Happy New Year’s Eve to all of our blog family.
I hope that everyone has a wonderful and safe New Year’s Eve. We will be going to a friend’s house and share our traditional bottle of Schramsberg Sparkling wine. This is my wedding anniversary. Eight years ago, Leslie and I eloped on New Year’s Eve after eight years years of dating. (There is an ongoing dispute over calculating the event, I insist that this is our 20th anniversary but Leslie insists on not counting the eight years of dating). We always celebrate with a bottle of J. Schrams.
I am cooking a turkey for our annual New Year’s soup tomorrow. We are expecting 150 friends to share in our traditional Bloody Mary’s (this year we will be doing Wasabi Bloody Marys) and our traditional soup: The Bowl of the Wife of Kit Carson Soup.
Everyone drive carefully and have fun. I will be giving a toast to our entire blog family tonight (and of course, my marriage).
Happy Anniversary & a very HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Wishing one & all a healthy, happy & creative 2010!
JT,
I don’t know exactly why, but this song, “It was a Crime of Passion” comes to mind on your anniversary! Here it is: Happy New Years to all!!!
http://new.music.yahoo.com/ricky-van-shelton/tracks/crime-of-passion–1615385
Eight years of dating! You, Turley, are a deliberative man — or maybe it was Leslie. In either event, best wishes to you, your wife, and the fruit of your union. Have a wonderful celebration of the past year. Buon Capo d’Anno!
Here’s a little Italian tradition we observe on New Years’ all beginning (and ending, of course) with the food. Some may say pig’s feet aren’t to their liking and I say they have never eaten them:
Zampone con Lenticchie
1 zampone (appx. 3-3 1/2lbs.)
2 cups dried green or brown lentils, picked over and rinsed
2 quarts water
2 medium-size onions, peeled, 1 left whole and 1 finely chopped
3 celery stalks, 2 cut in half and 1 finely chopped
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 ounces prosciutto fat, chopped
Salt to taste
1. Prick the zampone all over with a couple of corncob holders or toothpicks, and wrap tightly in a double thickness of cheesecloth. Tie off with kitchen twine. Place the zampone in a large pot or casserole on its side and cover by 4 inches of cold water. Bring the water to a boil slowly, about 45 minutes to 1 hour, then simmer another 4 hours (or about 1 hour per pound of zampone, which run anywhere from 2 to 4 pounds). Add boiling water as needed to keep the zampone covered.
2. Meanwhile, place the lentils in a casserole with the 2 quarts water, the whole onion, celery stalk halves, and salt. Turn the heat to medium-high and when it begins to bubble, cook for 15 minutes to 1 hour, depending on the age of the lentils. Taste occasionally, and turn the heat off and drain the lentils when they are between al dente and tender and set aside. Discard the onion and celery.
3. In a medium-size saucepan, heat the olive oil with the prosciutto fat over medium heat and cook 3 to 4 minutes, stirring. Add the chopped onion and chopped celery and cook until golden, about 8 minutes, stirring.
4. Add the lentils to the sautéed onion and prosciutto fat along with 1 1/2 cups water from the cooking zampone. Simmer the lentils until the water is absorbed. If you have accidently overcooked the lentils so they are already soft, do not pour in the water, simply stir the lentils until well combined.
5. Arrange the lentils on a platter. Remove, drain, and untie the zampone. Cut it into slices as thick as a finger and arrange on top of the lentils, slightly overlapping them.
(Recipe courtesy of Seven Fishes Blog – mine is slightly different but I am trying theirs this year)
Happy Anniversary and Happy New Years Professor Turley! Your 8 year courtship beat my wife and I by three years. Be safe and enjoy the moment. I am not sure that I will be having any bubbly tonight since I am fighting a New Year cold. Maybe just a sip for medicinal purposes only!
Happy New Year to all!
There is good reason to rejoice because in the new year the Dandelion Farmers of the World Will Unite!
http://ecocosmology.blogspot.com/2009/12/dandelion-farmers-of-world-unite.html
I Healthy and Happy New Year and Anniversary. Thanks for a Great year of Blogs and your T.V. insights.
Congratulations professor and may you both see many,many anniversarys and a Happy New Year also.
And to those of you who have accepted this layman into this circle,May you all have a properous and healthy and Happy New Year.
I think that if it were possible to see this circle from the sky it would look like a capital “C”there is always an opening for all to paticipate here.Thanks!!
Happy Anniversary and a most Happy New Year to Leslie and John Turley and their brood. How romantic and wise a decision a New Year’s elopement was.
A Happy and Healthy New Year to all the gang here at JT’s blog. May the coming year bring us health and happiness in our lives and the same for our fellow humans. The link below was sent to me this AM by my wife and this will be our 31st New Years together. I can only hope that the message within will be embraced by humanity and represent our next evolutionary step.
Happy New Year to all!
Remember! Friends don’t let friends use vulture brain and drive.
I searched for this blog after watching the Professor on several new’s programs and admiring his thorough explanations that helped me to gain a deeper understanding of the torture issue. I read everything every participant writes and enjoy the give and take, back and forth, agreement and disagreement.
A Happy New Year to all and a Happy Anniversary to the Prof. My spouse and I just celebrated our 43rd. We only dated for 2 years so probably weren’t as well prepared for the holy state of matrimony as the Professor, but I highly recommend the commitment.
Blouise,
Don’t you mean you only sinned against God for 2 years? Happy New Year!
For Mr&Mrs Turley on your anniversary:
Congrats and happy new year. For the husband and wife, a picture of permanent embrace. http://www.light-to-dark.com/embrace.html
I’ve got the H1 N1 Blues but will attempt to stay up for the toast.
And, Blouise, we’re heading toward year 44.
Perhaps the most poignant love song of melody and verse of all-time.
Would you lay with me, in a field of stone?
If my needs were strong, would you lay with me?
Should my lips grow dry, would you wet them, dear.
In the midnight hour, if my lips were dry.
Would you go away to another land?
Walk a thousand miles through the burnin’ sand?
Wipe the blood away from my dyin’ hand,
If I give myself to you?
Will you bathe me, in the stream of life?
When the moon is full, will you bathe me?
Will you still love me, when I’m down and out?
In my time of trial, will you stand by me?
Would you go away to another land?
Walk a thousand miles through the burnin’ sand?
Wipe the blood away from my dyin’ hand,
If I give myself to you?
Would you lay with me, In a field of stone?
Should my lips grow dry, should you wet them, dear?
Will you bathe me, in the stream of life?
Would you still love me, when I’m down and out?
Would you lay with me, in a field of stone?
Should my lips grow dry, would you wet them, dear?
I drink to anything.
Congratulations Professor on your wedding anniversary and may everyone here have a Happy New Year!
“Congratulations”, Professor Turley. And I wish all of you the best in this new year.
Jill,
One of my core values is to never let a good sin go to waste.
Bliadhna Mhath Ur! (Scottish Gaelic)
Blouise,
LOL and Thanks! Many more anniversaries to you.