Happy New Year!

I made this as a New Year's card, but couldn't get it to print well (tried 2 photo places) so I doubt that they will make out in the mail. So I'm presenting your with our virtual New Year's card. I think it's a little bit of a silly tradition - a kind of non-denominational take on traditional Christmas cards that people throw out very quickly. But at the same time, who doesn't welcome the chance to show off their adorable child and dog?

Peter and I aren't really New Year's people. I'm not sure if anyone in our generation are true New Year's people, and it's an annual discussion with my mother. She seems to always feel sorry for us because we don't have "big plans." At various times she's even suggested that I try to get an invitation out of one person or another having people over. Sorry - not interested. And our friend Jill has extended an invitation for the last 2 years to her playroom. The truth is, we like it this way! We love creating a special dinner and opening a nice bottle of wine and not having to worry about crowds, people, traffic, parking, babysitter, etc. It's fun to be home - let everyone else brave the cold.

Tonight's menu includes mini rigatoni with duck ragu, homemade apple crisp, and either homemade onion soup (last night's project) or lobster bisque (bought) and a bottle of amarone, a favorite wine Alan introduced us to a few years ago. Peter and I debated what to make. We try to make something special we don't usually have, but given my lack of interest in red meat, the choices are limited. The only pork I like is ribs - and that doesn't go with an amarone. Fish I've actually been making pretty frequently. So we chose duck, which I don't love but I'll eat. Hopefully I'll like this - it's a Batali recipe and if it's good I'll pass it on.

But the butcher was out of duck legs so I had to go to Citarella (which Katie called "Cinderella") this morning with Katie, which meant taking the bus. As I mentioned, she's not very happy to leave the house so I told her that after we went to the food store I'd take her to the cupcake store. She was very happy to pick out her m&m cupcake so that will be her special dessert. Hopefully we'll eat after she goes to bed.