New Year's Eve that Doesn't Suck (NYETDS)

A montage of ingredients for New Year's Eve: Martha Stewart and Paula Deen cookbooks, cognac and tawny port, currants and black-eyed peas, butter and bell peppers, dried wild mushrooms soaking, moist croissants ready to be dried, to-do lists and ciggies. Life is Good.

Have you ever noticed how in the movies everyone is going to fabulous parties on New Year's Eve. but how in real life if you go out, the bars are crowded, and over-priced and full of jerks? So we usually end up staying home, watching people freeze to death in Times Square, falling asleep on the sofa well before midnight. B-O-R-I-N-G

Several years ago, our friends Matt and Caroline, along with Karin, Lynn and Brian, decided we'd had enough of New Year's Eve parties that suck and decided to remedy the situation by making it an occasion to get together at one of our homes and prepare fabulous food and cocktails and engage in wild antics like streaking through the neighbors back yard or watching "Johns" negotiate with hookers ("No...me want long time, 20-30 minutes!").

NYETDS started in Durham, moved to Washington DC, then Alexandria, VA, and this year is back in Durham. So what's on the menu? Hard to say exactly everything that will be on the menu, but here is a sampling of some things I know will be served. If I'm not too hammered, I may even get around to posting some of these recipes. HA!

New Year's Eve That Doesn't Suck
Beef Wellington Bites
Bacon-wrapped Scallops
Chicken Liver Pate with Port and Currants
Stilton and Walnut Backlava
Caprese Crostini (from Delicious)
Buffalo Chicken Dip
Pigs in a Blanket

NewYear's Day Hangover Breakfast
Savory Breakfast Bread Pudding with Sausage and Cheese
Hash Browns au Gratin
Bloody Marys and Mimosas

New Year's Day Southern-style Lunch
Ham
Hoppin John
Collard Greens
Cornbread
Biscuits