Saturday, January 08, 2011

The Holidays are over!

Wow, we had lots of great times during the holidays and thankfully, were very busy with cooking for clients both regular cookdates and special parties!


We enjoyed a New York Christmas this year!  Spent Christmas Eve with our Daughter and Son-in-Law in the City, having a magnificent meal at Bobby Flay's Bar Americain.  The room is very modern but warm in feeling, there's an open kitchen/raw bar on one side and a bar on the back wall.  We sat in the mezzanine with a comfortable view of the buzzing below us.  The food was outstanding everyone loved their choices and the bites of each others that we shared.  YUM!  


After dinner we did the typical and walked to Rock Center to see the Tree and watched the light show reflected on Saks Fifth Avenue's Walls.  It was a chilly night and it was crowded, but not awful.  


Christmas Day they came over for dinner and exchanged presents, we had a great time.  Simple Meal with Roasted Garlic Shrimp Cocktail; Glazed Spiral Cut Ham; Macaroni & Cheese; Corn and Edamame Succotash;, Green Peas; Pickled Red Beets, Cornichons and Deviled  Pickled Red Beet Eggs.  Apple Pie and Ice Cream rounded out the meal and everyone was very pleased.


The Rhode Island contingent came down for New Year's Day Dinner and the locals were able to rejoin us.  We had sent our gifts to RI for the Grandsons but they brought ours to us on New Years.  The five year old was so proud to present us with each gift one at a time!  It was adorable to see him get as much pleasure out of giving gifts as he certainly enjoys receiving!  His eleven year old brother was happy to help out from time to time but very careful not to steal his thunder!  


When Daughter and Son-in-Law arrived we had Hors d'oeuvres while they opened gifts and spoiled the nephews!  We had Brie en croute; Spanakopita; Parmesan Palmiers; Shrimp Cocktail and Roasted Red Pepper Hummus.


Dinner was awesome, Roasted Tenderloin of Beef with herbed tomato halves and wild mushroom sauce; Potatoes Au Gratin; Peas w/pearl onions; Corn; Rice; Salad with roasted garlic balsamic vinaigrette.


Dessert was Red Wine Poached Pears w/Espresso Whipped Mascarpone Cream; Pecan Pie and Vanilla Ice Cream.


No one left the table hungry!  We started the evening with Proseco & Casis Kirs continued with Red and White Wines, Beers for those who preferred and finished with Godiva Chocolate Licqueur!


As you can see we had some great food and great times with our wonderful family! 


Our hope is that everyone enjoyed their holidays as much as we did and that the New Year brings everyone good health and happiness.

1 comment:

Unknown said...

This was a fabulous holiday celebration for us this year. We missed the family from Fla., but it was still great. So much wonderful food by Chef Jim (pappa)from dad & husband there aren't enough words to describe it all. It was wonderful having the whole family together.