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My Diary of Us

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Pesto and Goat Cheese Spread with Cranberries and Toasted Pine Nuts: My Diary of Us

Pesto and Goat Cheese Spread with Cranberries and Toasted Pine Nuts

Y'all...Christmas is nine days away...NINE days away!  How did this even happen?  I am kind of unprepared and am just now starting to plan what I want to fix for Christmas dinner.  And with Christmas parties in full swing over the next week, we could all use an easy appetizer to whip up that requires little to no effort!  This is my go to holiday appetizer because one, it's gorgeous and perfectly red, white, and green, two it's delicious, and three I can make it in ten minutes.  My pesto and goat cheese spread with cranberries and toasted pine nuts couldn't be more perfect for your holiday festivities!

I will admit we are kind of pesto obsessed in this house.  We could smear it on just about anything and be pretty happy about it.  My Aunt Lisa and my mom have been making this dip for years and I, in turn have started to make it every holiday season and bring it to any parties that we attend.

People will usually flip out over it leaving you looking like you did something fancy, when really it took you barely any effort.  But you don't have to tell anybody that...unless they want the recipe, which they probably will.

It's the perfect mix of savory and sweet with the right balance of textures, and you should make it even if it's just for yourself...

Pesto and Goat Cheese Spread with Cranberries and Toasted Pine Nuts: My Diary of Us

Ingredients:

  • 5 Tbsp. of Pesto (get recipe here or you could buy store bought, but I love fresh and don't laugh at my pesto post because it was one of my earliest...and the pictures might make me cringe a little...)
  • 4 oz. Goat Cheese
  • 1 Package of Cream Cheese
  • 3 Tbsp. of Dried Cranberries
  • 3 Tbsp. of Toasted Pine Nuts
  • Crackers for Serving

Directions:

  • Bring cheeses to room temperature.
  • Make your pesto.
  • In a small dry pan, add your pine nuts and heat over medium heat until the nuts are just toasted and slightly brown.  Be careful not to burn.
  • Combine cheeses together in a bowl after they are soft and then transfer to a small plate or what you are serving it on and form a round disc shape.
  • Spread the pesto on top of the cheese and then sprinkle with cranberries and pine nuts.
Pesto and Goat Cheese Spread with Cranberries and Toasted Pine Nuts: My Diary of Us
Pesto and Goat Cheese Spread with Cranberries and Toasted Pine Nuts: My Diary of Us
Pesto and Goat Cheese Spread with Cranberries and Toasted Pine Nuts: My Diary of Us

And that's all she wrote guys.  Pretty easy right?

Happy Holidays!

Newer:Pepper Jelly Roasted CarrotsOlder:Range and Sea
PostedDecember 16, 2014
AuthorLeigh Ann Chatagnier
CategoriesAppetizers
TagsHoliday Appetizers, Appetizers, Easy Appetizers, Cheese Spreads, Pesto, Holiday Party Recipes, Easy Recipes, Festive Recipes, Cheese and Crackers

