Saying Goodbye to 2020 with an Evergreen Pastry Tree
Happy New Year’s Eve!
Just for laughs, one of my neighbors shared his twelve insights looking back on 2020:
1. The dumbest thing I ever bought was a 2020 planner.
2. I was so bored I called Jake from State Farm just to talk to someone. He asked me what I was wearing.
3. 2019: Stay away from negative people. 2020: Stay away from positive people.
4. The world has turned upside down. Old folks are sneaking out of the house & their kids are yelling at them to stay indoors!
5. This morning I saw a neighbor talking to her dog. It was obvious she thought her dog understood her. I came into my house & told my dog. We laughed a lot.
6. Every few days try your jeans on just to make sure they fit. Pajamas will have you believe all is well in the kingdom.
7. Does anyone know if we can take showers yet or should we just keep washing our hands?
8. This virus has done what no woman has been able to do. Cancel sports, shut down all bars & keep men at home!
9. I never thought the comment, “I wouldn’t touch him/her with a 6-foot pole” would become a national policy, but here we are!
10. I need to practice social-distancing from the refrigerator.
11. I hope the weather is good tomorrow for my trip to the Backyard. I’m getting tired of the Living Room.
12. Never in a million years could I have imagined I would go up to a bank teller wearing a mask & ask for money.
😂
Here’s a quick appetizer to enjoy during the winter holidays,
a spinach and cheese filled “evergreen” tree
HHjr whipped this up for Christmas Day,
all you need is a refrigerated dough
he used crescent roll dough,
but you can use
pie crust dough, pizza dough or puff pastry
Lay out 1 sheet of dough and top it with the spinach dip filling,
spreading in an even layer
Top with second sheet of dough and made slits into dough at 1 inch intervals,
leaving the center of the tree uncut
Twist the cut pieces to form branches
Spinach Dip Evergreen Tree
Ingredients
- 8 oz Frozen chopped spinach thawed and squeezed dry
- 4 oz cream cheese softened
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup grated cheddar OR mozzarella cheese
- 2 cans refrigerated crescent roll or thin crust pizza crust
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
Instructions
- In a bowl, beat together the spinach and cream cheese.
- Add garlic, salt, onion powder, pepper, and Italian seasoning and beat to combine.
- Add Parmesan cheese and the cheddar or mozzarella cheese and beat to combine.
- Lay out dough on a piece of parchment paper and cut each rectangle into a large triangle, discarding the excess dough. Place filling on top of one triangle in an even layer. Cover filling with second triangle and pinch edges to seal. Transfer parchment paper with tree onto a baking sheet.
- Using a sharp knife, leaving an inch of dough uncut running vertically down the center, make cuts into dough on each side, about 1 inch apart. These will be the branches. Take each cut section and twist and put back in place.
- Bake for about 22 minutes until quite golden brown on top and cooked through on the bottom.
- Melt butter and stir in garlic salt and seasoning, then brush over pastry
Notes
Here’s another version I made several years ago
I used puff pastry
and filled it with prosciutto and pesto
Prosciutto and Pesto Puff Pastry Tree
Prosciutto & Pesto Puff Pastry Tree
Ingredients
- 1 sheet puff pastry thawed
- 1/3 cup pesto
- 2 oz. grated Parmesan cheese
- 3-4 thin slices prosciutto
- 1 egg
Instructions
- Place dough on a piece of parchment or a silicone baking mat. Roll dough out to thin it, and press seams together. Cut dough in half down the center. Spread half of dough with a layer of pesto, stopping just short of the edges. Top with Parmesan and cover with prosciutto. Place remaining piece of dough on top and press down edges forming a big rectangle.
- Cut off corners at the top of rectangle to establish the tree shape. With a sharp knife, make 1 inch diagonal cuts on each side, leaving 1 inch uncut in between “limbs.” Gently lift each limb and twist several times and pinch ends together. Make slits down the uncut tree trunk with the tip of a sharp knife. Brush pastry with beaten egg. Cover and refrigerate at this point until baking.
