On the Occasion of Little Oblio's First Birthday

My daydreams waffle between vocations as a baker, a freight train locomotive engineer, and a professional surf/food writer for Condé Nast. All three have distinctive and alluring charms for me. What's more fundamental than reviving yeast with flour & water and producing the staff of life? Who's never harkened to the lonely train whistle's call on some vast plain, two parallel lines seeming always to converge on some movable horizon? And could anyone ever turn down a job getting paid to surf and eat? Certainly not me! But bread making resonates with my soul as the noblest of callings. So naturally, an old Italian bread dish inspired a menu for an intimate dinner of far-flung loved ones.

You all know Matty O'Food, loyal sidekick, and dependable resource for the pages of You Gonna Finish That? Some time ago, he married a terrific girl, my friend, the "soul of a baker, mouth of a trucker" Dirty Oven blogger. They observed their son's (Little Oblio) first year on this planet with a Halloween weekend celebration. The Dirty Oven came up with a colorful and fun party menu. She recruited the Lone Ranger and me to author something for the grown-ups invited to hang around after the birthday party. Brainstorming one night, we thought a Mediterranean theme would showcase our talents and east coast sensibilities. Panzanella just leapt to mind. After that, it wasn't a stretch to include lamb and couscous. And that's just what we did.

(Incidentally, I coined Little Oblio's name after his birth photos showed a very slight point to his head from the 15-hour laborpalooza he put his poor mother through. The original Oblio was the protagonist in Harry Nilsson's The Point, the 1971 fable about the only round-headed person in the Land of Point, and one of Matty's and my favorite albums. Well, as our Oblio's point began to recede, it was only natural he take up the moniker of our hero.)

A Mediterranean Dinner For Ten

Mustard Encrusted Rack of Lamb Panzanella Salad Mediterranean Israeli Couscous

Mustard Encrusted Lamb - by the Lone Ranger

For the marinade

3 racks of lamb with 10 chops per rack, roughly 4 lbs ¼ cup cider vinegar ½ cup extra virgin olive oil 3 Tbsp fresh rosemary, roughly chopped 2 Tbsp Dijon mustard 4 garlic cloves, minced ½ tsp salt ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper

For the crust

½ loaf French baguette 2 Tbsp fresh rosemary, finely chopped 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil 3-4 Tbsp Dijon mustard

Whisk together all the marinade ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Add lamb and toss to coat. Cover and marinate, refrigerated, for two hours or more.

Cube the baguette and pulse pieces in a food processor to a coarse texture. Toss with rosemary & olive oil, and spread out on a rimmed baking sheet. Lightly brown in a 350°F oven, tossing occasionally.

Bring lamb to room temperature, and remove from marinade, shaking off excess. In a large sauté pan, sear the lamb in a little olive oil over high heat until browned on both sides, about 10 minutes total. Wrap the Frenched rib bones with pieces of aluminum foil, and roast for 15 minutes in a pre-heated 400° oven. After 15 minutes, generously coat lamb with Dijon mustard and roll in herbed bread crumbs. Continue to roast another 5-10 minutes, until an internal temperature of 125° is reached. Remove lamb from oven and allow to rest for 10 minutes. Cut individual chops and serve immediately.

Panzanella Salad - Barefoot Contessa Parties!© 2001

For the salad

3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil 1½ French baguette loaves, cut into 1" cubes (6 cups) 1 tsp kosher salt 2 large, ripe tomatoes, cut into 1" cubes 1 hothouse cucumber, seeded and sliced ½" thick 1 red bell pepper, seeded and cut into 1" cubes 1 yellow bell pepper, seeded and cut into 1" cubes ½ red onion, cut in half and thinly sliced 20 large basil leaves, coarsely chopped 3 Tbsp capers, drained

For the vinaigrette

1 tsp finely minced garlic ½ tsp Dijon mustard 3 Tbsp Champagne vinegar ½ cup extra virgin olive oil ½ tsp kosher salt ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper

Heat olive oil in a large sauté pan. Add the bread and salt; cook over low to medium heat, tossing frequently, for 10 minutes, or until nice browned. If necessary, cook in batches, adding more oil as needed. Whisk all vinaigrette ingredients together. In a large salad bowl, mix the tomatoes, cucumber, red & yellow peppers, red onion, basil and capers. Add the croutons and toss with the vinaigrette. Season liberally with salt and pepper. Allow salad to sit for an hour or more for the flavors to blend.

