My Favorite Holiday Hors d'oeuvres: Blue Cheese and Cranberry Crostini

I like to have an arsenal of easy recipes that I can throw together in a pinch.

This is a super easy hors d'oeuvres with great visual impact
and an explosion of seasonal favorites.

And it came to dinner wearing holiday colors!
Now for your chewing pleasure...

Blue Cheese and Cranberry Crostini

{adapted from Bon Appetit, November 2005}

I have simplified the recipe to include staples in my kitchen and to make it a quickie!

INGREDIENTS

• 1 loaf French bread {original recipe calls for ciabatta}, cut into 1/4" slices. You can use a baguette as well for a smaller "bite."
• 4 Tablespoons Olive Oil {original calls for Walnut Oil}
• 8 Ounce Blue Cheese, crumbled
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries
• 1/2 cup toasted pecans (original calls for walnuts}
• 8 Cups baby Frisee, torn into bite size pieces {shhh...here's my secret...we always have organic mixed greens on hand - always - I just use the frisee from the salad...and if I do not have enough, I use arugula}.
• 2 Tablespoons+ Balsamic vinegar
• Fleur de sel or fine sea salt

DIRECTIONS

1. If necessary toast pecans {you can buy them toasted, I tend to have raw ones on hand at all times}.
2. Mix blue cheese, cranberries, and nuts.
3. Slice bread into 1/4" slices and brush with olive oil.
4. Lay out on a baking sheet and bake crostini at 400 for approximately 5 minutes.
5. Remove from oven and top with about 1 Tablespoon of cheese mixture.
6. Return to oven for another 5 minutes to soften cheese
7. Meanwhile, toss frisee with 2 Tablespoons olive oil, 1 Tablespoon vinegar, and salt (to your taste).
8. Remove crostini from oven and top with one bite of frisee.

NOTE: I often have additional oil/vinegar mixture out for sprinkling on crositni {my son like a little extra}

I LOVE frisee! Look how whimsical it is!

 

This post is written and created at 504 Main by Holly Lefevre

CONTINUE READING

Tickled Pink No. 30!

Wholly Moley! It is a B-I-G one at tickled pink.

Oh how I remember the big 3-0!

{I am trying not to think about what my next birthday brings...EEEK!}

A craft...a recipe...a tip...a party...a short story...a  poem...
a  fashion find...a  favorite product...your favorite  post...
whatever makes  your blog  fabulous!
That is what Tickled Pink is all about!
{and it does not have to be PINK}

*************************

I am Tickled Pink because...
I took some time to SMILE this week!

********
I will be tattooing more pumpkins.
I still LOVE this

********
I have been crafting with my friend...FUN! Wait until you see it...so cute!
********

My next book  is getting ready to come out on 12/18!
I just received my copies...yeah!
The Everything Wedding Checklist Book: All you need to remember for a day you'll never forget (Everything Series)

********
I installed a faucet for the first time EVER!

And it works and it looks awesome and I have one for you!

Enter to win a Moen Faucet

**************************
And now...Tickled Pink!

Click {HERE} for a featured button! 

Today, I have the pleasure of introducing you to Modern Country Style.
Modern Country Style is all about renovating an English Edwardian home in the Cotswolds, inspiring interior design, and creating gorgeousness {who doesn't want to create gorgeousness!?}. As you may have guessed from the subtle hint in the blog title, there is a love of Modern Country Style. Gorgeous, pared-back interiors infused with the warmth of Country: gentle greys, accents of red and a hint of soft industrial. YUM!

I fell in L-O-V-E instantly with Sarah's blog when I first saw the dreamy master bedroom redo.I just wanted to jump in her bed {after a short flight, of course}
I dream of a master bedroom like that. You can feel the warmth the softness the quiet design that speaks volumes.

Here is some eye candy!
Enjoy The beauty Sarah has created in her home
and then go pay Modern Country Style a visit!
********
Master Bedroom

Before

After

 ********

Dining Room

Before

After

 ********
Bedside Table Transformation

 

********

Kitchen

Before

After
********

Vintage-Style Button Heart Piped Cushion

********

 Panelled Cross-Stitch Cushion made from School Pants and a tea-towel.

*************************
SPOTLIGHTS! 
********

LET'S TALK TURKEY FIRST!

Printables from Flamingo Toes

*******
My Computer is my Canvas Conversations Coasters for Thanksgiving!

*******
Pumpkin pie + Cheesecake =  Toooooo much goodness!
Rook No. 17 made an amazing Pumpkin Pie topped Cheesecake. Check it out and WOW your guests with this doubly delicious dessert.

