It’s totally fine if you overdo it now and again. Especially since it’s December and as far as I’m concerned, we are officially in the homeward stretch. For example, (and this is not a food story, but bear with me) yesterday I bought our dogs……snow boots. I don’t make it a practice to dress my dogs, but this winter so far is gross in my city, salt everywhere, and the dogs can’t walk in it because it burns, so, I made the leap and slapped down the cash for footwear. I guess it bears reminding you readers that a “pair” of shoes for dogs is actually four, not two, and that, my friends is a major hassle. Do the math! I have eight little boots to put on a couple of more-than-reluctant puppies each and every single time we go out. Ugh. It’s definitely an investment, but, in my neighborhood, an important one.
Anyways, investment, splurge, same deal in that case. But now let’s talk about the fun splurges! Like how this year I’m putting a tiny jar of caviar and a can of crabmeat in my better half’s stocking, so we can celebrate with caviar flatbread bites and Bloody Mary snake bites on New Years. Yum! He doesn’t know this yet, so please don’t tell him…
With every night being another holiday party, and every day an office party of some kind, you have to pick your splurge battles wisely. If your office does a potluck thing, try this off the beaten path recipe for fattoush, a bread (in this case flatbread) salad made with steak and chipotle chilis. Your team will devour it and they won’t blame you for their afternoon slump.
Two of my favorite weeknight meals involve flatbread and rich, bold, spicy flavors: the oh-so Christmas-y Spanish tapas pizza (goes great with Rioja!) and this household’s ever popular Tipsy Chicken Pizza, made with chicken AND bacon. Totally delicious. Totally satisfying.
Speaking of Christmas, I can’t celebrate without a little bit of indulgent smoked salmon around the house. This Sunday morning flatbread uses smoked salmon and can be made anytime, not just Sunday morning!
But Amy, you think as you read this, where’s the chocolate in all of this splurging? WHERE IS THE CHOCOLATE?!? I have saved the best for last. It’s the end of the year, after all, all we are wearing is sweaters and long underwear, let’s eat some glorious chocolate! All too soon it will be January and we’ll be signing up for fitness classes and buying yoga passes and buying nothing but juice. So to tide you over, may I recommend the unbelievable recipe for cinnamon laced flatbread taquitos that you dip in a Mexican chocolate fondue? Holy moly, chocolate lovers, this recipe strikes gold. Or the gone-as-soon-as-you-make-it dark chocolate flatbread bark with walnuts and pomegranate seeds? Pomegranates are in their prime, so hurry to the store. And finally, our newest recipe for an indoor s’mores pizza, made inside with whole grain flatbread. Some cocoa, some brandy, some Blossom Dearie on the hi-fi…..I can’t think of anything more beautiful and indulgent.
Treat yourself right, flatbread lovers! You’ve come a long way in 2016, just a little bit more to go…make it taste good.
-Amy at Flatout
