A very happy New Year to all of you!

Here, life is beginning to take on some semblance of normalcy after the prolonged insanity of holiday cheer. And so it is with great pleasure that I am able to take a moment to share with you just a peek at said cheer.

First we have tortellini making on Christmas Eve. In brodo, naturally.

We also dined on some extraordinary striped bass. Mmm.

The night also included Bulgarian slivovitz, recitations of The Night Before Christmas (at least three), stocking stuffing misadventures, and Boris Karloff.

No one would every accuse us of skimping on the food, and Christmas night was no exception.

I spearheaded the making of duck ragu (props to my surgeon cousin for deconstructing a dauntingly whole duck) over handmade gnocchi. It was scrumptious, but I solemnly vow to take on something much less ambitious next year, as the general madness and continual hijinks leave something to be desired in the way of a calm workspace. Evidence: the banana phone.

Still, we wouldn’t have it any other way. It is hard to beat good food and good company. Let’s not forget the good wine, either.

Oh, and this was New Year’s Eve… Just Dance!

Here’s to a wonderful year ahead!