Three Cheese Walnut Spread

Recipe from: Appetizers, Wine, and Why presented by Kyle Gruening and Dennis Kohl, Nicolet Tech. College

Ingredients:
1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts, toasted
8 oz pkg. cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup (2 oz) crumbled blue cheese
1/2 cup (2 oz) shredded mozzarella cheese
1/8 tsp coarsely ground black pepper
1 Tbsp snipped fresh parsley
Apple wedges, pear wedges, or assorted crackers (optional)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350. Toast walnuts

Combine cream cheese, blue cheese, mozzarella cheese and black pepper; mix well. Add walnuts. Spoon cheese mixture into small baking dish, spreading evenly. Bake 8-10 minutes or until cheese mixture is slightly melted. Garnish with parsley. Serve with apple or pear wedges, or assorted crackers. Makes about 16 servings.

This is delicious with Chardonnay, one that is both fruity with notes of apple and creamy from malolactic fermentation with a little bit of toastiness from oak.