Monday, January 4, 2010

A New Year!

Well, I know it's already the fourth, but what the heck...



It's good to be back! How was everyone's holiday? I did my best to check up on ya'll from time to time, but I have to admit, I missed our regular interactions. We are back from our vacation, still getting unpacked, but excited about the new year. I feel so good about 2010 and I have a lot of goals, but first things first...

Check out my blog! My super talented, web designin' brother voluntarily made me a new header and background. What a Christmas present! I love what he's done with it, and yes, I look exactly like the girl in my header (snort, cough). If you're interested in having your blog redone by Kendall, email him at kendall@bengalworks.com for pricing and packages.

And now onto my goals. I don't know about you, but I love making new year resolutions. I do it every year, and I make a lot. I never accomplish all of them, but I do accomplish some, and it feels so good. Some of the goals I have in the kitchen are:

1. Eat healthier. I'm not going to say lose weight. I would like to lose weight, but it's not about weight right now as much as it is about health. I need to eat healthier and exercise to avoid diseases that run strong in my family. I need to be healthier for my joints, muscles and skin. I want to have energy for my family and obligations. I also want to keep my husband and kids healthy, and being the primary cook in the home warrants me that responsibility. AND, if I happen to lose weight on that particular journey, then that would be a fantastic bonus!

2. Join at least two clubs this year. I've already joined the HBin5, which I am so excited about (my sweet man got me the book for Christmas). Does anyone have any recommendations for another club that you've enjoyed? I think this would be a fun way to push myself and meet new people.

3. Make homemade ravioli, potstickers and beef wellington. I've been intrigued with all three of these things and I'm dying to try them myself.

4. Create more original recipes. Most of the things I post are simply recipes that I have found to be very good. I think it would be so fun to start experimenting and writing up my own dishes.

So there you have it, now that it's all out there, I'll be more likely to do it! It will take a week or so to post the mouthwatering foods that are responsible for my unwanted holiday pounds, but after that hopefully there will be some goal accomplishing!

And on to the food. Since this has already been a long post, I'll just show you what our Christmas Eve meal was comprised of. We decided this year we would just set out a huge spread of appetizers to fill up on. This is such a fun idea because everyone gets so full, but also gets to try a huge variety of fun party food.

My mom made these awesome pears, covered in a Gorgonzola mixture and dipped in pecans. Heaven!


We also had a fantastic shrimp cocktail and veggie tray, two of my holiday "must-haves."


And I was SO excited because I finally got to make a cheese platter. I've been wanting to try one of these for a long time. Unfortunately when I went to Costco, the cheese selection was a little slim, but it was still fun. I followed Ina's rule, which is to have one hard cheese, one blue cheese, and one soft cheese. For the soft cheese, I used a triple cream Brie. For the blue, I used a cheese called Cambozo, which was a very soft and subtle blue cheese. It was delicious on apples. And for the hard cheese, I used a cheese called Comte. It had the flavor of Swiss or Gruyere, and it was pretty good, but I probably would have preferred something a bit tangier like Pecorino Romano. And for good measure I threw in some Baby Bellas, which is a soft and mild cheese, great for kids. It was so fun and came out rather pretty if I may say so myself.


Throw in a bunch of cookies, candy, chicken fingers, hot bean dip, and spring rolls, and here you have the final spread. Mmmmmm, can it be Christmas again!



And last, but not least, I'd like to thank Debbie, at Dining with Debbie for this cute award! I am just getting to know Debbie, but I already really enjoy her for her fun posts, personality and delicious food.

Thanks Debbie! I'm going to think of who to pass this on to!

Phew, well, there you have it! I wish you all health, peace and prosperity this year of 2010 and may your tables always be full of good food!

33 comments:

Heather S-G said...

Happy New Year, Teresa...your blog looks great!!! Those are great resolutions...I never make resolutions. But if I were going to, those are the kind I'd like.

Jenn said...

Happy New Year!! Love the new look of the site. ;-D

Libby@CookingWithLibby said...

I love the new look of your blog :) It looks nice. I'm all about resolutions too. The last post I did on my blog was about them...and a giveaway :) Great to have you back! All the food looked yummy!

Unknown said...

So cute, tsa. Love ya!

Donna-FFW said...

