Getting older often means your children make their own plans for important nights, and parents are frequently left out. We used to look forward to New Year’s Eve—playing games and staying up with our kids—but now they head off to their own celebrations, and we do well to make it to midnight.
This year, Malorie rang in the New Year with friends in Nashville, Brian watched the Peach Drop downtown in Atlanta, and Casey spent the evening at a friend’s house. Not one of them invited us along, and that was fine. We have our own circle of friends and made plans of our own: a trip to a cabin in Blue Ridge, Georgia, owned by our dear friends Donna and Kerry.
Ray and Rita and Molly and Jack joined us. We ate, drank, and enjoyed a lively evening together. We barely managed to stay awake until midnight—some of us dozed off in chairs but woke long enough to watch the ball drop on television and toast the New Year.
We started the night on the deck with appetizers and drinks. Molly and Jack brought chestnuts and roasted them in the outdoor fireplace. Later we shared lasagna and salad, followed by an apple tarte tatin for dessert.
There was plenty of good wine. Cakebread, my favorite, flowed as we toasted with champagne at midnight to each other and our hopes for the coming year. Then we climbed into bed for the peaceful sleep that only a mountain cabin can provide.
None of us had roasted chestnuts before, and they were delicious. We learned that just shaking the roaster doesn’t prevent burning. Once peeled, the chestnuts were meaty and slightly sweet.
We tossed the burned pieces off the deck, and Harley had a blast running down the slope searching for discarded chestnuts.
When it’s just the girls at a cabin, we usually keep meals simple—salad and soup or a few light appetizers. When the guys join, we expand the menu a bit to make sure everyone leaves satisfied.
A new favorite appetizer of ours is endive filled with smoked salmon, cream cheese, and dill. It’s fresh, elegant, and easy to prepare.
As the wind picked up and the sun set, we moved indoors. Donna had a lasagna waiting in the oven and a beautiful table set for us.
And there was Cakebread. If you enjoy white wine and haven’t tried Cakebread, add it to your list. It’s a special-occasion wine that’s worth the indulgence.
I snapped that photo with my phone and shared it that night. Donna, who owns an art gallery and has a keen eye for styling, insisted on arranging the glasses and a vase of holly. I took the shot several times until it looked right.
I wish she lived with me to style my photos every day—she makes everything look effortlessly beautiful.
Here’s to good friends, health, family, and great food in the New Year!
