Happy New Year

For the last 10 or so years James and I have been bringing in the New Year with a home cooked dinner of lobster and prime rib (with all the fixins).  We actually hadn't planned to have our traditional New Year's dinner this year because

• A) Janessa had a New Year's Eve party/dance at our house for about 50 kids
• B)  Jansen went back to BYU on New Year's Day

Fortunately, the Rogers called us up and said, "Hey, let's do New Year's Eve dinner together.  We want "in"on your dinner tradition and we know where to buy some fabulous lobsters and prime rib."

The Rogers did all of the meat shopping and we were able to have these 4 red beauties join us for dinner.  James has a magical way with lobsters.  He holds them upside down, calming their nervous systems and lulling them to sleep while chanting Hindi phrases.  Then he pops them in the water before they know what hit them. Rarely is he met with a struggle.
And actually this year we steamed the lobsters, we didn't boil them.  I have to say they were the best lobsters we've ever made and that is saying a lot.

Our Restaurant Depot prime rib was fabulous.

Boris gets cheesy with his lobster!
We also invited the Wilson family to join us for our celebratory New Year dinner.  Kim teaches both the Rogers and the McQuivey kids in piano lessons and she does an outstanding job.  We wanted to:

• Thank her for teaching our kids so well
• Combine the dinner and the recital.
• 

Mike and Tanya take their lobster apart.

Lachlan looks on while Megan and James dismember their lobster.

James demonstrated for all of us how to get the tail meat out in one large chunk without breaking up the tail.

The rest of our dinner included Marilynn's rolls, a fabulous roasted potato dish, au jus for the prime rib, clarified butter for the lobster, an amazing green salad...

...and dessert.  Tanya convinced us that she had gone the easy route by making ice cream pies and by not making the chocolate torte she had originally planned to make.  But each of these pies was a completely different flavor

L to R Oreo-Chocolate, Strawberry-Chocolate, Hot Fudge-homemade caramel-pecan and...

...chocolate mint.

Is your mouth watering yet?

Happy New Year everyone.  I hope your New Year had as delicious a start as ours!