Welcome back, Happy New Year!! GREAT new look, your brother did a terrific job!! Good luck with your resolutions, wish you the best!

The food looked perfect, and your cheese platter was gorgeous!

Kim said...

I peeked in at your blog over the holiday and saw the changes. I really like what your brother did! Your resolutions are much like mine. You have to take care of yourself in order to take care of your family, right? Your cheese platter looks perfect. Triple creme brie....sounds so sinful;D

chow and chatter said...

happy new year great header you are in the bread group with me! its my first club as well

Love Rebecca

Maria said...

Great goals! Happy New Year!

Christo Gonzales said...

HAPPY NEW YEAR - I love the new header and design

Shelby said...

I immediately noticed your new header and design! Great job your brother did :-)

I'm loving those pears...

♥peachkins♥ said...

Yummy spread! Happy New Year, Teresa!

Karine said...

I love how your mom used the pears :)

Happy New Year!

Lara said...

I can't wait to try some of your original recipes! Great resolutions

Angela said...

I LOVE the new look! I admit I've missed your recipes over the holidays and I'm so excited to see some of the things you come up with this new year!

Kathleen said...

Great new look! Happy new year!!!

Barbara Bakes said...

Sounds like great goals. You should join the Daring Cooks http://thedaringkitchen.com/ I'm hosting in May. Great new look!

MaRiN said...

happy new year! love the new look. all of your holiday food looks fab, especially those garganzola dipped pears, yum!

Erica said...

Ah! I love the new layout and header- too cute! Your bro is very talented.

Great goals- especially love the idea of making more of your own recipes. This is a goal for me as well :)

The coated pears look awesome as does your cheese platter. Love Ina's party tips and tricks.

Hope you have a good week

Barbara said...

Love the new header. You've got a talented brother!

And great resolutions. In fact, good advice for everyone!

Happy New Year!

Kathy said...

Glad to see you back! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and New year! Love the new look of your blog! Awesome goals - looking forward to all that you cook up!!!

Ingrid_3Bs said...

Happy New Year to you and welcome back!

Your cheese platter looked great. I didn't know that about the three different types of cheeses to serve. Thanks.

Btw, good luck with your resolutions!
~ingrid

Ingrid_3Bs said...

Oh, yeah! And I love your new look!
~ingrid

Pam said...

I've always wanted to make ravioli and beef wellington too! Happy New Year - your blog looks great.

Joanne said...

The blog looks fantastic! Love the makeover.

Your resolutions sound awesome and totally doable. I love how they revolve around food. Those, in my opinion, are the best kind of resolutions. I'm so excited you're doing HBinFive!

Lynn said...

Yum, I love all the Christmas Eve food ideas. The pears with cheese & nuts look heavenly. So does the shrimp cocktail :) This year we had septic system problems which cut down my Christmas cooking considerably -- we ended up with Christmas Eve Chinese food to go! Not a bad tradition :) I love seeing your resolutions. I think beef wellington sounds like a fun dish, too -- I can't remember ever making it. So I can't wait to keep reading as you keep trying new foods and sharing. Thanks for such a delightful blog, and welcome back from vacation!

Alissa said...

Love the new look! So FUN! Here's to 2010...let's get healthy!

Jennifer said...

Happy New Year to you, great resolutions! We did the appetizer spread on New Years Eve, I love doing that!

Julie said...

Your new look is great! Can't wait to see your original recipes.

Deborah said...

I didn't make any food related resolutions, but now I'm wishing I would have!

theUngourmet said...

I do love you new blog design! I want to make my own ravioli this year too. Your goals for this year sound terrific!

Katherine Roberts Aucoin said...

Happy New Year! You have a mightly fine list of goals for the New Year. Your new header looks fantastic!

Anonymous said...

So glad your back! Now are you considering making postickers and ravioli from your own dough, or using wonton wrappers?

And you had me at cheese tray! :D

Happy New Year Teresa - love your new header! :D

Katy ~ said...

Happy New Year to you, my friend! I have some similar goals in the back of my mind (eat healthier and make beef Wellington, grins. Looking forward to see how the year unfolds and what it brings us.

Let me add my voice to the chorus of folks who like the looks of your blog. It's GREAT. What dear brother to gift you this way. It's very clever and good looking (must be a family trait!)

Hugs and blessings to you in 2010.