HAPPY NEW YEAR AND MONDAY MORNING RECIPE POST - WALNUT AND BLUE CHEESE-STUFFED MUSHROOMS

Happy New Year Everyone!

May it be a joyous one for you all.

If you visit this link it will give you another wonderful version of Auld Lang Syne, which I mentioned yesterday.  

I am not one to make New Year's Resolutions, but these sound interesting.  

Which ones will you do? 

Are there any you would like to add?

1. Learn something new.

2. Tell people you love them.

3. Set healthy boundaries.

4. Get outside when you can.

5. Be truthful but not hurtful.

6. Read good books.

7. Sing in the shower.

8. Allow your feelings to breathe.

9. Be delighted by small things.

10. Take responsibility.

11. Practice seeing goodness.

12. Speak kindly to yourself.

13. Speak kindly to and of others, but know your worth.

14. Everyone works very hard so, let us give ourselves a little bit of the lazy.

15. Remember your dreams.

16. Take a walk in the woods, and enjoy the nature that surrounds us.

17. Swallow your pride.

18. Mend a few fences.

19. Stay compassionate and hopeful.

20. Have faith that there is always someone who loves you.

Here in the States it is traditional to fix Hoppin’ John on New Year’s Day.  You can see a recipe I made here. 

I also decided to go ahead with sharing a Monday recipe.  Today's came from 'Inspired by Charm', hosted by Michael. You can find the original recipe here.

Walnut and Blue Cheese-Stuffed Mushrooms:

Serves: 20

Calories per serving: approximately 55

24 large fresh mushrooms (other suggestions were white button mushrooms or cremini mushrooms)

1/2 cup seasoned breadcrumbs

1/3 cup Parmesan Cheese

1/3 cup sour cream

2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat leaf parsley

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1/3 cup crumbled Blue Cheese (if you are not a fan of Blue Cheese you can use Feta or Goat Cheese)

1/4 cup chopped toasted walnuts

1-2 tablespoons olive oil  

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. 

Clean the mushrooms and remove and discard the stems. Place the mushrooms stem side up on a baking sheet.

In a small bowl, combine the breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, sour cream, parsley, garlic, black pepper, blue cheese, and toasted walnuts. 

To toast walnuts (this can be done earlier before you start the recipe) spread them in a single layer on a baking sheet and toast in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for 5 to 7 minutes, or until they become fragrant.  It doesn't take long for them to start burning so we need to keep an eye on them.

Spoon this mixture into the mushroom caps. Lightly brush with olive oil.

Bake for 17 to 20 minutes or until lightly brown on top and heated through. 

Garnish with a sprinkle of parsley.

We enjoyed this very much and didn't make any changes. If you have any leftovers, store them in an airtight container and use in two days. Reheat in the oven for best results.

These can be made in advance. Prepare them the day before up to the point of putting them in the oven. Store them in the refrigerator covered with plastic wrap. When you're ready to serve, bake as directed.

I have been adding the full web address link at the end of my recipe posts. This is in case you prefer to cut and paste rather than use the links above.

https://inspiredbycharm.com/walnut-and-blue-cheese-stuffed-mushrooms/

Thank you for stopping by, have a great week and have a great year!

NEW YEAR’S EVE

I am still listening to holiday music but it will soon be time to sing this one.

https://youtu.be/PER8f7bQIlg?si=NAf6ngF0iXUws1HX

I have lost count of how many times in my 73 years I have sung this song.  In my family it was a tradition on New Year's Eve. Aunts and Uncles would come on over, as well as close friends of my parents, while listening to Andy Stewart as he hosted Hogmanay on TV.

What is Hogmanay and for those who are unfamiliar to the term, this is what I found online:

"Hogmanay is the Scottish celebration of New Year's Eve and can last for days.  No one celebrates the evening quite like the Scots.  It is believed the Scots inherited the celebration of Hogmanay from the Vikings and their celebration of the shortest day.  Many, however, believed that as Christmas was virtually banned and not celebrated in Scotland from the end of the 17th century until the 1950's, New Year's Eve was an excellent excuse for revelry, to drink whisky and eat good food.  To this day Hogmanay involves parties and festivals all across Scotland, with the largest and most famous public party in Edinburgh."

I had an Aunty who was born in Scotland, who used to tell me how she celebrated as a child and I loved those stories. 

For us we joined our family circle and crossed arms, held hands and sang Auld Lang Syne as the clock struck midnight and we said goodbye to the Old Year. Then we hugged one another and raised a glass to bring in the New. It was the only night of the year that we kids were allowed to stay up late and party with the adults. There was always a lot of laughter in our house, especially at times such as these.

Auld Lang Syne

by Robert Burnes in 1788

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,

And never brought to mind?

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,

And auld lang syne!

Chorus:

For auld lang syne, my dear,

For auld lang syne.

We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet,

For auld lang syne.

And surely ye'll be your pint stowp!

And surely I'll be mine!

And we'll take a cup o'kindness yet,

For auld lang syne.

Chorus:

For auld lang syne, me dear,

For auld lang syne.

We'll tak a cup o'kindness yet,

For auld lang syne

We twa hae run about the braes,

And pou'd the gowans fine;

But we've wander'd mony a weary fit,

Sin' auld lang syne.

Chorus:

For auld lang syne, my dear,

For auld lang syne.

We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet,

For auld lang syne.

We twa hae paidl'd in the burn,

Frae morning sun till dine;

But seas between us braid hae roar'd

Sin' auld lang syne.

Chorus:

For auld lang syne, my dear,

For auld lang syne.

We'll tak a cup o'kindess yet,

For auld lang syne.

And there's a hand, my trusty fere!

And gie's a hand o'thine!

And we'll take a right gude-willie waught,

For auld lang syne.

Chorus: 

For auld lang syne, my dear,

For auld lang syne.

We'll tak a cup o'kindness yet,

For auld lang syne.

This week we are returning back to normal after all the fun activity of the holidays. We become reflective and realize we have so much to be thankful for. No day is taken for granted because having family and friends whose lives have changed in the blink of an eye, and with events that have happened in our own lives, we know only too well that we need to count each day as a blessing. For me, if I have made any New Year's Resolutions it is this, to tell those nearest and dearest to me how very much I love them, and how much better I am for having them in my life.   

And to those whose lives are affected terribly by world events, our hearts go out to you, we see you and wish you Peace and Joy in 2024.  

A Happy New Year to everyone!  

May it be your best one ever,

And in the words of this marvelous melody,

Let’s tak a cup o'kindness yet,

For auld lang syne.