favourite whipped topping, or if you want to be really fancy, try making your own creme fraiche! It is easy, and decadent, and only takes a wee bit more time out of your schedule! I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do! Feel free to make it your own, and if you come up with any really cool fruit and cheese combinations, please let me know!
Cheddar & Apple Pizza
pastry for a single crust pie4 large tart apples, peeled and cut into 1/4 inch slices
1/2 C. shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 C. packed brown sugar
1/2 C. chopped macadamia nuts (or walnuts)
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
2 Tbsp. cold butter
Roll pastry to fit a greased, 12 inch pizza pan. Flute edges and prick with a fork. Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes. Arrange apples in a circular patten in a single layer to completely cover the pastry. Sprinkle apples with cheese. Combine brown sugar, nuts, cinnamon and nutmeg and sprinkle over top. Cut butter into small pieces and dot top of pizza. Bake for 20 additional minutes, or until apples are tender. Cut into wedges. Serve with creme fraiche, ice cream or your favourite whipped topping.
Creme Fraiche
To make your own creme fraiche, mix 1 cup of whipping cream and 2 Tbsp. of greek yogourt or buttermilk in a bowl. Cover lightly with cheesecloth or a coffee filter and let stand at room temperature for 8-24 hours until it thickens slightly. It can then be stored in the fridge, where it will thicken further. If you would like more of a whipped cream texture, whip it with a beater until it forms soft peaks and sweeten with sugar or honey, if desired!
