Christmas Dinner

We're finally getting into a groove here at the new house.  I've decided that I need to make an effort to chill on the weekends rather than bring my work home with me (unfortunate side effect of loving my job).  So, hopefully, I'll be back on here more often as my camera makes a reappearance into my life.

My husband and I weren't able to make it to the family Christmas this year.  Since we were on our own, I spent a little time on Smitten Kitchen looking for something 'different' to make our dinner special.

These are beef, pancetta, and vegetable pot pies that are loosely base on this pancetta and white bean recipe.  Not being a huge fan of beans in general, they got the boot.  The broth was altered to a beef base with some rosemary added to round it out.  

This delicious little puff pastry and apple tart was taken more or less directly from Smitten Kitchen's recipe.  A couple of notes: be patient and let the puff pastry fully thaw before proceeding.  When making carmel, there is a very fine line between browned sugar and burned sugar.  Keep in mind that your pan is hot and will keep cooking the sugar after you have removed it from the heat.  

Merry Christmas (a month or so late) !