Everyone, have a merry Chinese New Year! Since I’m a Horse on the 12-year Chinese Zodiac cycle, this is only the second time in my life that the Year of the Horse has occurred.

As a young man, my father was planning his wedding. They were already thinking about things like 401Ks and flood insurance when she was 24 years old, a year after she had given birth to my sister.

The notion of having to file my first real income tax return is making me hives.

In the meantime, here’s a recipe for Apple Cream Cheese Tart to keep you occupied.

This is the pinnacle of decadence.

Perhaps these events will set a favorable tone for the year and tilt the cosmic scale toward “brilliant.”

Fireworks, sparklers, firecrackers, and a plethora of other incendiaries are lighting up the Beijing sky as I write this essay. Look for additional recipes in the following days as we prepare for a busy Chinese New Year’s week of cooking and feasting. In the meantime, here’s a recipe for Apple Cream Cheese Tart to keep you occupied.

INGREDIENTS:

FOR THE CRUST:

• 6 tablespoons of butter
• 2 tablespoons of sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon of salt
• 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup of flour
• 1 tablespoon of water

FOR THE CHEESE FILLING:

• 8 ounces of softened cream cheese
• 2 tablespoons of sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon of salt
• 1 egg
• 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla
• zest of 1 lemon

FOR THE FRUIT AND NUT FILLING:

• 2/3 cup of finely chopped pecans
• 1 tablespoon of honey
• 2-3 of peeled and thinly sliced apples
• 1 tablespoon of lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg
• 1 1/2 tablespoons of sugar

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Using an 8-inch spring-form pan, lightly oil it. Preheated oven to 400°F.

2. Get a food processor, then put all the crust ingredients and pulse until smooth. Add a few teaspoons of cold water and pulse if necessary. Make a 1-inch rim by pressing it into the pan.15 minutes into baking, take it out of the oven. Put the oven on a lower temperature to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

3. Using an electric mixer, whisk the cream cheese with 2 tablespoons of powdered sugar, salt, an egg, vanilla, and lemon zest until smooth. Toss the nuts with 1 tablespoon honey in a small bowl and mix until they are coated. Get a large bowl, then mix the apple slices with the lemon juice, spices, and 1 1/2 tablespoons of sugar until evenly coated.

4. Overlay the tart crust with the cream cheese filling. Nuts should be evenly distributed over the cheese. Spread out the apple slices in a thin layer on top. At 375 degrees Fahrenheit, bake the apples for 50 to 55 minutes until they are tender and golden.