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Discover Fresh. Live Better.

October 2, 2016 By Lena 37 Comments

Welcome, fall.

A season of changing leaves and warm layers. A time to swap swimsuits for sweaters; a chance to indulge in pumpkin spice and everything nice. And the very, very best time to shop for fresh, local produce.

My local Walmart is brimming with crisp apples, sweet peaches and earthy root vegetables. Squash in vibrant hues of yellow, orange and green beckon to be added to comforting soups and stews. Concord grapes, perfectly symmetrical and ripe off the vine, sit tightly packed in small baskets. Bartlett pears, soft and fragrant, offer versatility in the sweetest way.
_dsc0114aOf course, one of my favourite things to do is cook with nature’s bounty, creating flavourful meals I know my family will love – while showcasing the best of the fall harvest. These Pear, Brie and Walnut Crostinis are a delicious way to pay homage to locally grown Bartlett pears (my favourite!) and couldn’t be simpler to make. I found convenient 5-lb packages at Walmart, in addition to all the other ingredients for this recipe!

Texturally, this appetizer is a winner. The juicy pear and soft, melted cheese melds perfectly with the toasted baguette and crunchy walnuts. Finish with a drizzle of honey and balsamic vinegar… YUM!
_dsc0152aNow, if you’re thinking this appetizer may be too complicated for your skill level, think again! I’m hardly a domestic goddess but I rate this recipe E for easy!

Here’s what you’ll need:

1 French baguette, sliced on the bias
1 tbsp olive oil
2-3 Bartlett pears, thinly sliced
1 double cream brie, rind removed and sliced*
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup walnut pieces, toasted**
fresh thyme

Here’s what you’ll need to do:

Brush the baguette slices lightly with olive oil, and grill or broil until the pieces are lightly browned. Remove from heat.

Place slices of brie on top of the toasted baguette, followed by a slice of Bartlett pear. Return to grill or oven and heat through until cheese has melted. Remove from heat, and sprinkle with toasted walnuts and thyme.

In a small bowl, mix together balsamic vinegar and honey. Drizzle over crostinis. Serve immediately.
_dsc0156a*You don’t need to remove the rind of the brie – as you can see from the photo above, I left a little on in some places. I love the earthy flavour and think it pairs well with the rest of the ingredients! Alas, if you leave the rind on, you won’t get that super-oozing-melty factor you’re looking for, as the rind will prevent the cheese from fully spreading out. It’s your choice – both ways are fine.

**To toast walnut pieces, you can place them in a 350°F oven for 10 minutes, or you can simply spread them out on a frying pan over medium heat for 5-6 minutes, shaking the pan frequently. Don’t miss this step, though – it makes a huge difference in the overall flavour!
_dsc0157aDo you love to cook with fresh ingredients? Follow @WalmartCanada on Twitter and participate in their #DiscoverFreshFood contest. You’ll have the opportunity to take fresh food challenges over the next few months for a chance to win a $200 gift card! Find some inspiration on their recipe centre.

Tell Me: What’s your favourite fresh food during fall?

This post is sponsored by Walmart Canada, as part of the Fresh #DiscoverFresh program. In exchange for this review, I have received special perks in the form of products and/or compensation. All opinions on this blog are my own.

Filed Under: Food Tagged With: #DiscoverFreshContest, bartlett pears, recipe, Walmart Canada

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Terri Baker

    October 2, 2016 at 10:54 am

    This recipe sounds so delicious! Fresh pears and local honey…perfect.

    Reply
  2. Angela Massis

    October 2, 2016 at 10:55 am

    Honey Crisp Apples

    Reply
  3. Janice Cournoyer

    October 2, 2016 at 11:06 am

    I love this recipe, and my family loved it. Saved to my special cookbook.

    Reply
  4. kathy downey

    October 2, 2016 at 12:32 pm

    Interesting recipe Lena,thanks for sharing cant wait to try it !

    Reply
  5. Cheryl

    October 2, 2016 at 1:07 pm

    Love dishes with squash

    Reply
  6. Florence C

    October 2, 2016 at 1:32 pm

    I have seen this recipe before. It looks so delicious.

    Reply
  7. Anne Taylor

    October 2, 2016 at 1:49 pm

    Roasted veggies, especially brussel sprouts are what I look forward too!

    Reply
  8. Donna Wilson

    October 2, 2016 at 4:58 pm

    My favorite fresh food of fall is apples!

