How are the holidays still going on? Sure, there cool and all, but can they end already? There’s just so much pressure about buying the perfect gift, hosting the perfect party, having the most fun. And honestly, I just need the New Year to start so I can get work done. I think I’m a negative nancy right now because the only thing the holidays gave me this year is a cold. My fiance and sister in law both had bronchitis so I got off easy, but still. Oh wait, I also got a squatty potty.
So get this. This year, since we just bought a house and are paying for our wedding and also need to do some landscaping, we agreed on no presents for each other. And since we were hosting the holidays with both of our parents, we didn’t want everyone to have to buy a gift for every single person. So we decided to do a gift exchange with a $100 limit on it. Kind of like an elephant gift exchange. So we drew numbers and picked presents. What I decided to purchase for my gift exchange was a squatty potty with a $100 taped to it. Who doesn’t want better bowels for the New Year? Well, when it came time for me to choose my gift, my present was the only one left. And since I was trying to gift someone better bowels, I stole someone else’s gift: a Fitbit and my mother in law ended up with the squatty potty. I could tell she was hoping for the Fitbit and since she’s working her butt off to get in shape for our wedding in Jamaica, I told her I would trade presents. So you know what I got for Christmas? My own present! And a cold. The holidays need to end.
We did do some fun things for the holidays. I hosted dinner on Christmas, making all kinds of food for the family. Then after dinner, we met up with some friends and headed to Zoo lights to drink and look at the lights. It was DUMPING snow so all of us were freezing and soaking wet by the end. But it was totally worth it. Then the next day, we decided to have a Hunger Games day so we could finally see the last one in the theatre. We couched it all day then headed to sit almost front row after getting there late. When I read the books, I couldn’t get through the last book because I was too bored. Thankfully the movie wasn’t too too boring. But you know what I thought was weird? Katniss having an Asian looking baby at the end of the movie. That baby was totally Asian. Did anybody else notice that?
Last but not least, we headed to Upstairs Circus to drink bottomless mimosas and swing around hammers. We crafted. What a genius idea. Grown up space for adults to act like kids. I decided to do string art because it looked the easiest AND the coolest, in my opinion. While I thought about what shape I wanted to do, I instantly thought frenchie. And thought I would have to ask one of the people who worked there to stencil one out for me. But turns out the owners who TWO frenchies so the wife had already made one. I officially love that place more than I even would just because they have frenchies. Now I just have to decide where to hang this little guy. My eyes look mimosa drunk in this photo. Because they are.
Now go make these and get ready for your super perfect, super fun, super glittery New Year’s Eve party!
New Year’s Eve Raspberry Cheesecake Bites
- Yield: 25-30 bites 1x
Ingredients
For the crust
- 1 cup almond flour
- 1/4 cup maple sugar
- 1/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
- 1/4 cup ghee
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- pinch of salt
For the cheesecake
- 1 1/2 cups raw unsalted cashews (soaked for 30 minutes)
- ½ cup coconut oil or Tin Star Ghee Browned Butter, melted
- ½ cup raw honey
- juice of 1/2 lemon juice (2+ teaspoons)
- 2–4 tablespoons coconut or almond milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Garnishes
- fresh raspberries
- fresh mint
Instructions
- Place cashews in water to soak.
- Make raspberry caramel and set aside.
- Grease a bread pan (9×5) and line it with parchment paper for easy removal from pan later on. Place all ingredient for the crust in a food processor and blend until completely combine. Put dough in pan and press evenly down throughout the pan. Place in the fridge to set. Wipe out food processor.
- Strain cashews from water then add to the food processor and blend until you begin to get a clumpy mess. Then add melted coconut oil or ghee, honey, lemon juice, and vanilla extract and puree.
- And lastly, add coconut milk, 1 tablespoon at a time to break down the cashews completely. Add a couple tablespoons until cashew mixture thins out and becomes an off white color.
- Scoop out mixture on top of crust and smooth out. Place in freezer to set for about 1 hour. Remove from freezer and let it sit at room temperature for about 5 minutes then slice into 1 inch square pieces.
- Pour about 1 teaspoon over each cheesecake bite, then garnish with 1 raspberry and a small mint leaf. Repeat with all cheesecake bites. Place a toothpick in each bite for easy snacking during your party!
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More Dessert Snack Bites:
Chocolate Hazelnut Truffle Squares
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Ring in the New Year Serving in Style!
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ohh wow so delicious!! have to make these
Kisses from http://poshnessary.com ❤
Try not to put so much pressure on yourself to have the perfect everything….it’s all good! You are an amazing person (now with a squatty potty!) and give so much to so many….plus you make fabulous food! I’ve put a lot of pressure on myself in the past to have that perfect everything…it’s just too much, I’ve learned. So, instead, get a hug from your sweetie….take a few good deep breaths and just enjoy the moments. Life is an adventure….and we need to enjoy the moments! Happy New Year!!
I am totally going through the same thing right now. I worked so hard making everything perfect for Christmas and now I am finding it difficult to relax. We need to give ourselves a break but that is much easier said then done. Often times the kitchen is the one place I feel confident and in control.
That baby was TOTALLY Asian. It was the first thing my friends and I noticed! WTF?! LOL! So glad we weren’t the only ones to see that!
lol it kind of ruined the last part of the movie. i didn’t even listen because i was just thinking…what is going on
I’ve been reading these last few posts and although you “had me at hello”, you’re my new best friend for noticing Asian baby. It made NO sense, however, it was the cutest. baby. ever. And I have two adorable children. But that adorable little chubster made me swoon.
Do you think you can make the crust and the cheesecake in advance and store in the freezed for a day or so? Or would it be better to store then seperately if you had to make them a day before?
yes you could definitely do that!