*******
Over at Joyful Journey, there is an offer for a free E-Book called Thanksgiving Your Way, a compilation of Thanksgiving tips, recipes, and organizational ideas from 15 bloggers.
*******
Books about Thanksgiving to read with the kids at The Paisley Cupcake.
I adore pulling out season or holiday specific books to share with the kids and here is a great selection.

*******

Oh me! Oh My! We love pie! It is that time of the year...need some idea hop over to Pumpkin Tart...she always has something cooking (or baking) like the apple-butter pie or the apple cranberry crumb pie or buttermilk pie!

*******
Karie's Chic Creations shows us some ideas for your Thanksgiving or Fall table HERE and HERE

*********************
NOW, SOME JUN PLAIN FUN STUFF!
I LOVE weird nature stuff. Kirsty Girl's Octopus Tree qualifies!

*******
Forcing Paper Whites - What a wonderful gift! from Le Chateau des Fleurs

*******
This idea is super fun...I have a soft spot for VW's, from Made at Greenlodge

*******
A little bit of bagatelles (I new word for me! You need to go visit to see what it means) and some amazing finds from StoneGable

*******
A new kind of cookie for me...Old Fashioned Sesame Seed cookies
from BJ at Sweet Nothings.

*******
Candle holder redo complete with tea cups...it is thriftastical from The Thrifty Groove.

*******
A 3-D Family Tree from Deborah Jean's Dandelion  House.

*******
Quit Eating Out shares a great appetizer on Saturday Swap.

*******
Gorgeous and chic burlap bag from La Maison Reid

*******
A needle book with a sweet birdie (I seem to have a new thing for birds) from The Orange Dahlia

*******
I LOVE buttons and this bracelet and earrings from Craftopotamus are too cute.

*******
Don;t ya just love getting something with your initials on it.
Check out these cards from Funky Mom Cards.

*******

DON'T GET MAD...

I have to include a few Christmas/Holiday items already

********

Book page Advent Calendar from The Little Apartment

********
Postmark stocking from Mandipidy

********
Naughty and nice cupcakes at from glitter to gumdrops 

********

Want to be Tickled Pink? Don't be shy!

Nominate a  product/person/idea/recipe/your own blog to be featured, simply email me!

It  is cool  to nominate yourself! I am only one person and blogland is  ginormous...I would love your input...I know there are amazing finds out there that I have not seen!

<a href="http://www.504main.com"><img alt="504 Main" src=" http://i883.photobucket.com/albums/ac35/Holly7081/Grab_button_150-1-3.jpg" /></a>

PINK RULES

1. Link  up...whatever makes  your blog  fabulous. Family Friendly please. Guess what? You post does not have to be PINK!!  
2. PLEASE LINK TO A POST URL, NOT YOUR MAIN URL****
3. I reserve the right to remove posts that are offensive or do not  adhere  to the rules, without any discussion, at my discretion.
4. Pretty please...add the Tickled Pink button to the post* {people need to know what the heck they are doing!}.
5. Visit some peeps on the hop.
6. *It would be great if you were a follower or subscriber {*wink*}
7. By  linking here you are providing permission to feature your post {along  with a link to your blog/post}. Additionally, photos appearing here are  copyrighted and property of the respective blogs featured.

GET YOUR FREE Canvas Print!

Just pay shipping and handling!

These  are my own opinions. No one has offered me anything, nor have I  accepted anything to include them in this post. Prizes, if any, are  supplied by  me.

CONTINUE READING

Smile

A smile,

sometimes hard to crack

on this busy face...

preoccupied,
constant motion,

always wondering,

"What's next?"

Beauty,

life,

wonder

surround me.

Looking.

Waiting.

For time to just be.

The moments,

big and small,

happy and sad,

easy and complicated.

Moving on fast forward.

I watch my loves,

my babies.

They giggle,

hold hands,

snuggle,

love each other.

There is no better time

to stop and smile

and savor the sweet sounds

of "I love you Mama."

Because there is no rewind.

Still there?
This was inspired by a wonderful time my kiddos and I had on the beach collecting sea glass. The waves were crashing, there was amazement and wonder in their voices and questions. We were connected to each other.
It made me smile.
*****************
Thanks for indulging me.
That is my stab at Writer's Workshop for the week -
stepping out of my comfort zone!
I figured covered my coffee consumption
and my feelings of burnout last week with I Confess.

Enter to win a Moen Faucet

{like the one below in chrome}

Click HERE for the giveaway post!

CONTINUE READING