New Year's Eve 2025 & New Year's Day 2026

 

New Year's Eve was snowy and quiet as we decided to change things up a bit and head to one of our favourite pubs for a round of fish and chips and celebratory pints. It was the perfect dinner to see out 2025; and with full stomachs we made it home to quietly ring in the New Year, toasting with glasses of champagne. 

New Year's Day was a mix of rain and snow making it somewhat icy outside so we all tucked inside for a warm and cozy graze of hors d'oeuvres, nibbles and munchies throughout midday and early evening. A more relaxed casual start to the new year which suited us perfectly. All and all a lovely optimistic and thoughtful end and start.  

New Year's Eve 2017 & New Year's Day 2018

New Year's Eve we took a lighter approach and enjoyed oven baked herbed salmon with mushroom couscous and steamed carrots. 

It is all about balance... dessert was leftover ginger cake soaked in rum with lashing of custard. Champagne flowed hours later to ring in the New Year!   

Buttery sweet scones with raspberry chia seed jam and fresh fruit brought New Year's Day brunch together nicely and carried us through to dinner. 

As the plummeting temperatures of the past few days... minus 40!, started to rise towards zero, New Year's Day dinner was a comforting bowl of slow cooker stew. 

Followed by a decadent selection of Fortnum & Mason's Glacé Fruit for dessert. Sweet and indulgent worth sharing. It is all about balance.  

Hope everyone had a wonderful time ringing in the New Year and are looking forward to 2018 and what it will bring. We are! - JD 

Last of the 2014 Party Mix

Doing some last minute preparations for tonight and thought I would make this simple seasoned snack. After midnight try saying that 10 times fast. 

Snack Mix

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3 cups Shreddies cereal

1 cup Cheerios cereal 

2 cups popped popcorn

1 cup small pretzels

1/2 cup peanuts - optional

3 tablespoons margarine or butter

1 tablespoon Worchestershire sauce

1 teaspoon seasoning salt

Pre-heat oven to 350ºF.

Line a baking tray with parchment paper.

Place the Shreddies, Cheerio's, popcorn, and pretzels in a large bowl.

In a small/medium sauce pan melt the butter on low-medium heat. Once melted add the Worchestershire sauce and seasoning salt. Stir until well blended. 

Drizzle evenly over the cereal mixture and toss to coat. Turn on to the prepared baking tray and bake until cereal is crisp. 

Serve in individual bowls or a large bowl for sharing.

Notes: This recipe can easily be doubled. Try different seasonings. Add parmesan cheese.  

I guess this is the last post of the year... Thanks to all my followers around the world and hope you all have a Happy New Year! - JW      

Here's to the New Year!

We celebrated the New Year the way most celebrate... quietly with rounds of Royal Pimms. Rather than reflect on the year that was we took great comfort in looking ahead.

  

HAPPY NEW YEAR, to all!  -JW