Kathleen, You know I love both of your tables. And I thought the tuxedo boxes were a wonderful idea. I so wish our Walmart still sold fabrics. I went to Joann's a few weeks ago and a black and white fabric they had that I wanted for a simple tablecloth would have cost $30. That's just too much. Your chandy is so prettily decorated. I always forget to take pics of mine. And I have such pretty little shades on mine shipped here from L I. ;~) Delphinium, That is a beautiful place setting and I love, love your china. It is absolutely gorgeous. You and Kathleen both gave Woodie some great ideas. Woodie, I'm so glad you found everything you needed for your table. And for sure we will all be waiting on pics. Glad you made it over here. And welcome.

Angelaid, I love potato pancakes but I would say that is is my favourite version. There is no secret to making these pancakes. I've made them with mashed potatoes that I made specifically for making these pancakes and I've also made extra mashed potatoes for dinner and saved the leftovers for these pancakes. When I make them with the leftover mashed potatoes there is also butter in the mix. This is not a stiff or thick batter. I use a 1/4 cup measuring cup to scoop up the batter. Mere Blanc's Potato Pancakes From:www.thedailyspud.com with very minor changes. 2 small baking potatoes 1/4 cup milk 1/3 cup All-Purpose flour 2 eggs, separated 1-1/2 tablespoons heavy cream Pinch of salt Pepper Fresh chives (or green onions) Butter for frying Cook potatoes until tender Mash with a little milk. Let potatoes cool before adding the remaining milk, cream, flour, egg yolks, salt, pepper and chives. Beat Egg Whites until stiff. Fold into potato mixture. Do not over mix. This is a light but thick batter. Heat a griddle or skillet. ( I used a rectangle electric frying pan) . Brush with butter. Using a 1/4 cup measuring cup drop batter on to griddle. Cook until pancakes are brown and then flip. Serve with sour cream. Here is a link that might be useful: Potato Pancakes

Love Collen to death but can't agree. I think the menu should be super simple but elegant for a New Years Eve...I'm guessing there will be a starter and a lovely dessert....and beverages Now a Sunday dinner with the trimmings would demand two sides..

