Most years of our decades-old marriage, we’ve rung in the new year circled around our dining room table encircled by friends; for some reason, this has never been a holiday we’ve celebrated with family. I suppose since most every other holiday is, for us, New Year’s Eve is the time to celebrate with the family we choose, not the one we’re born into. In the early years, maybe because I felt the need to over-achieve or impress or perform, I’d prepare the entire meal. I’d scour Southern Living magazine for months prior, searching out new recipes and decorating ideas. It brings a smile to my lips now to think about those extra machinations–I actually decorated our light fixtures with greenery from our yard (oh, how I miss our Curly Willow tree & red-berried evergreens) and a few times I wrapped blocks of florist foam in moss and ribbon until these centerpieces resembled gifts for woodland fairies.
Forget Martha Stewart, I would’ve made the Nester proud! Heck, if I had been blogging back then, I might have been the Nester!
{top to bottom, Cheese Ring with Strawberry Preserves, Layered Mexican Dip, Cherry-Coconut Dip}
Side dishes that put the “comfort” in food ~
A main course that they’ll be talkin’ about for ages–
A few drinks, a few desserts…
And as the ball dropped…
and the clock tick-tocked in the new year…
I was sleepily aware that the best things in life aren’t things.
I love southern living recipes..they are the best but so many calories! We have all been sick so we had to cancel the sitter..but that is okay…a lot of playing the game “trouble”!
-sandy toes
Oh honey…sound asleep…w/out any thoughts! I don’t think we’ve been able to stay up in the 9 years we’ve been married.
Sounds like you had a blast though. Your pictures are always so nice. What kind of camera do you use? I’m researching for a new one.
Cheese ring with strawberry preserves? I’m totally drooling over that one especially. I bet it’s so delicious.
Happy New Year!
That sure beats frozen pizzas with six 12-year-old girls (my new year’s eve). Sounds marvelous!
Playing cards – we didn’t have your feast!! Hot dogs before fireworks, then home for kids in bed and a few hands of casino.
So what’s the name of the main dish? I want to never stop talking about it, but I don’t know what to call it!
We spent the evening at home with 3 sleepy but hyperactive kids. And pondered the restroom facilities for all those people in Times Square.
I blogged about it, of course.
Happy New Year!
With total plans to get home and stay inside … safe and sound … all it took was one phone call. A friend gave us a holla at 9pm and out we went! Straight to Cheesecake Factory. Stayed all the way to midnight, party hats and all. First time in years! Chalk it up to empty-nesting and the attitude “we can do anything we want to, anytime we want to”. So, we did! Happy 2009!!!
You are something else…if that’s much simpler, I would LOVE to see what the ‘old’ days were like.
I told you on twitter that you are a true foodie (in so many words…) and I think this post proves it!
And yet, you are sooooo skinny…
Now THAT’S a spread!
Robin, someday I want to bring in the new year at your house!
That’s nice to celebrate with friends ! and the food looks very yummy ! I had a rather boring New Year’s eve, Mr. Gattino got sick went to bed at 8 and I slept in front of the TV until I went to bed at 11 ! that has never happened in my whole life !
It seems we’ve always had family or been at a family members house the past years. Before marriage I was always out at a party – but the year I was pregnant with Jammin’, I woke up New Year’s Day feeling so good that I decided I NEVER wanted to wake up hung-over on the New Year ever again. To wake up feeling refreshed and happy is the way to start a new year in my book.
What type of beef is that? it looks like prime rib or tri tip.
New Year’s eve was simple for us: a minor league hockey game, home before the roads got bad (or crowded with unsafe drivers) and in bed early. Like yours, it’s perfect for the family we chose.