For a second side, I doctored up a package of Trader Joe's Harvest Grains Blend by tossing it with a couple tablespoons of olive oil, then allowing it to cool to room temperature before folding in chopped almonds, quartered oil-cured black olives and sliced scallions. It got a hefty shake of salt or two as well before serving. Très Meditteraneo, non?

New Yorkers, Philadelphians, Chicagoans, southern and northern Californians sat down to a simple, lovely buffet. Toasts were offered to Little Oblio's parents, to the birthday boy himself, the chefs, even the other guests, just for showing up! It was a night that will be remembered for birthdays to come. Matty O'Food and the Dirty Oven: proven, successful breeders, and hosts extraordinaire!

Thanks for taking the time - Blog O. Food

Hendiatris Clues*

Eight o'clock, Thursday morning, December 31. Through the wide bank of plate glass doors in the kitchen, I could see snow beginning to fall gently on the broad expanse of lawn. "How pretty," I thought. "If this keeps up, we'll have an amazing scene to view by the time everyone arrives." Two hours and two inches later I'm in a state of high anxiety worrying that folks won't take to the roads in these conditions, or worse, might be stranded for hours on the side of the road in a snow bank. I mean, I had a refrigerator bursting at the seams with food. Who was gonna eat it all??? But worrying is what I do instead of watching TV. By noon, the snow had tapered off and Suffolk County's finest were out plowing the major thoroughfares. The Hamptons Jitney worked as dependably as its US Postal Service third-cousin-twice-removed, delivering C-Hart relatively close to schedule. The Young Marrieds from New England and Westchester showed up within minutes of one another, and Long Island native, Jean-9 brought up the rear loaded down with goodies from home under one arm. It was time to get this party started.

I had done the bulk of the prep work the day before, so wasn't stuck in the kitchen while everyone else gathered in the living room. With the champagne poured and introductions made, former classmates caught up on the latest news and everyone commented on the Irish Lass's pregnancy, suggesting baby names that grew more and more absurd as the night wore on.

There were some last minute adjustments to the menu, but the early appetizers were ready for plating and presentation once everyone was assembled.

Phase I: Candied Jalapeños, and Bruschetta

Everyone ought to know how to make bruschetta. Toast sliced baguettes drizzled with olive oil in a hot oven (400° F) turning to toast on both sides. I amped up my bread with a sprinkle of garlic powder before toasting. Dice ripe tomatoes, chop fresh basil, crush garlic cloves, toss together in a mixing bowl and season lightly with salt & pepper. Mound each toasted slice of bread with tomato and basil and top with grated Parmigiano-Reggiano. A classic. I had the candied jalapeños for the first time during my Christmas visit with Pops O'Food. He got the recipe from his grand niece last Father's Day. Proud Man Tribe members in good standing, we both agreed that one could reduce the sugar and increase the amount of chili seeds and get a real kick ass condiment.

Candied Jalapeños - adapted from Recipezaar.com

1 lb jalapeño peppers, thinly sliced, half the seeds and membranes removed ½ lb yellow onions, diced ⅛ cup vinegar ⅛ cup water 1 cup sugar 1½ tsp mustard seed ¼ tsp turmeric ½ tsp celery seed ¾ tsp garlic powder ¼ tsp ground ginger 1 ½lb (8oz) block cream cheese, brought up to room temperature

Place peppers, onions, vinegar and water in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer until chilies and onions are soft, about 10 minutes. Pour off most of the liquid and add the sugar and spices. Bring to a soft candy temperature (234° F, if you're keeping score at home) to completely dissolve the sugar. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature before serving piled atop a softened block of cream cheese. Use sturdy crackers or chips for dipping. You can quadruple the recipe and put up the jalapeños in sterilized jars for houseguest gifts. Leave ¼-inch of headspace in each jar then cap.

Just as Pops and I suspected, all the peppers needed was a little less sweet, and a lot more heat! My New Year's Eve audience agreed. Even the Irish lass thought the spread had just the right amount of kick. The bubbly continued to flow, the cool kids smoked cigarettes on the patio, and folks elbowed for room on the iPod or in the kitchen, where major love was being performed by BOF and the ever awesome Jean-9.

Phase II - Crab Puff Pastry Cups, and Baked Stuffed Tomatoes

Originally, I was gonna repeat last July's Chebeague Satchels, but in actuality, those summer purses were an accident of miscommunication. I had intended on using puff pastry as the wrapper for my sausage mix. With crossed signals, phyllo dough was delivered to Cottage Road, and like all things in Maine, one makes due. The results spoke for themselves, but while in the frozen food section of the Southampton Waldbaum's, inspiration struck and I picked up a couple packages of puff pastry instead, knowing intuitively, exactly what I was gonna do with them.