    Reply
  9. Alayne Langford

    October 2, 2016 at 5:07 pm

    Ooh your recipe looks delish!! We buy fresh produce from Walmart, and you just can’t beat the chicken breasts for 10 bucks!!

    Reply
  10. Julie F

    October 2, 2016 at 5:24 pm

    I love apples and they are so versatile!

    Reply
  11. Darlene Schuller

    October 3, 2016 at 7:57 am

    Love love love apples, pears, all the fall fruits, heck just fruits in general. This looks so tasty thanks for sharing the recipe!

    Reply
  12. Judy Cowan

    October 3, 2016 at 8:56 am

    That sounds so good! My favourite fall food has to be apples, love eating them as a snack and using in many recipes.

    Reply
  13. sandy guerra

    October 3, 2016 at 9:46 am

    this recipe is wonderful for informal get togethers or for any occasion really fast and easy. Baguettes are my fav.. I usually buy the mult-grain ones.

    Reply
  14. Soozle

    October 3, 2016 at 5:52 pm

    Oh my.. That sounds like the ideal appy to me :) So simple but perfect

    Reply
  15. Debbie Bashford

    October 4, 2016 at 7:19 am

    fresh off the tree apples

    Reply
  16. Nancy Giese

    October 4, 2016 at 8:18 am

    You always have such good ideas,Lena

    Reply
  17. Laurie P

    October 5, 2016 at 9:04 am

    Looks to tasty! We just picked up 4 Squash at Walmart to cook up this weekend…..we love squash!

    Reply
  18. Dianne Gardner

    October 6, 2016 at 1:45 am

    I enjoy squash. Baked, roasted,in soups and also in place of pumpkin in desserts.

    Reply
  19. Debbie Bashford

    October 6, 2016 at 7:17 am

    this sounds really good

    Reply
  20. kathy downey

    October 6, 2016 at 11:09 am

    What a wonderful combo,love to test that!

    Reply
  21. Bailey Dexter

    October 8, 2016 at 5:03 pm

    What a great starter! Thanks for sharing, booked marked this one.

    Reply
  22. Debbie Bashford

    October 9, 2016 at 7:54 am

    picked up some pears at the farmers market

    Reply
  23. Susan T.

    October 9, 2016 at 3:46 pm

    I have a ton of pears right now so I’ll be giving this recipe a try. Looks delicious! I love fall squash for soups too.

    Reply
  24. Clair Palmer

    October 13, 2016 at 9:56 am

    I’ve always love fresh apples, we love to go apple picking and then make apple crisp yum

    Reply
  25. Melinda

    October 14, 2016 at 11:21 am

    Apples are a staple in our home!

    Reply
  26. Joyce S

    October 14, 2016 at 7:57 pm

    I am going to have to try that!

    Reply
  27. loriag

    October 17, 2016 at 8:34 am

    We eat apples all year round, but my fav fruit this time of year is pomegranate.

    Reply
  28. Donna Wilson

    October 19, 2016 at 7:06 am

    This looks so delicious!!!

    Reply
  29. DORIS HUMBER

    October 22, 2016 at 2:23 pm

    This is a great recipe…looks so tasty and easy to make.

    Reply
  30. Stephanie LaPlante

    October 25, 2016 at 11:51 am

    My personal favorite is definitely fresh applies and delicious cider. Thanks for sharing a yummy recipe.

    Reply
  31. Kathy Fowler

    October 26, 2016 at 10:06 am

    Looks so good – love fresh food

    Reply
  32. Margaret Imecs

    October 26, 2016 at 11:34 am

    Great idea, thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  33. Darlene Demell

    October 26, 2016 at 6:51 pm

    I love pears when they are fresh. In face just bought some yesterday. Your recipe sounds very good.

    Reply
  34. NT

    October 31, 2016 at 12:20 am

    Mmmm, that looks so good. Great photography!

    Reply
  35. Julie Hartwig

    February 7, 2017 at 10:58 am

    Great recipe, this would make a nice snack for the kids!

    Reply
  36. kathy downey

    May 30, 2017 at 12:59 pm

    This recipe is a hit with the kids !

    Reply
  37. Debbie White-Beattie

    November 22, 2018 at 3:38 pm

    You have some great recipes and this looks delicious

    Reply

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Lena Almeida

Toronto Blogger, Social Media Strategist for Listen to Lena Inc. Television & Radio Personality, Columnist and Speaker. Family Travel Expert. Star Wars Fanatic. Perfecting the Art of Conversuasion. Read More…

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