Whipped Goat Cheese with Pomegranates & Jam

I can’t remember exactly the first time I had goat cheese with fig jam, but I remember thinking, “wow I could eat this every day for the rest of my life.” Goat cheese, I’ve noticed, can be a little polarizing, but if you love it then you’ll love this “recipe.” It’s literally my go-to anytime we have company, and comes together in 3 minutes. Okay, 5 if you count the time to get it to the plate and open a box of crackers and get them on a plate.

If you’ve been here for a while, you know how much I love a customizable, you-do-you-boo kind of recipe. This is 100% one of them. Top the cheese with seasoning, like Trader Joe’s Everything Bagel Seasoning, or herbs, like chives. I always serve whipped goat cheese with a seasonal jam. I know, I’m always going on and on about Trader Joe’s but it’s my favorite, for so many reasons. But I can tell you one of those reasons is seasonal jam! Recently, I’ve been serving this with the sugar plum and it’s awesome. But I’ve also done the Apple Cider Jam, Peach Bellini Jam, Fig Butter, etc. Basically, grab any jam-like jar from their shevles and you are all set, my friend.

An Easy Kale Salad for Christmas Eve

Getting the menu right for a holiday is all about balance. I try not to, for example, have too many carb-heavy dishes because you don’t want your guests to feel bloated. Plus, I’m really all about the sides. Plus, the sides can be so colorful! I love the sweetness and the crunchieness of this salad paired with the creamy bolognese pasta I’m serving up on Christmas Eve.

Can I let you guys in on a little secret? I don’t like kale. Well, I didn’t. And I was like, “you have to massage your kale? Too much work.” This coming from the girl who goes to 4 grocery stores every weekend just to shop for the week. I mean, really? So anyway, I made this salad, and I massaged the kale, because nobody has time for bitter kale, and I actually apparently really like it!