Smashed Chickpea & Winter Greens Crostini
A holiday recipe to serve at your next festive gathering!
Christmas is a mere week away, and I’m doing the typical scramble to finish up shopping, menu planning, baking and pre-hosting cleaning. One of my daughters has a birthday near the holiday, so it always adds an extra layer of excitement and craziness to the week. This year, I’m feel slightly more disorganized and frazzled than usual, but I’m trying to take mini-breaks throughout the day to take some deep breaths and tell myself that it’s OK if things aren’t done to perfection. I often remind myself, if I’m in good enough health and financial shape to shop, host, exchange gifts and/or celebrate, I’m way ahead of the game. Keeping gratitude front and center is especially important this year when so many people around the world are deeply suffering in ways that we can’t truly comprehend.
If you need some ways to revel in this time of year - and take a step back from petty holiday stresses - I wrote a post last year on my favorite holiday traditions, along with my recipe for vegan ‘nog. Check it out if you missed it (or revisit it for fresh inspiration). This year, I’m hoping to add a few new traditions, including baking these traditional spiced Italian holiday cookies (after I attempt to translate the recipe!) and watching Little Women, which I’ve heard has beautiful Christmas scenes. I’m also hoping to kick off the beautiful Icelandic tradition of Jólabókaflóð, in which family members exchange books on Christmas Eve and spend the evening curled up reading with cups of hot chocolate (aka my heaven).
Last, If you’re on the hunt for a last minute recipe for a party appetizer or just something yummy to make for a cozy holiday evening at home, this crostini recipe is favorite of mine. Crunchy, chewy bread rounds topped with smashed chickpeas and garlicky winter greens pesto come together relatively quickly, hits all the right flavor notes and is packed with fiber and beneficial nutrients.