Port Poached Pears
3 cups fruity red wine, such as Zinfandel or Barbera
1 cup ruby or LBV vintage port
1/2 cup sugar
5 whole cloves
1/2 cinnamon stick, broken
4 Bartlett or Bosc pears, peeled, cored and quartered
Wild Rice Stuffing
2 cups water
1/2 cup wild rice
1/2 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup quartered fresh seedless grapes
Rosemary Walnuts
1 tablespoon butter
2/3 cup walnut halves
1/2 teaspoon crumbled, dried rosemary
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Salt to taste
Whipped Blue Cheese
1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese
1/4 cup cream cheese, at room temperature

3 cup s fruity red wine, such as Zinfandel or Barbera 1 cup ruby or LBV vintage port 1/2 cup sugar 5 whole cloves 1/2 cinnamon stick, broken 4 Bartlett or Bosc pears, peeled, cored and quartered 2 cup s water 1/2 cup wild rice 1/2 teaspoon salt 2/3 cup quartered fresh seedless grapes 1 tablespoon butter 2/3 cup walnut halves 1/2 teaspoon crumbled, dried rosemary 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese 1/4 cup cream cheese, at room temperature

Bring wine, port, sugar, cloves and cinnamon stick to a boil in a large stainless steel saucepan, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Add pears; reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes or until pears are tender when pierced with a toothpick. Turn off heat and let pears stand for 10 minutes. Remove from liquid and chill. Remove cloves and cinnamon and continue to cook liquid for 20 to 30 minutes or until syrupy; set aside. To prepare stuffing, bring water, rice and salt to a boil in a small saucepan. Reduce heat and simmer for about 50 minutes or until tender. Drain off excess water and chill rice; stir in grapes. To prepare walnuts, preheat oven to 325°F. Melt butter and toss with walnuts and seasonings. Spread onto a baking sheet and bake for 12 to 15 minutes, stirring every 3 to 4 minutes. Let cool and store in an airtight container until ready to use. Whip blue and cream cheeses together in a small bowl by hand or with a mixer until fluffy. To serve, scoop out a small part of the top of each pear. Place a small spoonful of cheese mixture into the cavity of each pear. Top with rice stuffing and walnuts, then drizzle with port glaze. Makes 8 appetizer servings.