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’Tis the Season-al Irish Cheeseboard

sarah june fox
Dec 8, 2016
2 min read

We thought we’d share our secret to stress-free festive entertaining - The Perfect Cheeseboard. Ideal as an appetiser, cheese course on the big day or as a quick and easy way to feed the onslaught of festive visitors! These serving suggestions are jam packed with festive flavours and seasonal and artisan ingredients. We’re keeping things local and supporting some of our favourite Irish food producers such as Little Milk Co, Lismore Food Company and St Tola to show off the spoils of our soil.

The best thing about these recipes are that they can be prepared in advance and be whipped out of the fridge at a moments notice. Cheeses, Mary and Joseph, Darina Allen eat your heart out!

Spiced Poached Pears with Brie

Ingredients:

6 pears
950ml water
2 cinnamon sticks
5 cloves
5 star anise
6 smashed cardamom pods
150ml honey
100g caster sugar
200g of the Little Cheese Company Brie
A packet of ginger nut biscuits
A packet of Lismore Food Company caraway with Irish seaweed fine biscuits
150ml spiced rum (optional)

Directions:

1. In a heavy based saucepan combine the water, honey, caster sugar and stir over a medium heat until the sugar dissolves.

2. Add in the pears, cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise, cardamom pods and the rum if you are including it. Don’t fret if you don’t have all the spices to hand, cinnamon sticks on their own work a treat! Bring to the boil for a short while.

3. Reduce the heat and let it simmer gentle for an hour.

4. Set aside and let cool completely. If you are keeping it over night then leave the pears in the syrup to pump up the flavour.

5. After this, place your pears and cheese on a pretty board for maximum visual impact! We highly recommend our marble board ;) Compile your bites by placing a slice or two on the ginger biscuit and top with brie. If you are more of a savoury lover then the Lismore caraway with Irish seaweed fine biscuits are for you!