However, due to circumstances involving Younger Brother's "marital ceremony" in Seoul Korea this fall, Husband and I decided that we'd all go to Korea for an extended time to both celebrate Young Brother's marriage as well as to have, as Husband put it, "a vacation." We'll be flying, staying in a very nice serviced apartment, in the country where Daughter #2 was born and our motherland. Only, it's not a vacation. I tried to explain it to husband and he told me I have a bad attitude. But really, it is best summed up by a line I heard on the show Modern Family (Season 1, Episode 23), when Phil repeatedly tells Claire to loosen up and enjoy their Hawaii vacation (which by the way would be more of a vacation in my book) and she says,""I'm a mom traveling with my three kids. This isn't a vacation. It's a business trip." Although the trip is months away, I have a long laundry list of things to take care of (Daughter #2's passport being one of them) and a bunch of arrangements to be made. I've already tried to figure out what clothes to wear, if I need to buy something, what are the kids going to wear (they are all in the wedding, but for the rest of the time). Are we schooling them while there, and what, if any, beautifying treatments am I signing myself up for? (probably not, but it is on my list of things to check out.) The logistics of traveling with three kids is nothing short of a business trip. A vacation? Husband, excuse my bad attitude, but not so much.
But Husband keeps on reminding me how fun it'll be and how we'll explore are old haunts, and eat at the places we used to love. Every chance we have to talk about the trip he joyfully proclaims how amazing it will be, while I'm still working out the logistics of getting our family to the airport without hurting anyone's vehicle. But I'm going to try to change my perspective. I'm going to try and see this as a wonderful family vacation. I'm going to let go of the logistics, and just let things happen. I will try to make it less of a business trip and make it, if possible, just a trip.
In the meantime, I do have a fabulous weekend vacation planned in the near future, with my 7 girlfriends who are flying all over from the US to spend time with me. I will be leaving Children and Husband behind for 3 days and 3 nights while I go have fun with my friends, eating and talking. I thought about that trip as I made this dish and my mouth watered with the anticipation of that trip. Am I a bad person for thinking that a true vacation means that I'm not taking care of my children? Maybe. But I do know, I'm not a bad person for making these crostini, so for anyone who takes offense at my interpretation of a vacation, come over so I can shove one of these into your mouth as you berate me for my attitude.
These are crispy, savory sweet, luscious and a perfect starter to any party. (Or, you can, as I did, eat a plateful as your meal.) Daughters loved it as well, and I made a brie-less version for Son, and he protested the fig jam but ate everything else.
Brie, Pancetta, Arugula Crostini
4 to 6 servings
Ingredients
1 loaf crusty bread like pugliese, sliced ½ inch thick, (make 10 slices)
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Salt
Freshly ground black pepper
¼ cup fig jam
large wedge of brie cheese, cut into slices (thin slices means you can put two on a piece of bread) - enough for 10 pieces
10 pieces of pancetta
1 cup arugula leaves, washed
Method
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
On a baking sheet, place pancetta rounds and bake, until some of the fat is rendered and it is getting crispy - about 4 minutes.
Arrange the sliced bread on a baking sheet (I just used same one as pancetta). Brush with some of the olive oil and sprinkle each piece with salt. Bake until the bread is pale golden and crisp, about 5 minutes. Remove from the oven. Top each slice of bread with a teaspoon of fig jam, brie slices, and the baked pancetta.
Return the baking sheet to the oven until the cheese is warmed, about 5 minutes.
Arrange the toasts on a serving platter. Top each toast with a 4 to 5 arugula leaves. Drizzle the remaining olive oil over the arugula. Season with pepper.
Printable recipe
If I could eat all of these, without being asked to get up from the table, I might consider that a vacation.
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3 comments:
It's only 7 in the morning but I want these! Mmmmm delicious!!
i just got back from a "business trip"/vacation with my children and it does feel like more work than i do when i'm at home. it was still nice to get away and be together as a family but i was so exhausted by the time we got back. i usually get up earlier than hubby to make him breakfast, but i couldn't do it... that's how tired i was.
these crostini's look amazing... i don't think i've EVER had fig so it'll be interesting to see how all the flavors meld together!
i'm drooling at work....
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