Blackberry Goat Cheese Crackers

1/2 cup silver or gold sanding sugar (I used a combination of sanding sugar and shimmer dust)
2 cups fresh blackberries, divided 
juice of 1/2 lemon
2 tablespoons agave syrup
5 oz. goat cheese at room temperature
1 package favorite crackers (I used gluten free rice crackers from Trader Joe's)
1 small bunch fresh mint for garnish (optional)

Place sanding sugar in a small bowl. Add 15 blackberries (or however many crackers you are making) to the bowl, using a spoon to turn to coat. If sugar is not sticking, toss a few drops of water onto the blackberries and try again.

In a small saucepan, simmer the remaining blackberries, lemon juice, and agave over medium heat until berries have broken down. Use a wooden spoon to break up berries and help them along. Once the berries have turned into a jam-like mixture, after cooking about 10 minutes, remove from heat. Press mixture through a fine mesh sieve into a small bowl if you do not want the seeds.

Spread a teaspoon of goat cheese onto each cracker. Top with a small dollop of blackberry sauce. Top with a single sparkling blackberry and garnish with mint.

*time saver: berries can be sugared 2 hours in advance. Do not assemble the whole thing until 20 minutes of less before serving if using rice crackers, as they tend to absorb moisture and become soft.


How To Make Glitter Star Picks
supplies:
1 sheet glitter scrapbook paper (available at Michael's)
1 (1.5 to 2 inch) star shaped punch (available at Michael's)
toothpicks
tape or hot glue (see procedure)

procedure:
Punch stars out of the paper and tape to the top of toothpicks. If you would both sides to look nice, hot glue two stars back to back with with the top the toothpick in between. 

Source: countryliving.com