- Bake pastry at 400 for 15-20 minutes or until puffed and golden. Carefully transfer to platter or serving board. Let guests pinch off a piece to eat.
Notes
Variations:
Sweet & Savory Variation: spread pastry with fig jam and top with bleu cheese crumbles and {optional} bacon
Sweet Variation: spread with almond paste, or raspberry jam and chocolate or white chocolate chips
You can also shape the dough into a circle {wreath}
Get creative and make it into a champagne bottle or a football,
any shape to fit the season or theme of your gathering!
Cheers to the New Year!
I will be joining these fabulous parties and blogs:
Sundays on Silverado Love Your Creativity Over the Moon
Between Naps on the Porch, Celebrate Your Story,
All About Home/ Common Ground Follow the Yellow Brick Home
Tasty Tuesday Oh My Heartsie Girl Turn About Tuesday
Full Plate Thursday Centerpiece Wednesday Creatively Crafty
Thursday Favorite Things Creative Cumpulsions Friday with Friends
Comments
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Happy New Year! Wishing you a year of good health, happiness and healing from the storms.
Thank you so much Ann!
Love your Evergreen Tree appetizer, I’m sure it’s so delicious.Hope the new year will find us returning to normal. Have a wonderful New Year’s Eve and all the best for a Happy New Year Jenna!
Thank you so much Emily!! Happy New Year and Roll Tide!!
Love the tree, and the painting! Have a wonderful, hopeful New Years and thank you for all the wonderful posts of this past year!
Thank you Dorothy and same to you!!
Thanks for the laughs. I love the yummy tree. All the best to you and your family in the coming year!
Thanks so much Martha, Happy 2021!
I love that spinach tree and I’ll have make one sometime. Wishing you a happy and healthy new year!
It’s fun to make, and fun to eat, thanks Julie!
I like that spinach tree — very pretty and unusual, too! and your neighbor had some wonderful insights! Happy New Year!
Thank you Jeanie! Happy 2021!
Jenna, I love the Evergreen pastry tree, festive and looks delicious. The list made me laugh…thanks for all of your inspiring and beautiful posts this year! Happy and Healthy New Year,Jenna!
Thank you so much Pam, and a very Happy New Year to you and your family!
Your pastry trees look so delish. I need to research if there are puff pastries available in Gluten Free. That puts a real damper on fun appetizers for sure. Loved the insights on 2020. so funny! Have a great New Year’s weekend!
Thanks so much Debra! I had to share that list, it made me laugh out loud when I read it!
Thank you for the laughs, Jenna! I’m looking at making that “tree” for an appetizer tonight.Thank you for the idea. Have a very Happy New Year with all the positive energy that it promises!
Oh good Rosie, we enjoyed the tree, a fun thing to nibble on!! Happy New Year!
Ooh… that Evergreen appetizer looks so yummy! Girl, we are frying back strap and potatoes tonight ! YUM! Love the little tidbits shared. Gave me a good chuckle. Happy New Year to you dear Jenna. Hugs and blessings, Cindy
Oh good, I thought that list was hilarious, had to share!!
Happy New Year, Jenna!! Wishing you and yours all the best for 2021 – keep on blogging! <3
Thank you Hilda! Keep on painting!
Yum! All the variations look delicious. Best to start out 2021 with those laughs!
haha, yes, I thought the list was full of chuckles…
What a great list, it brought chuckles! Tree looks good and all the variations sound great too! Happy New Year and looking forward to more great posts. Thanks Jenna!! 🥂
Thank you Cyndi! My neighbor is hilarious, he is always posting funny stuff on our local Nextdoor neighborhood thread. Happy 2021!
Thanks for the chuckles Jenna, your neighbor is hoot! Love your puff pastry tree too ❤️🎄
thanks Mary!