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Simple food is the best food right?  Garlic Dill Tomato Salad with Cornbread Croutons is going to be your new favorite side dish all summer long!  So perfect for those Memorial Day BBQ’s too! 🙌🍅 Get the full recipe up on the blog today, link in profile! .
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#howisummer #simplefood #thenewhealthy #easyrecipes #eatrealfood #inseasonnow
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🌿Link to recipe is in profile!🌿
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#ramen #homemaderamen #soup #healthyfood #comfortfood #thenewhealthy #getinmybelly
It’s #nationalmalbecday and you know I have to celebrate a holiday where wine is involved so I partnered with @zevia to being you a Spiced Kalimotxo (traditionally made with a combo of cola and red wine but I added a little twist 😉) perfect to sip on your patio all summer long!  @zevia Cola has zero sugar, no caffeine, and no artificial coloring, which makes it the perfect beverage to add to this cocktail! 🍷🍊Recipe is below ⬇️! {sponsored}
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🍹Spiced Malbec Kalimotxo:🍹
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Ingredients:
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-1 Bottle of Malbec Wine
-Zevia Cola
-1 Star Anise
-1 Orange -1 Lime
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Directions:
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-Heat wine, star anise and two pieces of orange rind into a saucepan and gently heat over medium heat until fragrant.
-Remove from heat and chill thoroughly.  Remove orange rind and star anise from the wine.
-Fill glasses with ice and pour wine halfway filling the glass.
-Fill the glass the rest of the way with Zevia Cola and then squeeze one wedge of fresh orange and lime into the glass.
-Serve immediately.
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#cheers #malbec #zevia #cola #summerdrinks #cocktails #happyhour #wino #winelover #vacaymode
Here’s our dinner, shot with an iPhone (6 not 10), no styling, no fancy plating...just like I used to do back in the day.  I wasn’t going to post it, but honestly it was so dang good I had to!  Simple meals, especially all cooked on the grill, are my absolute favorite. 🙌🌽🌱 Fresh Wild Caught Cod, Asparagus and Corn, seasoned simply with salt and pepper and a little dill, lemon, and butter for the fish...👌
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(And Parks ate exactly the same meal including two servings of asparagus!👦🌱)
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#easymeals #onthegrill #healthyfood #cleaneating #kidfriendlyfood #momapproved #iphoneshot #f52grams #feedfeed #glutenfreeeats #eatrealfood #realfood #eatgood #eatgoodfeelgood #meatlessmonday #resetbutton #easyrecipe #simplefood #goopgo #goopmake #gloobyfood #yummm #eeeeeats #dinner #onmytable #heresmyfood
Re-vamped my work space last week while my mom was in town, took a bit of a break and just enjoyed our time together, and this morning I’m waking up feeling refreshed and ready for a new week!  The sun is shining today and later in the week I’m headed to LA for @indulgeconference ! 👯‍♀️ Happy Monday y’all, let’s do this! 👊😘
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#lifewithkids #motherhood #motherhoodunplugged #hotchocolate #ighouston #kidsforreal #momsofboys #childhoodunplugged #candidchildhood #dinner #dessert #magicofchildhood #toddlergram #getinmybelly #nomeats #igmoms #worldoflittles #momstuff
Saturday morning frittata loaded with kale, parm, and tomatoes...simple and delicious! 🍳🌿🍅 Happy weekend friends! .
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#breakfast #weekendvibes #breakfastallday #brunch #healthyfood #easyrecipes #glutenfreefood #imsomartha #thenewhealthy #f52grams #thekitchn #onthetable #inthekitchen #heresmyfood #eatingfortheinsta #iphoneography #goodmorning #feedfeed #livefolk #kidfriendlyfood #simplefood #eatgood #eatrealfood #eggs #frittata #nomeats
Simple food is the best food right?  Garlic Dill Tomato Salad with Cornbread Croutons is going to be your new favorite side dish all summer long!  So perfect for those Memorial Day BBQ’s too! 🙌🍅 Get the full recipe up on the blog today, link in profile! .
.
.
.
#howisummer #simplefood #thenewhealthy #easyrecipes #eatrealfood #inseasonnow I’m about to hop on a flight to see my boys and I can’t wait to get home and kiss both of their faces off! ✈️😘🌎
