Happy New Year friends! I scarcely can believe that a new year is upon us! As Ryan was reading a satire on the events that transpired in 2010, I forgot several events. Whoa, lots happened this year!
What will the year 2011 hold for us? Even though we have lots of events and trips planned this year we ask God to bless our plans because plans can change.
Yesterday we went to a New Year’s Eve party and we played a game called Two Truths and a Lie and used New Year’s resolutions as the theme. My three were the following:
- Write an e-cookbook
- Learn conversational German
- Learn how to crochet
Can you guess which one is the lie?
It was great celebrating New Year’s Eve amongst friends with laughter, games and some yummy appetizers and champagne. I told Ryan that I would like to celebrate by going to a ball and dressing up really fancy like in When Harry Met Sally, remember?
I was surprised to celebrate the last day of 2010 with no vision of snow. Apprently we brought the warm weather from Texas because a rain hit Michigan and melted the snow and the temperatures rose to the 50s. No worries. Today is the 2nd and it is back to snowing! I hope it has made its mind up.
When I was preparing for the New Year’s Eve party, I decided I would arrive with 2 traditional Chilean recipes usually eaten on that evening.
Cola de Mono, or otherwise known as Monkey’s Tail, is usually consumed at parties and is usually so heavily spiked with pisco (Chilean liquor) or aguaardiente (a grape-distilled spirit) that it would have everyone acting crazy like monkeys. Yes. Well pisco is usually is hard to find outside of Chile so I decided to use rum even though vodka or brandy could be used. I made a veganized version using So Delicious Coconut milk.
This nog is like a spiked coffee beverage similar to Bailey’s but BETTER! It has several spices and lots of love in it.
My grandmother would normally have this prepared by the time we came around the house so it was chilled and ready to be sipped, mind you, sipped! Another recipe she would have prepared is Pan de Pascua, Chilean Christmas Bread.
After 25 years of living in the states, my grandmother started cutting corners and made the bread using cake mixes. I am shocked even to remember that fact because I believe after a certain time WE can all do that. Cooking is hard work especially when it is made from scratch. I actually had to look up several recipes and compare and remember how my grandmother made it. I came up with a veganized version.
Pan de Pascua resembles fruitcake and stollen and makes a perfect accompaniment with the cola de mono.
I was glad to be able to use al natural dried fruits and none of that candied crap you see at the stores. I liked my version and I believe it is a keeper!
I will not be sharing these recipes because I am going to feature them in my cookbook. Yes. I know everyone and their mom is coming out with their own cookbook, but I am hoping to add a little twist and incentive for presenting my cookbook so stay tuned! I WILL need recipe testers.
This is one of my goals for this year. Want to see some more?
- Finish Lord of the Rings books
- Learn 5 new arias or more
- Record a CD
- Learn conversational German
- Document the year with one picture a day (365 project)
- Read God’s word daily
- Make more jewelry
- Lose more weight
- Continue a disciplined workout schedule
These are just some of the things that have been in my mind lately. As I write this, a verse came to mind from the book of Proverbs, 19:21 “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.”
Ultimately, God knows all that will happen and if it is His will these thing will come to pass. Here is to a blessed New Year!