Sharon, we always have lobster in some form on New Year's Eve. When I make Lobster Bisque Julia Child's recipe is the one I use. Been using this recipe for over 30 years. Unlike Julia, I can't kill the lobster by cutting it in half. So I par boil for three minutes and then proceed with the recipe. Ann Home Cookin Chapter: Recipes From Thibeault's Table Lobster Bisque ============== Julia Child "Mastering the Art of French Cooking. "Considering the price of Lobsters that the pureed nature of a bisque, we think it is a waste to use whole lobster here. We therefore suggest only chests and the legs of the bisque, and the tails and claws, and tomalley for a splendid main dish such as the homard a l' Americaine described in volume I on page 223. In fact, you could well combine the two, starting them out together, since both follow much the same pattern. Serve the main dish one night and the bisque a day or two later. That is up to you, however, and we shall content ourselves with the chests and legs from 3 or 4 lobsters for the following recipe. As in most dishes of this type you can expand or contract the ingredients to a certain extent without upsetting the balance of tastes, and you need not be disturbed if you have a little more or a little less of anything that is called for. . For about 2 quarts, serving 6 to 8 Step 1 Preliminary 1-cup mirepoix (equal parts finely diced onions, carrots, and celery) 1 1/2 Tablespoons butter A heavy 3-quart stainless or enameled saucepan with cover 1 1/2 cups chopped fresh tomato pulp (3 to 4 medium tomatoes, peeled, seeded and juiced) The chest parts with the shells and the legs from 3 or 4 fresh raw 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 pound lobsters Cook the mirepoix slowly in the butter, in the saucepan for 6 to 8 minutes, or until vegetables are tender but not browned. Meanwhile, prepare the tomatoes. Cut lobster chests in half lengthwise. (My Notes: For lobsters: Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add the lobsters head first and cook for 3 minutes. Remove and run under cold water. Separate the tail and the claws from the body and split the chest open. Discard the stomach sack and the black vein. Same the tomalley, (Greenish Soft matter lying in chest cavity and the orange red roe. (Found in females). Step 2 Sauteing the lobster 2 or more Tablespoons olive oil or cooking oil. A heavy 10 to 12 inch no stick or enameled casserole Cooking tongs. Film the bottom of the casserole with 1/16 inch of oil; set over moderately high heat until oil is very hot but not smoking. Add the lobster chests cut side down and the legs. Do not crowd pan: saute in 2 batches if all will not fit easily in one layer. Toss and turn frequently until shells are a deep red (4 to 5 minutes in all). The colour will tint the soup. Step 3 Simmering the lobster and removing the meat. Salt and pepper 1/3 cup Cognac Either 1 1/2 cups of dry white wine; or 1 cup dry white vermouth 2 tablespoons fresh tarragon or 1 tablespoon dried tarragon 1 bay leaf The mirepoix and the tomatoes from Preliminary step. 1 clove mashed garlic large pinch of cayenne pepper Cover for the casserole When the lobster is sauteed, lower the heat slightly, salt and pepper the lobster, and pour in the Cognac. Ignite by shaking pan vigorously or tilting it into the heat source or use a lighted match. When flames have died down, pour on the wine, mix in the tarragon, and add the bay leaf and other ingredients. Cover casserole, and simmer slowly for 20 minutes. Before proceeding you may wish to start the rice in the next step, so that it will be done by the time you are through here. Remove the pieces of lobster from their cooking sauce and extract the meat from the shells. You will have about 1 cup' place in a bowl. Puree the cooking sauce through food mill or sieve into the other bowl, and scrape into a jar of blender; reserve for step 5. Chop shells into 1/2 inch pieces and reserve in bowl for step 6. Step 4 Simmering the rice 3 cups fish stock or canned clam juice 2 cups beef stock The saucepan from Step 1 in which the mirepoix was cooked 1/4 cup plain raw white rice Bring the fish stock or clam juice and beef stock or bouillon to a boil in the saucepan; sprinkle in the rice. Stir up once and simmer for 20 minutes. Set aside. Step 5 Pureeing rice and lobster meat Drain rice through sieve, reserving its cooking liquid in the bowl. Scrape rice and the half portion of lobster meat into the blender. Puree adding a little of the rice cooking liquid if mixture is too thick for easy blending in the machine. Scrape the puree out of the blender and into the rice-cooking saucepan. Step 6 Shellfish butter for final enrichment - lobster butter 6 Tablespoons butter The bowl of chopped lobster shells Heat butter to bubbling in casserole, stir in the chest and leg shells and saute for 2 to 3 minutes tossing and turning to heat thoroughly. Immediately scrape into blender and puree, flicking switch on and off and scraping shells down into blades as necessary. Scrape puree into sieve and mash vigorously with spoon to extract as much butter as possible. Scrape all butter off bottom of sieve with rubber spatula and pack into bowl. Set aside for Steps 7 and 8. To extract all remaining flavour from blender jar, shells, and sieve, pour rice-cooking liquid into the casserole in which you just saute the shells. Heat to the simmer and pour liquid into blender to rinse it then pour liquid back into casserole, and swish sieve about in the hot rice cooking liquid to dislodge all debris. Simmer 3 to 4 minutes; strain liquid through the sieve and into the saucepan with pureed rice and lobster. Step 7 The Lobster Garnish 2 Tablespoons lobster butter Salt and pepper 2 tablespoons Cognac or dry white vermouth Heat the butter to bubbling in the frying pan; stir in the remaining lobster meat and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Saute over moderate heat for 2 minutes, tossing and turning. Pour on the cognac or vermouth, and cook for moment until liquid has evaporated. Scrape the lobster into the saucepan containing the rest of the soup mixture from Step 6, and you are finally almost ready to serve. (The recipe may be completed to this point; let cool uncovered, then cover and refrigerate or freeze.) Step 8 Final Flavouring and serving If needed more fish stock, clam juice or bouillon Salt and pepper Cayenne and tarragon 1/2 to 1 cup heavy cream The lobster butter from step 6 2 to 3 tablespoons minced fresh chervil, tarragon or parsley Croutons, homemade Melba toast, or fresh French bread. Shortly before serving, bring the bisque to the simmer. It should be quite thick, but if it needs thinning, stir in a little stock or bouillon. Carefully correct seasoning. Just before serving, stir in the cream, then remove from heat and stir in the lobster butter by tablespoonful. Pour the bisque into a hot tureen or soup cups, and decorate with the fresh herbs. Pass the bread or croutons separately.