Crab Puff Pastry Cups

1 lb lump crab meat 3 Tbsp fresh lemon juice ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil ¼ cup scallions, thinly sliced ¼ cup celery, finely chopped ¼ cup celery leaves, roughly chopped ¼ cup flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped Salt & white pepper 2 packages puff pastry, thawed 1 egg, beaten lightly Butter

Whisk together lemon juice, olive oil and ½ tsp salt in a large bowl. Mix in scallions, celery, celery leaves and parsley, then add crab meat and gently toss. Season with white pepper and salt, or with seafood seasoning. I stuck with salt. I wanted a cleaner taste with the crab flavor coming through. Meanwhile, on a floured surface, roll out thawed puff pastry to about ⅛" thickness. With a cookie cutter, or drinking glass, cut two 3" rounds per cup. Cut a smaller 2" hole into half the rounds to make donut shaped rounds. Place whole rounds in a buttered baking pan and brush with egg wash. Center a "donut" round on top of each whole round and wash again with egg. Spoon a bit of crab mixture inside each donut hole and bake for 6-7 minutes in a 400° F pre-heated oven.

Here was our OMG moment for the night, at least culinarily speaking. Everyone, EVERYONE was blown away by this one. Although I had a sneaking suspicion I was gonna hit this one out of the park, no one was more pleasantly surprised than I at the response. Give people butter, flour and egg, and they'll be eating out of your hands... literally! Jean-9's stuffed tomatoes were a delicious godsend, proffered to anyone a little bit preggers, as shellfish is off the menu until delivery day.

Baked Stuffed Tomatoes Provençale - The Institute of Culinary Education

4 firm, ripe medium tomatoes Salt 1½ tsp minced garlic 2 Tbsp finely minced shallots 3-t Tbsp minced fresh basil ½ tsp dried thyme Freshly ground black pepper ¼ cup olive oil plus additional ½ cup dry white bread crumbs

Cut tomatoes in half, crosswise. Using an index finger, poke seeds from the tomato cavities. Sprinkle the halves lightly with the salt and place the tomatoes upside down on a rack. Allow to drain, about 20 minutes. In a small bowl combine the garlic, shallots, basil, thyme, ¼ tsp salt, 1 tsp pepper, the olive oil and the bread crumbs. Season the insides of the tomato halves with pepper and fill each with 1 or 2 spoonfuls of the stuffing. Sprinkle with a few drops of oil. Arrange the tomatoes in a baking dish just large enough to accommodate them. Bake in a 400° F pre-heated oven until the tomatoes are tender but still hold their shape, 10-15 minutes; the filling should be lightly browned. Cool slightly and serve. Two words: Yuh Me.

After all the oohs and ahs, the cooks earned a little break from the kitchen. The music was cranked, we listened to tall tales spun by Bones and narrowed down our choice of baby names. Hudson was the clear front runner with everyone but the expectant mother, and hers was gonna be the only vote that counted.  Her polite silence seemed like a good time to serve up a palate cleanser before dessert.

Phase III - Chilled Soup

Ceviche - Recipe courtesy of Ted Allen

1 lb fresh tilapia fillets, or other firm white fish, cut into 1' pieces 2 cloves garlic, chopped 1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and diced ½ red onion, thinly sliced ¼ tsp salt ⅛ tsp freshly ground black pepper ¼ cup freshly chopped cilantro leaves 2 cups freshly squeezed lime juice, more if need to cover fish

Combine all ingredients except lime juice in a flat-bottomed baking dish. Cover with lime juice, making sure all fish is submerged. Chill 2 hours. Mine chilled overnight. Too much? It certainly was tangy, but that could have been from limes that weren't quite ripe. When I make ceviche again, I'll cut the lime with a little sesame oil (just a few drops) to reduce the acidity a bit. Otherwise, another winner. Make sure to get really fresh fish, it makes every difference. Did I say winner? Everyone except for poor Bones thought so. He didn't know what ceviche was. He assumed the fish floating in his cup was potato. You should have seen the look of shock on his face after the first mouthful! When he surreptitiously put his still-full cup down on the table, I had to call him out. He would have done the same for me!

Contented groans from the men and polite sighs from the womenfolk signaled that everyone had been well fed and watered. But there was still more to come. We cooks thought it wise to sandwich a little break from the eating between soup and dessert. Jean-9 produced strips of paper and we all wrote down topics for charades. Unbelievably, half the crew had never played before, so clues were halting at best in the opening rounds. Once people got the hang of it though, there were some pretty ingenious moments, and by the time everyone had had a chance to perform we were howling with laughter. Seemed like a good time for something sweet!

