Dinner on the Eve Before New Year's Eve

I had a great time last night.  Our friends, Ginny and Matt and Charlene (Cha Cha) and Larry, came to dinner to celebrate New Year's a bit early.  Lucky us!  I set the table for winter glam...

Lit some candles...

...and the laughter and cheer started.  The girls just wanted to have fun...

What's better than entertaining good friends in your home, and spending the day in the kitchen preparing dinner?  Almost nothing, in my book.  It's a great thing to see your friends having a good time at your table...

Matt said we had to put it on the blog that at the last minute, I put the tub of SmartBalance on the table (a Sofas & Sage no-no, he said!! lol).  Come on,  not everything can be perfect hahahaha....

Ginny, Matt's wife, leaned in for a picture with Larry and grabbed his thigh as though he were her husband.  She was horrified and earned the name Cougar for the night, but it had nothing to do with the champagne...

Then we got to dinner.  On the surf and turf menu?...

A Salad of Baby Lettuces

with grapes, pecans, cucumbers and goat cheese tossed in a poppy seed dressing

Lobster with Pan Seared Scallops tucked in Puff Pastry

and glazed with a Sherry Cream Sauce

Beef  Tenderloin with a Medley of Sauteed Wild Mushrooms

Baby Red Potatoes with Butter and Parsley

Sauteed Green Beans with Shallots and Bacon

Champagne and Red Wine

Chocolate Cake

This is a great $10 red wine...

So that's how I spent my night last night.  Thank you to our friends -- I'm grateful to have you in our lives.

There really is some cooking to show on this blog once in a while!!   I'll be back with photos from my day today, New Year's Eve day, in the next day or so.  It's been the best of holidays this year.  What are you doing this New Year's Eve?

Talk to you soon,

Carol