The New Year's Brie

Even though cheese is not at all part of the traditional Pennsylvania Dutch New Year's Day meal of port and sauerkraut that I have faithfully enjoyed since childhood, I am married to a French man who absolutely cannot go a day without indulging in some type of cheesy goodness. 
So, since I also have a fondness for creamy and delicious brie, I decided to include this simple brie en croute topped with a little Christmas berry and red pepper jam in our little German New Year's dinner this year. 
It was very simple to put together and it looked so scrumptious and pretty sitting there on the platter surrounded by my little bathing beauty pinup girls, that I just had to take a photo before we all dived in.


There's nothing quite like a piece of cheese
to nibble upon for pleasure and ease.
No matter the time or state of mind
greater joy than cheese you'll never find.
Served on a cracker or a soft piece of bread
a morceau de fromage will please your head.
Roquefort, camembert, brie or blue
served with fruit or in fondue
God gave us cheese- a bit of heaven on earth
to lift our burdens, providing sweet mirth.
And after all our daily work is done
we enjoy simple cheese just for fun.
But remember the ancient custom of the house
leave behind a kernel for the nocturnal mouse.



~ C Jim Sitterly