Remember when you were a child, and you’d stay in your pj’s all day when school was out?  Suddenly ten o’clock melted into two o’clock, then dinner time, and you drifted off to sleep way past your bed time?  Each day you couldn’t wait to wake up. And never wanted to go to bed. So funny how you want to grow up when you’re young, and when you do in fact grow up you see how wonderful and carefree being little is.  When you’re little you think you’ll grow up to be a vet, ballerina and work in the zoo, all at the same time. Funny how the cycle of life turns isn’t it? But there is one question, what’s stopping you now?

As New Years resolution’s are made, then forgotten, I want to wish all of you the joy of a happy new year and a year of living out your passions. Thank you for reading and supporting me in 2013, it truly brings tears to my eyes to think how wonderful the year has been. May your time be spent doing things you enjoy, your heart be content and full, and may you nourish yourself mind, body and soul. Simply put, may you always enjoy the best of food and life.

Now, on to planning a great traditional New Year’s Day dinner- 10. 9. 8. 7. 6. 5. 4. 3. 2. 1!!! If you’re looking for some inspiration for your table, think outside the box a little, while including traditional fare. Here is my menu, I will document the process and share with you later this week the in’s and outs, and some recipes too, for pulling this dinner party off with ease.

Nibbles:
Candied pecans with cranberries
Hot bacon & blue cheese dip with apples and pears
Cheese Wafers

Supper:
Cuban roasted whole pork leg with pickled red onions and chimichurri
Hoppin’ John
Slow cooked collard greens
Roasted Sweet Potato Salad
Corn muffins with spicy honey butter

(Still pondering what to make for dessert and without a doubt another item or two could very well be on the table, too!). Stay tuned…