Marthas Cheese-Coated Grapes Are Weird, Delightful, and Perfect for New Years Eve
Whether youre hosting a Gatsby-themed party or rockin your PJs, New Years Eve calls for a slightly elevated snack. Something that doesnt require cooking is ideal, but it can be tricky finding oven-less recipes that arent lackluster (sorry, crudit platter). Luckily, there is one party host that's been churning out reliable party recipes for decades. Its Martha, and I can tell you with confidence that her Roquefort cheese grapes are the weird and delicious snack you need for your New Years Eve party.Even I was a tad skeptical at firstblue-cheese-coated green grapes rolled in ground nuts is atypical at best (for me anyway)but I can hardly resist a five-ingredient recipe. Plus, its fitting for New Years Eve. For many cultures around the world, eating grapes at midnight is a tradition that invites good luck into your year. So why not offer grapes with a tasty twist? Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann This recipe is vintage 1982, coming from Stewarts Entertaining cookbook. The idea is pretty simple, and Ive made a few adjustments to make the execution even easier. She combines a smidge of Roquefort cheese (a soft, salty, funky blue cheese available in most big grocery stores) with cream cheese and a splash of heavy cream. The ratio of the three basically creates a cream cheese dip with a hint of blue cheese. Washed and dried green grapes get a light coating of the cheese spread and are then rolled in ground toasted nuts. Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann The result of this fruit, cheese, and nut combo is an absolutely exquisite bite. Texturally, you get the pleasure of biting into a juicy grape paired with cool, creamy cheese, and a rough tumble of finely ground nuts. As far as flavor is concerned, the blend is mesmerizingthe grapes are syrupy-sweet, the nuts offer welcome bitterness, and the cheese is buttery and salty with a playfully funky finish from the Roquefort. Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann Starting with room temperature cheeses makes mixing easy, but you can always pop the bowl into the microwave for 10 to 20 seconds to warm any fridge-cold ingredients. If you really hate blue cheese or you forgot to buy some, you can omit it. Its a relatively small amount, so you can just substitute that measurement for more cream cheese and itll work just as well. Dont chuck the leftover Roquefort cheese spreadit makes a mean dip for crackers.Roquefort Grapes Recipe(adapted from Martha Stewarts Entertaining)Ingredients: pound seedless green grapes4 ounces cream cheese1 ounce Roquefort cheese1 tablespoon heavy cream cup (about 6 ounces) toasted slivered almonds (or toasted walnuts)1. Wash and dry your grapes. (If they're wet, the cheese won't stick.) Set them aside in a bowl.2. Grind the nuts into a semi-fine nut meal. Its okay if its uneven or some lentil-sized pieces are in there. Pour the ground nuts into a small bowl.3. In a different small bowl, mix the cream cheese and Roquefort cheese together until smooth. Pop it into the microwave for 10 seconds or so if needed. Stir in the heavy cream. The mixture should be thick but spreadable like soft butter.4. Put parchment paper on a sheet tray or plate. Roll the grapes in the cheese. Youll probably achieve a thin, uneven coating, and thats just fine. I put a vinyl glove on my left hand and just rubbed the cheese over the grapes with my hand. Drop the grapes into the bowl of nuts and roll them around until well coated. Gently place the coated grapes onto the parchment lined tray. Repeat with all the grapes.5. Chill the grapes in the fridge for at least 20 minutes to firm-up the cheese and nut coating. Serve in a wide bowl or on a platter with candied nuts, and have a happy New Year.