First Night ~ Boston

 

While I plan to spend New Year's Eve at home tonight with The Fabulous Boyfriend, if you live in New England and you're feeling adventurous, check out Boston's First Night activities.  The city pulls out all the stops for New Year's Eve, with their infamous ice sculptures dotting the cityscape.

Whatever you're doing tonight, I hope it's magical!  Here's to a beautiful 2012!

{source for all images:  flickr}

A Danish Christmas

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 When my mother was a toddler in the early 50s, my grandparents moved to Copenhagen, Denmark, for five years while my grandfather worked at the American Embassy.  When they returned to the States, they continued to celebrate the Christmas traditions of their beloved adopted country, eventually sharing them with all of us.

One of them was making heart ornaments like these...

I have really happy memories of making these as a child.  Want to learn how?  Visit this link.

And then there is this dessert:

 Ris a la Mande (rice pudding with almonds).  The cherry topping is a must. I just adore it!  To follow tradition, add one whole almond to the batch, and the person who ends up with the almond in their serving gets a special little gift. Find the recipe here.

And because the Danes can't get enough cherries, finish off the night with some Cherry Heering.  It was the first liqueur I ever tasted....wonderful.

Glaedelig Jul!

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peter christian's tavern

If you're ever travelling through the Lake Sunapee region in New Hampshire, stop by this great tavern in New London.  Not far from my home, it's one of my favorite places to eat in the area.  The food is unpretentious and hearty, and they have the BEST mustard I've ever had (they serve it with a basket of pretzels when you arrive, and you can buy jars of it). It has a rustic old-world pub atmosphere, and folk or rock music hums in the background.  Visit their website for the menu and directions.

I've never had a bad dish there, but especially good is the onion soup, any of the tavern sandwiches, and the carrot cake!

You can also see my mom's handiwork - she made their stained glass door :)

Pike Place Market ~ Seattle, Washington

I've been to Seattle several times, but my most memorable trip was when my daughter was living there; she took me on my first visit to Pike Place Market.  A farmer's market situated on Elliot Bay, it has an amazing array of food, art, handmade crafts, and restaurants.  Her boyfriend at the time worked at one of the produce stands, and they both love to cook, so needless to say we ate very well!  You must visit if you're ever in the area.  Here was one of our days there...

happy garlic vendors :)

gorgeous star magnolia tree just outside the market

elliott bay