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.
#EarthDay #sunday #myboys #strawberrypicking #mydiaryofus #travel #motherhoodunplugged #momtrepreneur #mytribe Chopped style sandwich making contest @indulgeconference with @krogerco just went down! So much fun! 🍳🍞🥓🥑🍅🌿 .
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#indulgewithkroger #indulgela #3 #foodblogger #sandwiches #bacon #lunch Simple Pork and Spinach Miso Ramen so delicious my hubby has requested it for dinner on a weekly basis and the full recipe is up on the blog today! 🍲🙌 .
.
🌿Link to recipe is in profile!🌿
.
.
#ramen #homemaderamen #soup #healthyfood #comfortfood #thenewhealthy #getinmybelly It’s #nationalmalbecday and you know I have to celebrate a holiday where wine is involved so I partnered with @zevia to being you a Spiced Kalimotxo (traditionally made with a combo of cola and red wine but I added a little twist 😉) perfect to sip on your patio all summer long!  @zevia Cola has zero sugar, no caffeine, and no artificial coloring, which makes it the perfect beverage to add to this cocktail! 🍷🍊Recipe is below ⬇️! {sponsored}
.
.
🍹Spiced Malbec Kalimotxo:🍹
.
Ingredients:
.
-1 Bottle of Malbec Wine
-Zevia Cola
-1 Star Anise
-1 Orange -1 Lime
.
Directions:
.
-Heat wine, star anise and two pieces of orange rind into a saucepan and gently heat over medium heat until fragrant.
-Remove from heat and chill thoroughly.  Remove orange rind and star anise from the wine.
-Fill glasses with ice and pour wine halfway filling the glass.
-Fill the glass the rest of the way with Zevia Cola and then squeeze one wedge of fresh orange and lime into the glass.
-Serve immediately.
.
.
#cheers #malbec #zevia #cola #summerdrinks #cocktails #happyhour #wino #winelover #vacaymode Here’s our dinner, shot with an iPhone (6 not 10), no styling, no fancy plating...just like I used to do back in the day.  I wasn’t going to post it, but honestly it was so dang good I had to!  Simple meals, especially all cooked on the grill, are my absolute favorite. 🙌🌽🌱 Fresh Wild Caught Cod, Asparagus and Corn, seasoned simply with salt and pepper and a little dill, lemon, and butter for the fish...👌
.
.
(And Parks ate exactly the same meal including two servings of asparagus!👦🌱)
.
.
#easymeals #onthegrill #healthyfood #cleaneating #kidfriendlyfood #momapproved #iphoneshot #f52grams #feedfeed #glutenfreeeats #eatrealfood #realfood #eatgood #eatgoodfeelgood #meatlessmonday #resetbutton #easyrecipe #simplefood #goopgo #goopmake #gloobyfood #yummm #eeeeeats #dinner #onmytable #heresmyfood Re-vamped my work space last week while my mom was in town, took a bit of a break and just enjoyed our time together, and this morning I’m waking up feeling refreshed and ready for a new week!  The sun is shining today and later in the week I’m headed to LA for @indulgeconference ! 👯‍♀️ Happy Monday y’all, let’s do this! 👊😘
.
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.
.
#girlboss #momtrepreneur #officespace #officedecor #worldmarketfinds #werk #mondaymotivation #foodblogger #travel #homedecor #mompreneur #workfromhome #homeoffice
Sunday grillin’ like a boss. 🍔🔥
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(Killer Chicken Burgers coming at ya soon!)
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#girlwhogrill #burgers #sundayfunday #dinner #thenewhealthy #getoutside
When the waiter mixes your hot chocolate tableside to go with dessert and then your toddler steals it and drinks it all. 🤔☕️🍫 #parenthood .
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#lifewithkids #motherhood #motherhoodunplugged #hotchocolate #ighouston #kidsforreal #momsofboys #childhoodunplugged #candidchildhood #dinner #dessert #magicofchildhood #toddlergram #getinmybelly #nomeats #igmoms #worldoflittles #momstuff Saturday morning frittata loaded with kale, parm, and tomatoes...simple and delicious! 🍳🌿🍅 Happy weekend friends! .
.
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.
#breakfast #weekendvibes #breakfastallday #brunch #healthyfood #easyrecipes #glutenfreefood #imsomartha #thenewhealthy #f52grams #thekitchn #onthetable #inthekitchen #heresmyfood #eatingfortheinsta #iphoneography #goodmorning #feedfeed #livefolk #kidfriendlyfood #simplefood #eatgood #eatrealfood #eggs #frittata #nomeats
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