Celebrate the Season!

by Ann

I’m grateful for many things this holiday season including the fact that the Mayan’s prediction that we wouldn’t be around to celebrate Christmas this year was not founded.  Really??  Was anyone buying that??  J It seems like just yesterday that we were more seriously concerned about the Y2K millennium problems that would arise at the stroke of midnight December 31 thirteen years ago.  How could it be that long ago?  These unfounded worries and so many real things that are happening around me make me take a step back to appreciate all that I have – with the focus on family, friends, health, and fun meaningful things to do.

Some of the friends I now value include ladies I have not met who have become faithful readers of our blog, many of which left sweet, encouraging comments after my post last Friday about retiring.  The blogging process is a new adventure to the three of us, and we are committed to figuring it out, one step at a time.  So, Jann, please be patient with us.  I don’t even know the difference between a “follower” (although one person has figured out how to follow our blog), and a “subscriber,” of which we have many.  In January we are going to the New Media Expo in Vegas (should have fun things to blog about from that!), and hopefully will learn ways to improve our blog.

My guess is that our dedicated readers will be catching this a day or two after the post, when the holiday chaos has settled down.  The recipe that I am sharing would be a quick, easy, and delicious contribution at a New Year’s Eve party snack table.  Heather mentioned that she had served a cranberry/nut/cheese dip at her house for our December book club.  Our friendship has spanned so many years that she had forgotten that the recipe had come from me, so I feel justified to share it on my post-day!  ;-)

When I made this recipe for the picture, half of it had nuts, and half without since there are some family members who aren’t nut-eaters. (Huh??? Nuts are the best part!!)  I made it a couple of days before bringing it to my sister’s for Christmas, because it holds well and is one of those recipes that is actually better the second day after the orange zest has infused into the cheese.  If you do not have a microplane - you need one!  My dear friend Teri gave me one a few years ago, and I don't know how I managed without it once I started using it.  You can get the very outer edge of the peel without getting any of the bitter part of the rind.

Holiday Cranberry, Orange, Walnut, & Goat Cheese Dip

Ingredients:

4 oz goat cheese, softened

8 oz cream cheese, softened

¼ c fresh orange juice

½ T finely minced orange zest

1 T honey

1/4 c finely chopped dried cranberries

1/4 c chopped toasted walnuts

1/4 t salt

Directions:

1. Using an electric mixer, cream cheeses together until smooth.  Add half of the orange juice and mix again until smooth.
2. Add the orange zest, honey, and remaining orange juice, and mix until all of the orange juice is well incorporated.
3. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and then add the remaining ingredients until incorporated.

Serve with crackers, celery, or crostini.

This dip will keep in the refrigerator for up to a week.

I hope that you and your families can stay safe, happy,
and focused on what matters this holiday season!