After Peter's mishap with the stock pot our sou, Patrick, realized that normally on New Years they have 3 garde-manger, and this year only 2 were on the schedule. It was a super easy and short shift doing nothing but plating desserts though so it was really no problem. I came in at 6 had no prep because pastry had already made everything. I set up a little makeshift station out of the way in the corner with a butchers block atop two trashcans and a bus tub full of ice for my cold items. I plated pear and apricot tarts, baklava ice cream, cherry genoise cake with champagne sabayon and white chocolate the blood orange mousse. I felt sick after twenty minutes from snacking on all the candied nuts for garnish but otherwise all went well. All the desserts were cold and we were surprisingly not very busy. After plating a ton of creme brûlée and chocolate torts for a private dinner in the back room, Patrick gave me a bottle of champagne and told me I could take off. It was only 9:30, Nathan made a small order of our lamb sliders for me and I grabbed em to-go and hit that champagne to ring in the New Year!
I spent the night at a friends party rather than going downtown and dealing with the crowds and driving or walking all over hell and high water. In honor of two birthdays the week prior and New Years the theme was "three ring circus." When I walked in the door I was immediately slapped with a fake mustache and beard and told my costume was "bearded lady."
I spent today nursing a slight hangover, getting rid of my rather arid Christmas tree and doing major apartment organizing/cleaning. I cooked a traditional southern New Years dinner for myself since Robbie is still out of town. Black-eyed peas, collard greens cooked with ham hocks, cornbread and pork chops. I did the collards in the crock-pot and they were a bit overcooked but still tasty, especially after I drove all over most the county looking for Mrs. Campbell's Hot Chow-Chow (its like relish for you yankees out there), the only kind I eat. Peas tasted like peas but were good enough I suppose but my cornbread was stellar, simple and good out of cast-iron pan with lots of butter. Shhh, don't tell but the pork chops were Smithfield smoked fully cooked out of a pack but still tasted pretty awesome as their fatty goodness washed away my champagne headache. In case some of you don't know the tradition behind this meal, it is supposed to bring monetary luck in the coming year. Black-eyes are change and the greens are "foldin money." Pork, just like in politics or the saying "high on the hog" is also associated with wealth.
They might be corny but everyone makes em, so here are my 2011 New Year's Resolutions:
1) Be happy
2) Go to Yoga regularly, at least once a week
3) Go to Roller Derby bootcamp and practice skating (already signed up, Jan 17! wish me luck)
4) Spend quality time with the dog. Walks, park visits, maybe even some sort of class. Not just sitting on the couch time.
5) Pick up nights and a new station at work before 2012.
6) Make a 5 year plan (even if its kinda vague) before I turn 25 (in April)!
7) Have a real vacation this year
8) Save money, stop living paycheck to paycheck.
9) Get a different car before the year is out (Mazda 6 hatchback?)
10)Be better about keeping in touch with friends and family, write letters, make calls, etc.
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