The holiday is in full swing - how do I know? Either Amazon or UPS shows up at my door almost every day, sometimes the packages are for me and sometimes they are for my neighbor. Our neighbor’s house faces one street but their address is another street. If I’m lucky I catch the delivery person but most of the time I use it as an opportunity to go over and chat with my favorite neighbors - it’s a bonus.
Last weekend was cookie weekend - we have peanut blossoms, date and cranberry pinwheels, coconut thumbprints with plum jam, and my grandma's molasses with lemon buttercream frosting and sprinkles (because everyone needs sprinkles in their life right?).
Sunday we had my father-in-law and his lady friend over for dinner; homemade spaghettini over zucchini noodles, cornbread, and a salad. I also tried a new appetizer, which I saw on TikTok - blue cheese and walnut pull apart; it has 5 ingredients and takes 10 minutes to put together, which is less time than the video - go figure.
I love this time of year, the lights, carols, glitter, and gold. I have so many wonderful memories of Christmas celebrations with both my and Dan’s families - we are lucky to have such wonderful people in our lives. This year Dan’s daughter Mary and her husband Matthew are hosting The Thundering Herd (aka Dan’s family) and we will spend Christmas Eve with my sister, brother-in-law, and their families. The little ones are growing and there is a brand new baby - there will be lots of fun, food, and laughter (yes that is code for noisy!).
Dan and I are planning to spend some time in warmer weather after the holidays with friends and family and I’ll get my first social security check in February - Thanks Uncle Sam (yes I know it is actually my money).
I am settling into retirement and enjoying it more than I thought I would. I am not freaked out by no longer getting a weekly paycheck and I’m busier now than when I was working - life is good. I’ve taken up a new hobby - making earrings and I am still knitting - actually I have a Xmas present that I am trying to finish - it will be close but I think I can do it!
There was a little drama with dinner and I forgot to take a picture before we ate it. So I'm sending you over to Eat, Live Escape's post where you can see their pictures and watch their video.
Blue Cheese and Walnut Pull-Apart
Ingredients:
1 package vegan puff pastry (if you are ok with dairy then use the regular puff pastry) - thawed
100 grams blue cheese
walnuts
2 T honey
Fresh Rosemary
Plant-based milk
Salt & pepper
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
1. Place 1 sheet of puff pastry on a baking sheet and lightly roll out the seams. Break blue cheese into chunks and scatter on the puff pastry. Break up walnuts (into different sizes) and scatter them around the cheese. Chop rosemary and sprinkle over the cheese/walnuts. Drizzle 1 T honey over the pastry/mixture.
2. Roll the puff pastry up (like a cake roll), tucking the ingredients as you go. Slice the rolled puff pastry length-wise. Twist the 2 halves, tucking and pinching the dough to keep the ingredients in the pastry.
3. On a parchment-lined (or Silpat lined) baking sheet, coil the puff pastry twists, connecting the two pieces. Repeat the full process (from step 1) for the second sheet of puff pastry.
4. When you have coiled all 4 pieces (2 pieces of puff pastry, cut in half), brush the top with plant-based milk and top with rosemary, salt, and pepper.
5. Bake for @ 30 minutes, until golden brown, and enjoy!
I hope everyone is enjoying the season and spending time with family doing the things you love.
Thanks for stopping by!
