“We are stronger when we listen, and smarter when we share.”
– Rania Al-Abdullah
NOTE: I spend my Wednesdays Unplugged from appointments. It’s my day to stay home, enjoy cooking and welcome our kids and grandkids for dinner in the evening. We end our meal with quotes from the Norwegian ‘Quote Cup’ passed on to me from my grandmother. I share a quote and a recipe here each week, along with an update and photos of what has been going on in our lives. I love trying new recipes…and love getting recipes you would like to share!
A couple weeks at home with the flu at least gave me a little time when I was feeling well enough to complete the Sol LeWitt jigsaw puzzle I got for Christmas. It felt good to finally get out and go to CTC’s latest production… a delightful telling of Japanese folk tales with traditional Japanese music by a group from Hawaii.
RECIPE OF THE WEEK
This week’s recipe comes from Christmas gatherings, but it would be good at any gathering with hearty appetizers (Super Bowl?). Thank you to Janet, a Breakfast Club friend, for sharing the recipe from Half-Baked Harvest. When I made it bigger wheels of brie were on sale, so I used that… which meant two sheets of puff pastry.
BAKED BRIE IN PASTRY with maple roasted apples
- 2 Honeycrisp apples, sliced
- 3 tablespoons salted butter
- 3 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed
- 8-12 ounce wheel of brie
- 2 tablespoons fig preserves
- 1 egg, beaten
- Coarse sugar for sprinkling
- Fresh thyme for serving, if desired
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
In a baking dish, combine the apples, butter and maple syrup. Roast in the oven for 25 minutes or more, until soft and caramelized.
Lay the puff pastry flat on parchment paper. Place the brie in the center and remove a little rind from the top of the brie. Spread the fig preserves over the top. Fold the corners of the pastry over the brie. Brush the pastry with beaten egg and sprinkle lightly with coarse sugar.
Bake on a baking sheet or in a decorative baking dish for 20-25 minutes or until the pastry is deep golden brown.
Spoon the roasted apples over the brie and top with thyme if desired. Enjoy with your favorite crackers or just with a spoon!
