Appetizers

This morning while channel surfing/knitting/doing laundry I came across Paula Deen making a wonderfully simple appetizer...brie with a brown sugar, nut, and brandy topping. I'm having a few friends over Thursday evening for a craft night, so along with hummus and pita crisps, I think I'll serve this:

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Wheel of Brie

Chopped Macadamia nuts

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup brandy

Mix the nuts, brown sugar, and brandy together. Cover and refrigerate at least overnight, or up to 3 or 4 days. Just before you're ready to serve this, preheat the oven to 500 degrees. Put the brie into a pie plate or other high-heat resistant baking dish. Bake for 5 minutes; remove from oven, add nut topping to the top of the cheese. Return to oven for 3 minutes. Place onto a serving plate; surround with apple and pear slices, crackers, or baguette toasts.
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After watching Paula whip up this appetizer, I decided to trudge through lots of rain and sleet to the grocery...we're having a carry in at work Monday, and I've been asked to bring in chili...so I needed my #10 cans of chili hot beans and diced tomatoes...the basis for my "big pot" of chili. I picked up 2 wheels of brie and some more chick peas for hummus. I'm ready!