Fig & Blue Cheese Appetizer Tarts

Everyone needs to have an arsenal of recipes that can be called upon at a moment's notice, or when you really need to impress your mother-in-law your friends. I've got several main course and dessert recipes that are staples, but until recently I hadn't found a stand-out appetizer recipe. About a month ago, I went to visit my aunt and uncle in Memphis. They are both AMAZING cooks, especially my uncle, who likes to cook with exotic ingredients & is always on the hunt for a new, off-the-beaten-path recipe. While doing one of the wine tastings I mentioned here, they served these Fig & Blue Cheese Tarts. With one bite, I knew this would be added to my recipe collection! Recipe is below. Try them for yourself, or make them for your next get together and bask in the glow of every one's praise!

Fig & Blue Cheese Appetizer Tarts

4 oz. cream cheese           

1 cup crumbled blue cheese             

1/3 cup sweet orange marmalade

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar

 6 oz. dried mission figs, coarsely chopped

2 cans crescent roll sheets

1/2 cup pecans or walnuts, coarsely chopped

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mash cream cheese & blue cheese with a fork. In a small saucepan, mix marmalade & balsamic vinegar on low heat, whisking to blend. Stir in figs, and simmer over low until figs are soft and most of liquid is absorbed - around 10 mins. Without unrolling dough, cut into 16 slices and place 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Press in center of dough, making a deep indention/pocket. Put around 1 teaspoon of the cheese & fig mixture into the indention, making sure it's far enough into the dough that it won't overflow once baked. Sprinkle with the nuts. Bake until golden brown, around 11-15 mins. Serve warm. Enjoy!

Earring Obsession.

 My favorite accessory of all time has to be bracelets. Cuffs, bangles, big, small, (but mostly big, ha), metal, wood, plastic, Lucite, rhinestone, gold, silver.... you get the picture. I love it all! To me, that is the perfect accessory. No doubt, my mom's love of a statement bracelet - or in her case, an armful of them - helped me arrive at my decision. I've mentioned it before on here, but almost everyday since I can remember, she wears 3 gorgeous sterling cuffs from the Indian Market in Santa Fe. She purchased those classics on a trip she took with my dad almost 20 years ago, and they have rarely left her left arm since! (Picture below)

My deep love for an armful of bracelets still stands, but lately I've been drawn to statement earrings just as much! My hair is naturally curly, and I live in the South. Sooooo that means...

Curly hair + humid weather = bad hair days

Because of that nice little equation, I wear my hair up a lot. I just can't stand for my hair to be down when it's hot and windy or when I'm on the water during the summer months. When my hair is up, I like to have a big pair of earrings to offset the up do. (And by up do, I mean a high ponytail or "knot.") Lately, I've been packing up some things in my apartment, so I can go live with my husband for the season, and in doing so I've found I have quite a collection of statement earrings. Since the summer is coming up & humid weather is headed our way, I would encourage you to let your hair down put your hair up, have some fun, and try the statement earring trend! Here is some of my recent collection!

These sliced agate earrings, dipped in silver around the edges, are so unique!

They are Ethereal earrings by Sarah Richey, which I purchased at H. Audrey in Nashville.

Lucky you, starting May 1st, you can order from her website.

I had the chance to meet her, and she's LOVELY! Definitely check out her site!

Vintage Kenneth Jay Lane. Can't wait to wear these this summer with a tan,

flowy maxi dress, and some jeweled flats!

Vintage earrings from East India. These are very old, which adds a ton of character!

Some of my new faves, from the new Anthropologie Accessories Store in Nashville!

As I mentioned on Twitter, if you are near Nashville, you MUST visit the store!

Love the turquoise & gold color combination!

My friend Rachel introduced me to Diana Warner jewlery, and now I'm hooked!

These were my first pair of her earrings, and they are stunning on the ear!

Earrings from Kittie Kyle, the store my aunts & mom started in the 70s.

If you are ever in Memphis, TN, this store should be on your list!

The buyers are so good at finding affordable, yet incredibly unique jewelry designers!

I didn't have a single pair of earrings with hot pink, so I added them to my collection asap!

These will look great with anything black!

I don't wear silver that often, 

but these captured my attention while shopping in L.A. this past December.

Got them at the cutest store on Robertson called undrest.

Love their small collections of swim suits, lingerie, sleepwear, and jewelry!

I got into collecting vintage jewelry because of my love for rhinestone bracelets/earrings.

Here is my most recent find! They make a huge statement, trust me!

They "crawl" up the side of the ear, giving a dramatic effect for evening.

I recently won these earrings on my first blog giveaway at A Sequin Dress At Breakfast!

The earrings are designed by "Inspired by Elizabeth."

Check out her Etsy store for more beautiful jewelry! She also does custom pieces!

Here are my mom's cuffs from the Indian Market in Santa Fe!

That's all for now!  Hope you guys enjoyed this post! My next post will be some statement earring picks from me, so come back and check those out! 

Heads up: Just found out I'm going to Baltimore tonight, then onto NYC for next week!!! (Yay!) Because of that, I may not post as much in the next week. Will return soon, though, with details from my trips! Have a great weekend! xx

Yes Please.

I will be wearing a version of this look a lot this spring and summer. Mark my words. I am short (5'2"), and when I wear a great-fitting pair of wider leg jeans with high heels...my legs look a mile long! Would YOU wear this trend?