Phase IV - Dessert

I must be on some unsolicited mailing list, as I have been receiving Martha Stewart's Living magazine for a couple months now. It's all eye candy and three-sentence blurbs for those of us with attention deficit disorder. Each issue highlights indispensable advise on how to gift wrap anything, or what kind of $300 galoshes you should be buying for your kids. I don't know how I've lived without the magazine for so long! Anyway, included every month are fairly straight forward and seemingly tasty recipes, so I thought I would give one a try.

Cherry Compote with Mascarpone and Shortbread Cookie

1 cup fresh or frozen cherries (Martha uses cranberries) ½ cup packed light brown sugar ½ cup brandy 3 Tbsp water ½ mascarpone cheese Store-bought shortbread cookies

Bring fruit, sugar, brandy and water to a simmer in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until cherries are tender and the liquid syrupy, about 15 minutes. Let cool slightly. Cover, and keep warm. Just before serving, spread mascarpone onto cookies. Top each with compote and enjoy.

This one was not bad, actually. I suspect the booze was the key ingredient, but I enjoyed it, so thought we were safe. Mystifyingly, one guest never ate fruit. He thinks bananas loathsome. I had never heard of such a thing. Fruit? FRUIT??? I was stunned into silent disbelief. I would out him here for public ridicule, but he's in possession of so many other amiable qualities. This quirk just makes him all the more endearing and interesting. Desserts will always be a challenge with him, however.

The new year came and went with hugs and kissing. Guests picked at leftover dips and cheeses. Bones tried to make fun of everyone's iPod libraries. Charades got louder and longer, and things went late into the night. I thanked Jean-9 over and over for all her indispensable help and secretly patted myself on the back for pulling this one off. It was another good New Year's Eve party. If word gets out, we may have to rent space or make the guest list painfully exclusive. You decide.

Thanks for taking the time - Blog O. Food

*Answer: Friends, Food, Frivolity

Here Comes Another One, Just Like The Other One

A few years ago, after one failed attempt after another, my crew and I decided to stop trying so hard to have fun on New Year's Eve. That first subsequent party consisted of six of us, rotisserie chicken and veggie wraps bought at Safeway, about 6000 cds, playing cards, cigars, and a mixed case of really excellent champagne. We stayed up until dawn blasting the stereo and playing røvhul. No one could remember a better New Year's Eve, hangovers be damned. The bar was set pretty high that night, but subsequent gatherings have always managed to exceed expectations. You can thumb through old posts here and read about last year's soirée and menu. I'm hoping for another memorable fête this year with my east coast fan club. Again, there will be six of us out in posh Southampton (hopefully nobody's checking credentials at the city limits), plenty of "Bolli", and I'm doing all the cooking, ably assisted by Jean 9. It'll be such a fine group that, if we manage not to force the frivolity, it ought to be another banner celebration.

New Year's Eve 2009 Menu

Candied Jalapeño Dip Grilled Prawns with Zesty Lemon-Caper Sauce Ceviche in Lime Cups Chebeague Crab Satchels Bruschetta Alla Romana Martha Stewart's Cranberry Compote with Mascarpone and Cookies*

If I'm not at the market looking for flat-leaf parsley or hothouse tomatoes, I'll be strapped to an apron and away from the computer for the duration. You'll have to read about the aftermath in the coming year.

Until then, the very Happiest of New Year's and a healthy, prosperous Two Thousand Ten.

Thanks for taking the time - Blog O. Food

*I know... I know.

The Nut Tree

But hush - Earth's valleys sweet in leisure lie; And I among them wandering up and down Will taste their berries, like the bird or fly, And of their gleanings make both feast and crown. Harvest - Edmund Blunden With a mix of unintended but welcome British artists and eclectic groups from the States, the drive to Oxfordshire can only be described as restful. Sensitive to J-Mac's mellower predilections, I selected tunes aimed to soothe but not lull him to sleep behind the wheel. Once clear of Heathrow, one enters a landscape of rolling fields bordered by woods, and trim little hamlets. Elbow, Adele, Morrissey, Billy Bragg, and Bob Mould serenaded us along our scenic way.

Arriving at Charlton-on-Otmoor, I was introduced to our hostess, Jude. She was a pure delight. She is one of those classically British women who must have nobility somewhere in the family tree. There was a casual elegance about her accompanied by that tireless wit which only a Brit possesses in any great measure. She could not have been a more welcoming host. I have a hard time of it around new people. I am petrified of doing something completely inappropriate and thus sealing my fate as the unwelcome intruder. It took all of eleven seconds (I clocked it) for Jude to make me feel completely at ease.

