New Year's 2007

There have been several notable food experiences in my recent past that cannot go unblogged. New Year's 2007 is a good example. The holiday this year was spent in Washington, DC with Justin and Company. After looking at some of the horrendous prix fixes and "special" holiday menus, it didn't take long to decide we should make our own feast.

And so, a promising menu was put together, especially designed to maximize the utility of Justin's new Christmas gift - the "Magic Bullet" blender-toy. No magic, exactly, and a little trial and error, but it did make some tasty appetizers.

2007

Stuffed Mushrooms
w/ricotta, spinach, parmesan and walnuts

Cream of Asparagus Soup

Pear, Goat Cheese and Walnut Spinach Salad

Roasted Portabello, Prosciutto and Gruyere Lasagna

Mixed Berry Tart with Chocolate Liqueur

Signature Drink: Sparketinis
w/vodka, cranberry and lime juices, sparkling water, and muddled mint

Although both of the mushroom and soup appetizers were a smooth and bright Kermit the Frog green, they were gobbled and slurped up quickly. And the pear-goat cheese-walnut salad combination has certainly been done, but it's too brillant to go unmentioned or uneaten.

The lasagna ... it is true that this dish takes a lot of time and effort to prepare, so I recommend a cranberry-orange rosemary sprigged cocktail in hand at all times. The effort was worth it; the sauce for this dish is all butter, milk and cheese, and that richness coupled with the salty prosciutto and meaty portabello was perfect for the last meal of 2006 [recipe from epicurious.com].

Our berry tart took us to adventures in phyllo dough land, which I don't recommend going to. Phyllo is layer upon layer of paper thin dough used expertly by Greek cooks for baklava and spanakopita. The layers easily tear, and buttering each thin layer of dough can be dull, but at least Justin now has a pastry brush to call his own. The dessert itself was tarty and crisp, a light follow up to our wonderful feast.

Life in 2007 will be deliciously indulgent.