Happy New Year!

Where did 2008 go? It flew by so fast I barely got used to writing "2008" on checks I write! Now I've got to write 2009!

We're all well now, thanks everyone for your kind thoughts and prayers. In retrospect, while it was awful that we were all sick at once, the good news is that it's over all at once! No month-long lingering sickness slowly affecting each of us in turn. As the Frenchman said "It's in our behinds."

Christmas was nice. We stayed at home, opened presents, then I made lunch of Baked Ham, Mac & Cheese, Steamed Broccoli, Noon's Sweet Potato Fluff, Cornbread, and a Pecan Pie and a Buttermilk Pie for dessert. Buttermilk Pie is my daughter's latest discovery and her favorite. Topped w/ a little nutmeg and cinnamon before baking, it was perfect for Christmas. And you can't go wrong with Pecan Pie, either!

I enjoyed seeing all those I got to see in Baton Rouge when the kids and I flew over for the weekend. I'm sorry I missed those of you busy or out of town. We will definitely try to come over the summer at some point. The summer of 2008 just got away from me and before I knew it the kids were back in school, hurricanes were hitting, and the holidays were upon us. I'll plan better this year.

I got Ina Garten's latest cookbook Barefoot Contessa: Back to Basics for Christmas, and am really enjoying it. She is revamping some of her older recipes as well as introducing some new ones. But all have basic, simple, everyday ingredients that can be found at nearly grocery store (even Ralph's in Prairieville, La). She has ramped up the flavor to make them new again. As I try some of them, I'll post them here and give you a recipe review. I know there's not a bad recipe in the bunch!