“I’m an idealist. I don’t know where I’m going, but I’m on my way.”

-Carl Sandburg

Hello, sweet friends…

Happy New Year… How has it been for you? This time of year is a bit confusing for many myself included. I find the mountain of motivation and ‘best life talk” at the start of the year to be quite overwhelming. I often feel bombarded with messages on “how to go forth” when actually I think what is most beneficial is to just turn in a bit…to explore my feelings and allow myself to feel gratitude for all I already have.

That being said taking my Christmas decor down is such a bittersweet time for me…

the holidays are such a magical season….

beginning with excitement and ending with anticipation for a clean fresh start to a new year.

I look forward to sharing mine with you.

What’s Cooking

As Joe was cleaning out the refrigerator recently he noticed there were a few apples…sooooo I decided to make these mini apple tarts using puff pastry… which by the way makes the flakiest sweet or savory pies, and is quick & easy to use!

Mini apple turnovers

Ingredients

Two small apples peeled and cord

2 tablespoons butter

one cup brown sugar

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 tablespoon cornstarch

1 tablespoon water

one sheet frozen puff pastry 9 x 9 and size thawed

one egg

1 tablespoon milk

2 tablespoons sugar

DIRECTIONS

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. Preheat oven to 400° peel and chop the apples into small, bite-size pieces.

In a medium sized pan, start melting butter and brown sugar over medium heat. Add apples into the brown sugar mixture. Stir occasionally. Sprinkle cinnamon and nutmeg evenly over apples. Stir more until all ingredients are well combined.

In a small bowl, mix together cornstarch and water. Pour into apple mixture and stir until everything thickens up. Remove pan from heat.

Cut puff pastry into nine small squares. Place on the lined baking sheet. Scoop a bit of the apple mixture in the center of each puff pastry square. Fold over each puff pastry to form a triangle and press the edges with a fork.

Whisk together egg and milk. Use a pastry brush and brush egg wash over each puff pastry triangle. Sprinkle with sugar. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Enjoy!