HEAVENLY BRIE BASKET

HEAVENLY BRIE BASKET image

Yield Serves 2-4 people.

Number Of Ingredients 8

Heavenly Brie Basket
1 medium sized swiss peasant loaf of bread
1 1/2 pounds of brie cheese, rind removed, cut into chunks
2 large Vidalia or yellow onions, thinly sliced
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
2 tablespoons white vinegar
2-3 large ripe d'anjou pears

Steps:

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Cut a large circle into the bread about 1 inch from the edge and several inches deep. Remove the bread filling and reserve, leaving a basket crust. Fill the basket with the brie, packing it in tightly. Replace bread cover and cover the basket completely with aluminum foil. Bake on middle rack until the cheese is melted through, about 1 hour. 10 minutes before the bread is removed, melt the butter in a chef pan or large skillet over medium high heat. Add the onions, brown sugar, and white vinegar and sauté until the liquid evaporates and the onions start to become crispy. Slice the pears thinly just before serving to prevent browning. Cut the basket into quarters or thirds and serve with pears and caramelized onions. Each bite should be layered with the crusty basket, cheese, pears and onions. Serve with a semi-sweet Riesling and a crisp green salad. Pure heaven!