Apple Chanterelle Brie Stuffed Pastry

It feels like everyone is down for Thanksgiving. And, I really don’t mean “down” as in “ready”. I mean it as a mental state. We’re discouraged away from large gatherings. We miss our grandparents, our parents, our aunts – uncles – cousins – that one person that always shows up even though you’re not related.

I’ll certainly miss getting dressed up, I’ll miss the hot kitchen, the island filled with appetizers, moving place settings so you can sit next to your favorite family member.

But, I will never stop being thankful. Being grateful – truly grateful means understanding that even the hardships should be celebrated and thanked. It’s those things that make us who we are. Even more than the easy and good. And, in my very short life so far, being thankful for the muck has done nothing but benefit me all the more. Shifting, morphing and bending my perspective to see the full picture.

I cannot be as thankful for a trot in crunchy leaves if I have yet to walk in mud weighted boots.

And that’s my thanksgiving vibe, my dear friends. Let it be so.

I’ve developed a fun thanksgiving starter – that, really works for Christmas too. Apple Chanterelle Brie Stuffed Pastry. It renders just 8 – but it’s a recipe that easily doubles if you’re, let’s say – going against the grain of what’s recommended.

You can even make them the night before, cover, and place them in the fridge over-night. Bake the day of if that’s your thing. And, honestly, that’s if you have the fridge space. Who even has the fridge space anymore? I certainly don’t.

Let’s talk substitutions:

If Chanterelles are unavailable to you – any mushroom would work.

I used pecans – we have a walnut allergy in our family and it’s a force of habit to leave out. But Walnuts would be so lovely in this starter.

Onions if you don’t have Shallots.

Any kind of apples will do.

Rosemary instead of Sage? You bet.

Camembert instead of brie? Uh huh.

I’m leaving this open to your taste and budget.

So, let greasy fingers hold these Apple Chanterelle Brie Stuffed Pastry and don’t you dare let go until they’re all gobbled up. Let the hope of next year sink into our bones and give us the strength to push through. But, most of all the strength to be grateful for this no-good-very-bad year.

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