Mrs. Joy of Cooking

New Year's Eve brought the perfect excuse to spend time dreaming up a menu to share with good friends and consequently was also great way to thumb my nose at the scant 2 days left on holiday. Deciding who to invite was the easy part. Johnny, Kristen, James and Max accepted our invitation to New Years Eve Dinner and sleep over.  Next decision...what to eat?
I sat with my ever faithful tutors at Cooks Illustrated and thumbed through the pages of the January issue to find an inspired seasonal menu.  Liking the sounds of a recipe that had ruby port, allspice, ginger, more red wine and thick cut pork I landed on red-wind braised pork chops as the centerpiece and set to finding the other courses to accompany porky-pig to the party.  My menu attention deficit disorder brought me to epicurious.com where I came up with an idea for french lentils. Then I bounced over to food network.com for inspirations around pasta and appetizers. I was now armed with enough menu choices to stuff a turkey with and off I went to a place that nourished me on a deep spiritual and mystical level; I got in the car and floated to Whole Foods < insert gentle harp music here > 
What fun I had talking to the wine "expert", fish monger, gal behind the cheese counter while every now and then partaking in the free samples that peppered the store.  I walked out of Mecca with a fetching cart and the following menu:

Appetizers:
Belgian Endive stuffed with Herbed Boursin Cheese & Sliver of Sun Dried Tomato
Cherry Tomatoes with Cream & Caviar
Buckwheat Blinis topped with Smoked Salmon, Cream & Caviar
Champagne

Second Course:
Raviolis stuffed with Fig and Goat Cheese topped with Browned Butter and Crispy Sage Leaves pared with Caramelized Cipollini Onions
White Wine - Kim Crawford Savignon Blanc

Third Course:
Warm Lentil Salad with Roasted Beets & Spinach dressed in Sherry Wine Vinegar/Dijon/Olive Oil
Red Wine- Big Bear Pino Noir

Main Course:
Red-Wine Braised Pork Chops with Haricort Verts sauteed in Lardons & roasted garlic with fresh herbs
Red Wine- Atalaya Almansa 2008

Ginny Lays on the Charm in Hopes of a Chop

Dessert:
Chocolate Truffles & Salted Chocolate Caramels
More Champagne

Resulting Food Coma Meant no Chocolate Pics

The highlights our evening were kissing sweet baby James goodnight in his PJ's decorated with guitars and the warm conversation  we had throughout the night with special friends who I consider part of my Maine family.  Can't think of a better way to have spent New Years Eve.