Warm Salad With Pear & Blue Cheese

• 8 thin slices of white bread
• 2 garlic cloves, halved
• 1/2 lb (250 g) Stilton cheese, sliced, or other blue cheese
• 2 bunches of watercress, trimmed and chopped
• 2 pears, peeled and cut into thin wedges
• 1/4 cup (60 ml) sunflower oil
• 1 small red onion, finely chopped
• 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
• * 3-in (7-cm) pastry cutter

STEPS :

1. With the pastry cutter, cut out decorative shapes from the slices of bread.
2. Toast the bread shapes on both sides under the broiler. Rub both sides of the bread with the garlic . cloves and arrange the slices of cheese on top of each piece. Set aside.
3. Arrange the chopped watercress and pear wedges on 4 individual serving plates, then set aside.
4. Heat the sunflower oil in a skillet, add the onion, and cook gently for 5 minutes or until soft but not browned.
5. Meanwhile, put the cheese-topped toasts under the broiler, close to the heat, for 1-2 minutes, until the cheese is melted and warmed through. Cut the toasts in half.
6. Add the vinegar to the onion in the skillet, and let it heat through, stirring occasionally. Pour the onion mixture over the watercress and pears. Arrange the toasts on the plates and serve at once.

WARM SALAD WITH PEARS & BRIE

For a milder flavor, substitute 1/2 lb (250 g) Brie, thickly sliced, for the Stilton.