The sun is just going down on New Year’s Eve and there’s no better time to tell you how much each of you means to me. I’ve met a lot of you in person, a lot of you are on my wish list to meet (you know who you are) and regretfully there will be some that for reasons of location mean we might never meet. I still hold you close in my heart.
I’ve learned so much from reading your emails, reading your blogs, looking at your photos and cooking or baking your suggestions that it feels like I’ve got a PhD in blogging courtesy of you. I hope that doesn’t change.
2014 was a busy year for us, especially since we look after the olds in the nursing home. Rob turns 94 at midnight so we’re going out for a picnic to celebrate. I feel a big responsibility to my blog and my readers but my duty is to put Rob and Joan first. So sometimes I’m late with a post or the photos aren’t perfect or I haven’t left a comment so you know I’ve visited and it makes me sad but I will catch up one day and you’ll be impressed. (won’t you?)
I made a dish for Christmas that I’ll blog after the first of the year that required pomegranate arils but not the whole lot so I whacked them out into a bowl and wondered what I could do with them. In walked John with a baguette big enough to use as a fishing pole and these bruschetta were born.
I had some fresh mint outside, half a lemon that I didn’t toss out and this gorgeous pomegranate. I looked in the fridge and there was some cream cheese. Once I put them together I tasted one and moaned. My friend Carla came into the kitchen to see if I was all right and I said, “Here, eat one of these.” She moaned. My sister-in-law came in and I said, “Try one.” She moaned. Her partner Jim had several and finally we were down to the last one and my sister-in-law said, “Do I save this one for John?” I looked at her and said, “Nah, I don’t think he likes pomegranate.” In her mouth it went and just then John walked in the door and said, “I don’t like what?”
I made some more! He does like pomegranate. oops. Happy New Year!!
- 1 pomegranate - seeded
- 1 baguette
- 2 tablespoons butter
- ½ lemon
- ¼ cup fresh mint leaves - finely chopped
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- ½ block cream cheese at room temperature
- Slice the baguette into 1-inch slices, butter and grill until you get grill marks, then set aside
- In a small bowl combine the pomegranate arils, juice of half a lemon and mint leaves. Season and taste
- Spread bruschetta with cream cheese and top with pomegranate mixture
- Serve
Such a pretty dish and so easy to make – love it.
94, wow, he’s amazing!
I know what you mean about not having the time to do it all and not getting to all the blogs you want to visit. We need a parallel life!
Happy 2015.
I’m currently in love with pomegranates but had never though to have them on bruschetta. Yum! Happy New Year to you and your family, Maureen. Hope that 2015 that bigger and better!
Me too. Lots of salads but they were sitting there calling me and honestly, I made some more tonight and they’re still as good.
Happy New Year, Maureen! You are definitely on my “wish list” to meet in person; but I feel like I’ve known you a while. I wish you and amazing 2015. This pomegranate bruschetta is a great idea!
I’m so happy I found your blog! Love reading your posts and hearing about all the adventures with the “olds”. I wish you a very happy New Year!! P.S. The bruschetta looks delish – so creative!
YOU are definitely on my wish list to meet, and I hope one day it will happen…
What a stunning crostini you made, cannot think of anything better to celebrate a New Year – red, sexy, involving, and moan-inducing. Winner!
a super warm hug going your way, what a nice thing the blogosphere can be when we “meet” someone as wonderful as you through it!
lol…love your descriptive words Sally….I concur!!! :)) xxx
Ha! In your first picture, the shot is so close, I thought they were grapes!!
Happy New Year Maureen. I never made it to your country this year – maybe next – and we will meet in person!!
As a regular reader during the past year or so, I’ve never felt shortchanged blog-wise due to your other commitments and felt nothing but amazed by your dedication and care of your family … olds and others. Keep up the amazing work like this crostini post inspired by an unexpected baguette.
I bought a pomegranate on Tuesday to add to a salad for tomorrow and am just regretting that I didn’t buy some pom juice to add to a glass of champagne, even if my champers is actually sparkling wine. I need a change up on post New Year’s eve toast ways to finish up that bottle of Cava I bought. There was that champagne margarita on Fridgg, or a 007 with Peychaud bitters and a sugar cube but I’m tempted by a variation on a mimosa with a sugar cube coated in orange zest and a splash of Grand Marnier.
Happy New Year to all
It is fitting that this is the first post I read in 2015. And as usual, it had me giggling like a schoolgirl 🙂 Your reaction to this delectable creation of yours is also a very fitting way to end 2014, given your blog name!! Happy new year to you too!! Here’s to an AWESOME 2015!
Oh, a very Happy Birthday to Rob and a big hug – you are amazing with everything you fit in Maureen – a very HAPPY NEW YEAR to you, John and The Olds – I look forward to more stories in 2015:)
Happy New Year to you Maureen! I will never forget your kindness in helping me establish my blog almost two years ago- my how time does fly!!
I remember when I first saw you. I knew you were ‘one of us’ and you’ve definitely proved me right. I love your blog. You’re a terrific cook and photographer too!
