HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!

2008 came just in time at the Schmidt House. Maybe you noticed that I took some time off around the holidays and am just now getting back in the groove. This was one of our best holiday seasons in a long time, and with that came alot of preparation and celebration. We had the boys and their significant others, our grandson Logan, and friends and neighbors in and out for days. My family back in Illinois had a great time together with their spread out families, also. I always miss them when the rest of us get together here in Tennessee. It's so hard to work with everyone's schedule, but we were in one another's hearts. We also had a great night out with our good friends Mike and Bob ( who are relocating soon) and in between all the hustle and bustle, Geraldo and I had to manage a few dental appointments. I had a root canal (attempt) that became a bigger deal than expected so that knocked me off my feet for a couple of days. Mepergan and baking do not mix. I was loopy for a few days. But Christmas came and the day was great and the brunch the day after was wonderful also. A couple of nights after Christmas, we met Mike and Bob at "Toot's" a surf and turf restaurant in Smyrna and I, quite obviously, got hold of a BAD oyster. The reaction was swift and violent, and I'm not quite ready for any trips to the all you can eat seafood bar at the local Oriental Buffet. I did learn a valuable lesson tho....trust your nose. I was excited to see our friends, and quite truthfully, giddy that I was getting to "eat out". So I dug in with abandonment and paid for it later. I am happy to report that I was the only casualty (from our table) that night, but Gerald got a 24 hour bug a couple of days later. We were both fine for New Year's and watched the ball drop from the comfort of our living room with our furry friends. The four legged kind....not the neighbors.
So I hope all of you had a great holiday season and that love found its way into your hearts and homes. I'm ready to meet 2008 with an attitude adjustment and live in the present.
I do have a couple of recipes that I tried out for the first time. Actually I did 3 new cookie recipes that were all really, really good. I'm paying for that now...I have put on some pounds since Thanksgiving and I knew I would. I really enjoy all the flavors this time of year offers. So, I'm resolving to rework some old recipes and give them a lighter makeover. I've got a quiche recipe we had for Christmas that was so easy and delicious. Everyone loved it..including our big ole boys. They had never even heard the phrase "real men don't eat quiche", so I didn't have that hurdle to get over. I'll get some recipes to all of you later and please email me if you had any tried and true favorites over the holidays or found some new taste sensation. comfortcook@gmail.com God Bless You and Yours and I wish you "Comfort and Joy" for 2008!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!