Christmas Eve Eve - last minute gift and two recipes you need

Goat cheese chocolate truffles, party dip, and the perfect last-minute gift for anyone on your list.

Merry Christmas Eve Eve! This is the day where people ask if you’re '“ready.” I’m never ready, I am just moving through the various strata from completely unready to slightly less so. There are always more tasks that can be completed - at some point the clock just runs out. It’s never done, it just ends.

A last-minute gift

A last-minute gift idea - give the gift of the RealBestLife substack! I hope you find something of value here. Since starting on September 1st, the community we're building here feels truly special. Until the end of the year, I'm offering a 20% off special for any new subscribers. That means $4 a month (only a dollar per premium post) or $40 a year!

So, for the less than the price of a single cup of coffee a month, you can give the gift of my weird exclusive farm stories and pieces. I post here for free every Thursday, but if you join the premium crew you get a Sunday evening exclusive post too. Considering that baby goats are due in 52 days, you don’t want to miss anything!

For Christmas parties (or just because)

Two four-ingredient recipes to make you a party hero

I love the time of year when you ask what you can bring to a party (usually I take wine) and the host says: “just an appetizer or a dessert.”

So here are two of my favorite straightforward recipes I like to make when I’m too tired to get fancy, (which is always.) The thing I like about both of these is that they read as more complicated than they are. These both only require four ingredients, a few minutes, and no expertise whatsoever.

Goat Cheese Chocolate Truffles

Obviously, my first recipe tonight has to be goat cheese-based. These truffles are rich and decadent but not too sweet, and they’re complex but also addictive. I love taking them to parties; someone always asks me for the recipe.

• 6oz fresh goat cheese

• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

• 12 ounces chocolate chips, melted - I prefer Ghirardelli semi-sweet

• Cocoa powder

These are so simple to make, they only take a few minutes of work.

Cream goat cheese and vanilla (by hand, with a spoon).

Melt the chocolate. Some people use a double boiler like you’re supposed to. I put it in the microwave for 30 seconds, then 15-second increments until it’s melted.

Combine the melted chocolate with the cheese mix until smooth.

Form 1” (about two small bites) balls with your fingers. If it’s too warm to form, put it in the refrigerator for 10 minutes to let it cool down a little.

Chill. Once they’re firm, roll in cocoa powder.

Refrigerate until about 15 minutes prior to serving.

Photo credit to my friend, Courtney - at SweetC's Designs. She takes baller photos. I aspire to be her someday when I grow up.

Loaded Fiesta Party Dip

There is something weirdly comforting about classic garbage party fare. I don’t know what it is about this dip, but it disappears quickly and is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. The fiesta flavor mix isn’t really spicy but has just enough bite to perfectly offset the cheese and bacon bits. Top it with chopped green onions if you feel fancy.

• 16 ounces (the big tub) of sour cream

• 1 packet of Hidden Valley fiesta dip mix

• 1/2 cup bacon bits

• 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese

Mix dip mix into sour cream. Stir in cheese and bacon bits. Refrigerate for at least two hours.

You can serve this dip with veggies if you want to pretend to assuage the guilt, but serve it with potato chips if you want to just be honest with yourself. Or just eat it with a spoon by the light of the refrigerator at 2am while standing in the darkness. No judgement.

Oh, and I made it a Tiktok, like the kids do. I feel so hip.

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More than anything, I want to tell you Merry Christmas. I’m so grateful you’re here and you’re reading. I have started this weird dream of being a legit writer™ and every new free and premium subscription gets me closer to that goal, every single one of you makes it happen, and I don’t take it for granted. Thank you.