Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Treat of the Week:  A New Year's Feast




We started the New Year's Eve festivities with some delicious homemade miniature latkes which my mother made in honor of our friend, Fran.  Traditional latkes--essentially potato pancakes--are made from shredded potatoes, finely chopped onion, flour and eggs.  These were served topped with sour cream, caviar and chopped hard-boiled egg and Veuve Clicquot Champagne.





The next day, 2012 Began with the popping of peacock-purple crackers.  Once Bertie was convinced that the noise had subsided, we adjourned to the dining room to enjoy a roasted Tangerine and Cumin Pork Tenderloin prepared in a Latin style--rubbed with olive oil, cumin, salt and pepper, and drizzles with orange juice, tangerine marmalade and white vinegar.  Adorned with chopped herbs, the roast was served with a sour cream mustard sauce, a reduction of marmalade and orange juice and apple sauce.




Accompanying this perfect pork were larger versions of the potato latkes, and, the traditional black-eyed peas and greens.  The black-eyed peas were fresh peas prepared with caramelized shallots and a balsamic vinegar reduction and the greens were delicious steamed baby spinach with a little garlic; the cloves of garlic ere removed before serving. A freshly-baked cornbread added a rustic and rich touch.






The real gem in the New Year's crown was my mother's gorgeous homemade cheese cake topped with a lush chocolate ganache.  Baked atop a luscious homemade cookie crust, the cake was garnished with fresh raspberries and whipped cream rosettes.  




With a start like that, it's sure to be a wonderful year.

10 comments:

Shawn said...

What beautiful meals! With a start like that, I am sure that 2012 will be a fantastic year for you and your family.

Matt said...

Best meal to date. I have to say, just seeing the picture of the cheesecake made my mouth water. I wish I had a piece! I love love love caviar on latkes with chopped egg. Elegant. Too bad I've got to be a good boy now and eat my ugly, yucky shakes and purees of greens. I agree with Shawn, with a start like that, it's got to be a super year. All the best.....MB.

Carolyn said...

Oh Holy Yumsies! If only one little bit of any of that could pass through my screen, I would be one happy woman!

Happy New Year, darling boy!

Fran said...

Oh, I am sooooo honored. Kosher schmosher, I would rip into that pork! The latkes are perfect, better looking than ma's but don't tell her. I would sell my children if I had any for a little piece of that cake. My god, it looks like it came straight from a NY bakery. I'm very, very impressed!!! Happy New Year!!!

April said...

So here's the thing History Boy, I look at the pictures of the food every week, then I look at your picture.  There you are smiling with your cute dog and your grinning puppet and I can't help but notice that you're not a fat hog.  How is it that you can eat dozens of cookies and cheesecakes and you remain a normal sized man?  Are you magic?  Do you and your puppet do slimming voodoo rituals?  You seem to have a good working knowledge of voodoo.  Is that it?  Is it unicorn tail tonic?  

Here's the next thing.  I want that cake and some of those latkes shipped to me along with your special magic do-do bird diet elixir.  In exchange, I won't complain.  By the way, I bought a Teck Support mug.  Can't wait for it to come.

Sam P said...

Beautiful!

Gene said...

Happy New Year.  My resolution is to learn to cook like your mother.  I know no one will do it for me.

Anonymous said...

Looks delicious, all of it, but especially the cake.

Kathy said...

Great stuff. I'm jealous! Happy New Year!

Anonymous said...

Love the cake