Pepper Jelly Cheesecake

I didn't want to do anything fancy for New Year's Eve, but my pepper jelly did. 

Voila, savory cheesecake.

It's almost as good as the Crabmeat Cheesecake that won me over at Primeaux Cheese & Vino at The Summit (which has a talented chef who seems much older than his 23 years (yes, 23) per my interview for a profile on him for 280 Living).

And the creamy party starter used up my supply of chesse, a find specialty similar to cheddar with an exclusive "chesse" Sharpie-written label from our work holiday party caterer.

P.S. It only took me FIVE months, but I am back to blogging in 2015. I am writing this as an accountability tool going forward.

Mint-Lime Fruit Skewers

Comment 1: "It tastes like a mojito."
Then, in my head: Mint and lime, baby, spot on.

Comment 2: "I have never had this... (pause).... parsley on fruit before. It's good."
Then, in my head: Umm, savory parsley doesn't go so well with fruit. But good try.

I have to admit, it's fun to see what people say when you throw a surprise element at something simple like fruit.

My skewers were a good twist on tried-and-true fruit salad. The wooden sticks added some party-perfect visual flair. Lime and mint, not to be confused with herbal sister parsley, made it extra light and refreshing.

For a less time intensive prep version, forget the skewers and just eat it as Mint-Lime Fruit Salad. I made a giant fruit salad for an after-church potluck and then skewered up the prettiest pieces for an office baby shower. Win and win.

Ham Party Sandwiches with Roasted Red Pepper

Party ‘wiches is in the house tonight
Everybody just have a hammm time
And they gonna make you lose your mind
Everybody just have a cheeese time

In the midst of writing this post, I realized just how trashy pop lyrics are. And I couldn’t go on writing my awfully horribly terribly cheesy version of “Party ‘Wiches,” fifth grade change-the-lyrics-for-a-project style. LMFAO like doesn’t even use real words half the time: gonna, drank (as a noun), reppin’ (whatever that is?), zeppelin (like Led Zeppelin?), shufflin’—what?

If I still have your attention after all that blabbering about nothing, these sandwiches will wow a party. They are served hot 'n toasty. They are cheesy. They have a touch of sweetness. There's butter involved. I don't even really like ham, and I find the taste a treasure-filled delight.

It's one of those recipes that has circled potluck circuits millions of times, so I added some roasted red pepper (they are so funky to roast!) to do something unique for the blogosphere and add a touch of pretty to my picture. But the pepper really didn't add that much to the taste, so don't bother with it unless you just feel like it.

One last round of horrible lyric editing just came out below. You don't have to read it, unless you just want all the more fodder for poking fun at me.

One more ‘wich for us, another round
Please fill up my plate, don't mess around
We just wanna see you eat it now
Now you wanna be, you're hungry now