- It has been fun, for me, and I hope useful to you. We are entertaining guests tonight and have asked them to stay overnight. Two reasons: Can enjoy the evening with a drink or two and don’t have to worry about what is out there driving in the wee hours (if we can stay awake that long). I am going to show you our menu and how easy it is to prepare.
As this is New Years Eve, we are going to really dress up for the evening. We will also try and spread each course out over the evening so it will, at least, be about 4 hours. Then the evening will begin. For us, this is entertaining at its finest.
- Signature drink – New Years Martini
- Two kinds of Hors d’oeurves (one hot and one cold) not even sure yet just what but…
- Coquilles St. Jacques
- Papaya and shrimp with curry mayonnaise (plate licking delicious)
- Rice
- Asparagus
- Salmon topped with Lobster Newburg
- Ginger Cannolis,
- Champagne for toasting , a different touch, for sure.
- Coffee/wine/liqueur
Yesterday, Don made the Coquille St. Jaques, I made the filling for the cannolis and the dressing for the salad. Set the table, did the laundry, changed the bedding upstairs and put out fresh towels. This morning I will stuff the cannolis and place in the fridge until dinner. The salad is a two minute ‘put-together’ and the rest is as we go. Try it and you will say (for the last time this year) Damn, I can do this!.
Bon Appetit. We will show pictures as the evening progresses. Oh, for your information, the dishes we are using are everyday dishes, We packed up all the good dishes when my daughter was here. I will show you don’t need to have ‘everything’ to put on a dinner and showcase it to the best of what you own.
New Years Martini
With company coming for New Years Dinner, I needed a new martini to begin the evening with style. My daughter and I made this one over the holidays and enjoyed it so much we served it to company the next evening. All we heard was “ummmm, tastes like more”. Gotta love company.
New Years Martini
Chill martini glasses and swirl in a fancy pattern, plate scrapers in Caramel flavour. Not lots but enough. (try it first and then you will know. Always sample the drink before, I always say…..
Pour: 2 parts Vodka
- 1 part Creme de Cacao
- 1 part Butterscotch Schnapps
- 1 part Godiva white chocolate.
Pour all into a shaker filled with cracked ice and shake well, Strain into the chilled glasses, You can garnish with a few Skor bits (from the baking section of the store) or white chocolate shavings.
In case you didn’t figure this one out. It IS yummy!
HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE. ALL THE BEST FOR 2011
Tree Down
After having the tree up since the first few days of December, it is coming down today. Enough! I am not a grinch but I never have the tree up for New Years.
Now this is just me! Enjoy the day. It is a relaxing time now and I truly love the season for all the right reasons.
Getting more in tune with this week…
It is hard to function in any kind of order this week.
Daughter still here (thank goodness), packing, cleaning up on the turkey, company coming tonight, tree down tomorrow (yay) and getting ready for company for New Years.
I need a new signature drink to serve. Later
Happiness is…
Having your “kid” arrive for Christmas. My kid, by the way, is 43 years old. The other “kid” arrives tomorrow and he is 45.
So, you never lose the title of ‘kid’ no matter how old you are. Love them. It is now starting to come together.
A few more days and the next lot of family arrives including 2 of our 4 grandchildren. Lucky us!
Mood Altering Macaroon Chocolate Cheesecake
I just knew that title would catch your eye. Mood altering due to the dark chocolate which is an antioxidant and a little of this piece of pure pleasure is good for you.
You will need:
- 6 tbsp butter
- 8 oz. crushed chocolate chip cookies (homemade, of course)
- 2 tbsp. brown sugar
The filling consists of:
- 8 oz. bittersweet chocolate, chopped
- 10 oz. softened cream cheese
- 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1/4 cup Baileys or dark creme de cacao
- 4 oz. finely crushed macaroons
- cocoa power for dusting
- Ice Wine or Cognac for sipping
In a small saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Stir in the cookie crumbs and sugar. Press this mixture in a thin layer over the bottom of a 9 inch removable bottom pan. Set in fridge to set. (You may have left-over crumbs. Set aside)
To make the filling place a metal bowl over a pan with boiling water. Do not let water touch the bowl. Melt the chocolate stirring with a spatula until completely melted and smooth. Remove from heat. In a large bowl beat the cream cheese with electric mixer until softened, beat in brown sugar and liqueur. Now stir in the melted chocolate and macaroons. Spoon over cookie base in the pan. Make sure to level off the top with an off-set spatula, Refrigerate until well chilled and firm. When ready to serve, run a thin knife blade around the edge of the pan, dust the top of the cake with a layer of cocoa, sifting as you go. Remove from pan and cut into wedges and plate.
If you really want to blow the lid off this dessert, then continue on and make this decadent sauce.
Taste Rating: l0 (sorry, but it is a 10)
6 oz. bittersweet chocolate, chopped
1/4 cup half and half cream (coffee cream)
3 tbsp. melted unsalted butter
2 tbsp. light corn syrup
In small saucepan over low heat, combine all the ingredients and stir constantly until the chocolate and butter have completely melted. Now continue stirring until it almost reaches the boiling point. Remove from heat and put in a warm pitcher. Refrigerate any left over sauce and reheat gently before using. Keep only for 2 days.
Pair this with an ice wine or well-aged cognac. Let me know what you think.
A Yummy Traditional Pudding
In case you don’t have a traditional dessert for this holiday season “big turkey” day, you might want to try this one. It is quite lovely.
