Baked Brie, Fig & Candied Pecans With Everything From Trader Joe’s

Who doesn’t love a warm baked brie, especially in the fall? It’s simple, everything can be purchased at Trader Joe’s, and yet there’s something so lovely about this easy appetizer or even cozy weeknight meal. It’s one of those simple recipes that’s really more like a combination of ingredients. Perfect for Sunday favorites with Cindy and Mary Ann!

Here’s what you will need to buy at Trader Joe’s

• A double cream Brie wheel (in the wooden box)
• A package of dried figs
• Trader Joe’s fig butter or a sweet fig jam 
• Candied pecans or candied walnuts
• ​A baguette
• Optional: A drizzle of honey or hot honey
• Sprigs of rosemary or fresh thyme (we prefer thyme)

You will also need an ovenproof baking dish

You will need a small oven-proof baking dish or a small cast-iron skillet. I’m using this porcelain dish from our shop. Or this Apiclo Porcelain Baking Dish from Williams Sonoma would be perfect.

Here’s how to make it

1. Slice the baguette and spread butter on each; broil until lightly toasted, and set aside.
2. Place your Brie wheel in an oven-safe dish
3. Spread some fig butter or jam on the top
4. Slice the figs and place them on top of the jam
5. Bake in a 350º oven for 15-20 minutes on a baking sheet
6. Once out of the oven, add the candied pecans and fresh thyme 
7. Serve on a board with fresh fruit like grapes or apple slices

Here’s how I like to serve baked Brie with fig jam

I like to serve it with buttered toasts. Since the brie cheese is warm and melty, you can prepare the toasts ahead and serve them at room temperature. 

You could also serve with crackers, but make sure they are a larger, sturdy cracker so the melty brie doesn’t break the cracker. I think baguette toasts work best.

I often serve just this as an appetizer or a tasty snack when the kids come home for the weekend. And sometimes we serve it to guests with a charcuterie board. 

Easy appetizers like this, where you can have everything on hand, are great for the busy entertaining season. You could have baguette slices in a bag in the freezer and the rest of the ingredients on hand, and have it on the table in 20-25 minutes! 

A few more Sunday favorites

A podcast that I love!

Are you familiar with the podcast Table Manners with Jessie & Lennie Ware? They are a mother and daughter from the UK. It’s a podcast about food, family, and having a chat in their kitchen while they prepare a meal for their guest.

If you haven’t heard of this podcast (perhaps I’m the only one that didn’t know about it until last year), start with the season’s new episode featuring Reese Witherspoon! It’s brilliant and fun on so many levels.

My favorite short and long-sleeve tees for layering and wearing on their own

I always mention my favorite tees from Kule. I just ordered a new black and a cream long-sleeve tee. They offer a 20% discount on orders of 2 or more, but they’re still a little pricey, IMO.

So, when I’m not sure where I’m going, or if I’m even leaving the house, except maybe a trip to the gym, or Trader Joe’s…I have been loving these tees from Quince. They are called the slub tee and are made very similarly to the more expensive Rag & Bone slub tees, but these are a little thicker. They can be washed and dried! Quince also offers a bundle-and-save discount when you buy two or more. I just ordered three for around $45! My new everyday tees! The Quince 100% Organic Cotton Slub Long Sleeve Tee comes in six colors and five sizes. The Quince Short Sleeve Slub Tee is available in four colors.

Better Homes & Gardens 100th Anniversary Edition Cookbook

This week, Better Homes & Gardens hosted a one-day event in SoHo to release its gorgeous new red-and-white plaid cookbook. I’ll bet most of us have one tucked away that we used a lot over the years! The new Better Homes & Gardens 100th Anniversary edition is full of gorgeous photos and original and new recipes.

Sweater weather means sweater maintenance.

My daughter often brings her sweaters home every few months for me to wash and bring back to looking new. This year, I guess she’s getting too old for needing my help, but she did ask me where I got my little fabric shaver tool.

You can read more about how I maintain my cashmere sweaters in this post. But it’s this little rechargeable fabric shaver and lint remover tool that does the most work! If you don’t have one, you need it. It’s great to use on pillow covers and throws, too!

Let’s check in with Cindy & Mary Ann!

Cindy Hattersley Design

Read Cindy’s Sunday post here!

Classic Casual Home

Read Mary Ann’s Sunday post here.