That’s the prettiest bruschetta I’ve ever seen. Happy birthday to Rob – 94 is a great achievement. I hope 2015 is a great year for you and John, and that you get a chance to relax and put your feet up – am I aiming too high? xx
Probably, but I’m willing to give it a go. First I have to get through this birthday celebration which should leave him feeling well celebrated. 🙂
Happy new year lovely lady. Thank you for your friendship, your chuckles and the inspirational posts you share. Much love. xox
Just like little jewels aren’t they? Thanks for the entertaining tales you keep sharing. A sense of humour is an absolute essential to help get through the busy and emotional times me thinks. Looking forward to reading more stories this year and I wouldn’t even know if a post was late or not – I’m not that organised. I just enjoy them when they appear. Cheers, Maree 🙂 Off to find some pomegranate now!.
You arils are supermodel worthy! I’ve never thought to prepare bruschetta with pomegranate so I thank you for the inspiration. It’s quite lovely and I imagine it tastes just phenomenal!!
Your bruschetta looks wonderful! I wished we lived closer, – I would love to stop by and say Hello!
Happy New Year!!
Your Bruschetta recipe looks delicious! I havent had any in a long time.
I hope you have a Happy New Year in 2015!
Happy New Year Maureen, and happy birthday Rob! . May 2015 be full of fabulous fun, friends and foodie adventures! X
Maureen….superb!!!!
Can’t wait to share more of your warmth & wisdom this year….thankyou!
You rock :)) xx
What a wonderful idea! Am definitely going to try this sans the mint. Have never liked mint. Thinking parsley. Maybe something else.
Happy New Year Maureen.
Happy New Year, I love this bruschetta! So pretty and festive!
Happy New Year, Maureen! Wishing you a bigger, brighter and better year ahead!
Thanks for being part of our Blogging Friends!! Cheers!!
Julie & Alesah
Gourmet Getaways xx
Oh wow , Happy New Year. I have enjoyed our little excursions last year and hope we get to repeat this year. Thanks for the support and laughs. i love your stories., or maybe just the honest way you write about the. love to that New Years Eve Baby x
The bruschetta are so pretty that I think they would be irresistible even if you didn’t care for pomegranate. Happy New Year to all of you Maureen.
Ohmygoodness, Maureen, that is a fabulous idea! Why didn’t *I* think of that?! I’ll be making this very soon.
Happy BIRTHDAY!!, wow 94!
Your presence and support means a lot to me Maureen. You are so inspiring and bring a lot of positive energy.
Have a Beautiful, Healthy, Happy and a LOVE filled 2015. Hugs.
This is a yummy bruschetta, I will for sure make it sometime. Thanks.
Love these brushettas !
Beautiful!
Happy new year Maureen!
Gosh I can’t tell you how I like quick, easy and festive this time of year. I still have events on my calendar.
HAPPY NEW YEAR MAUREEN !!! I wish you will have a fantastic year with a lot of love and healthy !! Happy Birthday to Rob! When it was his birthday the 31th or 1th janvier? Because my son was 7 years old the 31 th and it was my birthday as well ! For me not 7 a little mor 😉 x
Gorgeous appetizer Maureen, happy birthday to Rob and Happy New Year!
Thanks for inspiring us for the past years-actually making that years. I hope that 2015 is a kind year for you. You really have some things to contend with and I hope that you are looking after yourself too lovely lady! Here’s to a great year ahead! 😀
Hi Maureen, what a beautiful appetizer! Happy Birthday to John and Happy New Year!
What a beautiful AND healthy bruschetta! I love the vivid color! I MUST make this for my new health(ier) Italian recipes. I’ll share my results and hope that I do you and the recipe justice!
Many happy thoughts and blessings extended to you and your loved ones for a wonderful new year!
Roz
This looks like a great, simple and creative appetizer, love it! Happy New Year Maureen! Thanks for the inspiration, it is great to know you!
hi Maureen
Happy new year. These look tasty. I am glad I met you -literally at the start of my blogging life! I think my blog was three weeks old when I met you. And what a pleasure it was. All The best for this coming year. Xxx
Looks like my comment disappeared:(. I was just saying how wonderful it was to meet you in the flesh at the start of my blogging life. It was literally three weeks from the start of my blog. Hope This year is a wonderful one for you and yours. Thanks for all the support and inspiration.
Sounds amazing! I am loving pomme’s at the moment and the combinations sounds epic.
Happy Birthday to Rob and happy new year to you all, Maureen!
These pomegranate bruschetta are such a brilliant idea – I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like them ever!
Happy new year Maureen! And oh my gosh, of course family + friends always come before blogging 🙂 Plus your posts are always fantastic!! P.S. thank you so much for your lovely advice on the last blog post.
This look SO good. I love simple appetizers like this. Pomegranate + cream cheese sounds delicious on toast.
Oh I love Pomegranates and this just looks so delicious!!
Ahhh fruit and cheese my absolute weakness! I love it what a dish 😀 Happy New Year to you and your family 😀
Mint and pomegranate as a bruschetta topping sounds awesome! You’re full of great ideas. I actually just peeled (peeled? is that the right word??) a pomegranate! But alas, we don’t have any bread now, and it’s raining, so I’ll have to remember this for another time.
Yum! This sounds like a delicious idea- i love all the ingredients so I think I would definitely love the combination of them!
Try it, seriously 🙂
It is quarter to midnight here in Singapore, I am sitting up in one of the most delicious beds in the fancy hotel I am staying (I fly home tomoza) catching up on all my fave bloggers and it is this post that has tipped me over the edge into serious hunger land. Good lord woman, I need this in my life now… What a brilliant combo. 🙂
So I just saw this on Pinterest (since I am just now joining that party lol ) and I immediately knew I need this in my life. So I just had to click over here and say Wowza, my kind of food !! Xo’s