You will need:
- 3 1/2 cups milk
- 3 cups heavy whipping cream
- 1/4 cup cream sherry
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 1 1/2 tbsp. pure vanilla extract
- 9 whole large eggs
- 9 large egg yolks
- 1 cup golden raisins (you might even try cranberries)
- pinch of cinnamon
- 6 croissants (torn up into large pieces)
Preheat oven to 275 degrees. Stir the milk, cream, sugar and vanilla in a large saucepan over a medium heat just until the sugar melts and the mixture is warm (not hot). This will take about 8-10 minutes.
Remove from heat , stir in the cream sherry and allow to cool just enough so you don’t ‘scramble’ the eggs that you have beat together. Whisk together the eggs, yolks and cinnamon into the warm milk mixture. Place the croissant pieces in a 13x 9 inch baking dish (buttered).
Now pour the custard gently over the pieces and simply sprinkle the raisins over the top. Gently submerge the pieces and let stand for about 20 minutes. You will need a large roasting pan to bake this. Place the baking dish inside the roaster and pour warm water to fill the pan halfway up the baking dish side.
Bake 1 hour 15 minutes or until it is firm when touched. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream. Ouch…my waistband is hurting…..
This one will garner a group hug for sure.
Taste Rating: 9.6
Innocent Lady Martini
Fellas: if you want to make brownie points, try this one.
Ladies: this is just for you. Enjoy!
- 2 parts Chocolate Vodka ( you can also use plain Vodka or even Vanilla Vodka)
- 1 part Amaretta
- 1 part Kahula
- 1 part Baileys
Pour a little Amaretta in a saucer, dip the chilled martini glass in and then into a saucer that you have shaved white chocolate. Now in a shaker with crushed ice, shake a minute or so, and strain into the glasses. Aaah, yummy!
Taste Rating: 9
Crispy Wonton Fruit Bites
These are so good and easy to make. It only takes a few minutes to get it ready for serving.
You need:
- 12 wonton wrappers
- 1 tbsp. unsalted butter, melted
- 3 tbsp. sugar (Berry sugar may be the better choice)
- 1/4 cup raw almonds, chopped fine
- 1 cup yogurt (strawberry, blueberry, whatever fruit you are using, match the yogurt)
- honey
- 1 1/4 cup sliced strawberries (or whatever fruit you choose)
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place wrappers on a baking sheet and brush each one with butter. Sprinkle with almonds and sugar and bake until golden brown (6 mins). Transfer to rack to cool.
Divide evenly, top 6 wontons with yogurt and strawberries. Then top each one with remaining wontons. Lightly drizzle a scant amount of honey on top. Serve immediately. This only makes 6 servings so you know to add more to accommodate the number of servings you require.
Everyone loves these. Yummy!
Taste Rating: 8.8
Stay Away …
we went to the Mall today (Santa’s helpers needed MORE help…again!
) If you value life and limb then go today, go Friday morning, go next Hallowe’en BUT not this weekend.
I don’t know if I am getting old but people are not nice anymore. Polite? humbug. Pleasant? Never….WHOA!
Think of the people on the other side of the counter. They work for a living too. Remember the season says MERRY CHRISTMAS. Take a deep breath, relax and pay it forward.
Look what happens
Look what happens when a suggestion is made and someone runs with it.
when you want to try something new and then see how it takes off. Kudos to Jen for this. I hope she sends pictures that we can post and her comments (yea or nay). Congratulations to all who took part.
This is in reference to the gingerbread competition they had at their home. After all was said and done, Jen shared pictures with me, and it looked like the Dads were having as much fun as the kids were.
Christmas Gingerbread House Challenge
Everyone needs a night out without kids. Sowhy not set up a night, ask a few friends to join the challenge and each make their houses. Offer a special signature drink (see signature drinks on the site). I will be putting up a few ideas for nibblies and such. Anyone game? The proof must be you putting your pictures on the site so one and all can enjoy them. Any questions? I will be adding things as we go along for the evening to share with friends.
It takes: 1 cup soft butter and 1 cup granulated sugar. Cream these together until very light and fluffy and add
2 eggs and 1 1/4 cup blackstrap molasses, mixing until well blended.
By hand, using a wooden spoon, gradually add 6 cups of flour, 2 tsp. ground ginger,
1 tsp each of baking soda, salt, ground cloves and ground cinnamon. You will also have to mix this together with your hands.
Cut dough into 4 discs, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 1/2 hours (must be firm).
Prepare your cut outs for the house, label each section. It can be ANY design. Whatever you choose.
Between sheets of parchment paper, roll out each disc to 1/4 inch thickness. Re move top paper and lay out your house pattern. Using a sharp knife, trace the shapes and cut out. Freeze on a cookie sheet (still on the paper) for about 30-35 minutes.
Line your cookie sheets with parchment paper and bake in a 325 degree oven for about 13-15 minutes until golden and firm to the touch. Place on cooling rack and cool completely.
Royal Icing (glue for house)
1 pound of icing sugar
1/4 tsp of cream of tartar
3 egg whites
1 tsp. glygerin to prevent icing from becoming too hard.
Beat slowly until icing is smooth and stands in firm peaks, Put icing in a pastry bag to put the house together.
Candies and licorice bit, strings, chocolate wafers, smarties, popcorn (snow), whatever you want to put on the cake. Get it all in the bulk section. You will need lots and lots.