; Supermarket Serenade: Favorite Food Finds Friday!

Friday, November 7, 2008

Favorite Food Finds Friday!

It's Friday and that dear readers is the day when I share with you something fabulous that I have discovered while wheeling my cart around the supermarket. Rest assured that whatever I share with you is truly a favorite of mine and perhaps one day will be a favorite for you!

If you haven't seen this find before I think you're really going to like it...


Apple, Cranberry & Cinnamon Boursin!


Boursin cheese has long been one of my very favorites-especially the pepper flavor-but let me tell you the Apple, Cranberry Cinnamon variety...fabulous.


Boursin was created in 1957 by Francois Boursin a cheese maker from Normandy, France. Francois classified it as Gournay cheese naming it after the town in France where he grew up. The first variety was herb and garlic.

With Thanksgiving and Christmas right around the corner this sweet and savory treat makes the perfect appetizer. Today I've paired it with a favorite recipe for Sweet and Spicy Pecans from Bon Appetit magazine. While I'm sure you'll agree that the cheese and the nuts are each fabulous in their own right, the flavors and spice of each really pop when you put them together. Here are some of my favorite ways to serve the nuts with the Boursin:


1. Serve the nuts in place of crackers and have your guests spread the cheese right onto the spicy nuts.


2. Toast sliced baguettes, spread each cooled slice with the Boursin then top with the nuts.

3. After the nuts are completely cooled, crush them then completely cover the Boursin with the nuts; serve with crackers.


4. Make a salad of spinach, apples, dried cranberries and very thinly sliced red onion. Add the Boursin Apple Cranberry and Cinnamon and the sweet and spicy nuts-then serve with a balsamic vinaigrette


Oh and one more thing-it's only around for the Holidays so be sure to try it while you can. Enjoy!!



Sweet and Spicy Candied Pecans
Bon Appétit September 1999


Yield: Makes 1 1/2 cups


Nonstick vegetable oil spray
3 tablespoons light corn syrup
1 1/2 tablespoons sugar
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon (generous) freshly ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 1/2 cups pecan pieces

Preheat oven to 325;°F. Spray baking sheet with nonstick spray. Combine corn syrup and next 4 ingredients in large bowl. Stir to blend. Add pecans; stir gently to coat.


Transfer to baking sheet. Place large piece of foil on work surface. Bake pecans 5 minutes. Using fork, stir pecans to coat with melted spice mixture. Continue baking until pecans are golden and coating bubbles, about 10 minutes. Transfer to foil. Working quickly, separate nuts with fork. Cool. (Can be made 3 days ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.)


20 comments:

Robin said...

That Boursin find made my day! I will have to look for this in some of my bigger grocery stores. I love the herbed boursin too! Thanks for the tip. I like your Friday posts. Oh and I did find those little Ben and Jerry's. Yum!

Allie said...

I've been seeing this product in the store and haven't bought it yet so now I'm excited about getting some!

Mary Bergfeld said...

Veronica, I love your Friday posts!
More, more, more ......

Cathy said...

What a wonderful combination of flavors and textures. Hope I can find this in my market. It will be perfect for Thanksgiving.

Anonymous said...

I'm a cheese freak so this is just one more to try! I'll have to look for it. Thanks.

Jen said...

I've NEVER even seen or heard about this! It sounds great and your recipes look absolutely delicious. Thanks for your sweet comment you left on my blog about my uncle's death. Here's a virtual "hug" back to you. Take care.

Karen said...

I love recipes for spicy nuts... this one sounds delicious and just right for this time of year.

Katherine Roberts Aucoin said...

I've seen Boursin in the stores but don't remember if I've ever tried it. I love cheese and will have to give a try. Your pecans look so yummy. I love them roased that way.

Anonymous said...

Oh this is just in time for the Holidays. I will have to look for it. I liked all your suggestions on how to serve it.

Jersey Girl Cooks said...

The pecans look so good and I will have to pick up some boursin.

La Bella Cooks said...

I love pecans and I can imagine adding the spicy sweet coating makes them all the more decadent.

Anonymous said...

OH I love Cranberries....have to see if Wegmans carries this :)

The Blonde Duck said...

That's really interesting. I hadn't heard of boursin before.

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That Girl said...

I love nuts that taste like candy

grace said...

i haven't found a cheese that i enjoy as much as plain ol' pepperjack, but this sounds fabulous! great find!

Sandy said...

Yip, I've made these pecans for years. Great for lo-cal appetizer around the holidays too!

Aggie said...

These both sound so great and perfect for holiday entertaining! I love all your ideas with them!!

Anonymous said...

Can you tell me what supermarket carries the Boursin Apple, Cranberry, Cinnamon cheese? I'd like to try the recipe and can't find the cheese in any supermarket. Thanks, Frannie53@AOL.com

Anonymous said...

I'm seriously going to have to find this. Wow. Just wow.