Over a glass of wine, Jude and J-Mac caught up. She directed questions my way and seemed genuinely interested in hearing the answers. She wanted to know all about my trip, and when the conversation got around to You Gonna Finish That?, she began to talk excitedly about our dinner plans. Up to that point, I had been expecting a quaint meal of roast beast and pudding accompanied by cool ales or a claret at the local pub. I was laughably uninformed.

From all outward appearances, The Nut Tree is simply a traditional village pub in the English countryside. And to be sure, the denizens do frequent the bar for a pint or two after a hard day in the fields. Once one enters the dining area, however, all similarities to your local watering hole end.

Along with partner Imogen Young, Chef Mike North - already a darling of Britain's hospitality industry - opened the Nut Tree in January of 2007. Raised in the area, North had always dreamed of owning the Nut Tree. In 2005, at age 25, North made headlines as one of the youngest Michelin starred chefs at the Goose in nearby Britwell Salome. Lightning struck again when, this past January, Mike and Imogen were awarded another Michelin star at the Nut Tree.

The Nut Tree Degustation Menu Ballottine of foie gras with cherries and fresh almond Grilled diver-caught scallop with lemon curd and fennel salad Pavé of Nut Tree smoked Orkney salmon with whipped horseradish cream, Avruga caviar Risotto of wild mushrooms with Parmigiano-Reggiano and summer truffle Grilled fillet of aged Oxfordshire beef with triple cooked chips, baked tomato, onion rings Roast breast of Barbary duck with sautéed Jersey Royals Pan-fried fillet of seabream with crushed Jersey Royals and confit tomatoes Raspberry soufflé with raspberry sorbet Sticky toffee pudding with caramelised apple tart and praline ice cream Bitter chocolate tart with almond milk ice cream Vanilla crème brûlée

I will dispense with all my usual histrionics when excited. Without exaggeration, the tasting we experienced at the Nut Tree was, unreservedly, the best meal I have ever had. Ever. Meats were perfectly grilled, the sauces flawless, seasonings were expertly balanced throughout. Chef North and his staff executed presentation exceptionally well. Between courses, Imogen or one of her young hostesses came to the table to make sure everything was going well. They were all effortlessly charming. At one point Imogen hefted out the Catey Award the Nut Tree had just won for Best Newcomer. The Catey is Britain's culinary equivalent to our Oscar. It's a tremendous achievement.

Finally, lingering over our port and dessert wines, Chef Mike came out to receive his well-deserved praises. We talked over top of one another like starlings, trying to out do each other in our adoration. I must admit, he took it most graciously. Imogen and Mike are Hospitality's Ideal. Mike is unassuming and wants only to find the best ingredients, and prepare them the best he can. Imogen runs the front of the house like your favorite luxury hotel. Her enthusiasm as hostess is genuine and infectious. They've both worked very hard to get where they are today. They deserve every success.

The Nut Tree Main Street, Murcott, Oxon, OX5 2RE United Kingdom 01865 331253

Dining Room Monday - Saturday Lunch 12noon - 2.30pm Dinner 7pm - 9pm Sunday Lunch 12noon - 3pm Reservations recommended

There was a trip to the city of Oxford the next day with a soggy tour of some of the colleges and lots of photos of Tudor and Edwardian architecture. There was a rather underwhelming lunch at Jamie Oliver's restaurant, Jamie's Italian (although the mushrooms and scamorza cheese appetizer was outstanding). I couldn't have ended my visit to Britain on a higher note than the Nut Tree though. It would not be possible. I too now sing the praises of England's cookery. The entire encounter was a revelation, one I'll treasure always. As they say, if you're ever in the neighborhood...

Thanks for taking the time - Blog O. Food

All photos generously provided by Judith Ghilks, with my gratitude.

¡Feliz Año Nuevo!

Our crew has never been one to go in for all the New Year's hype. Amateur night, we call it. A small gathering of friendly faces, good food, lots of laughter and cutthroat games of råhul late into the night fit our bill. This year was no disappointment. We were eight, with six of us left standing at 6:00am when the last hand of asshole was played. Most of us were up by 10:30 for a New Year's day glass of Veuve Clicquot and thus we rang in 2009. But planning and prepping were half the fun. Mrs. Nicole O'Food, wife of my boy Matty O'Food helped me plan a menu with a Latin theme: heavy on fresh ingredients and items that could be handled on small plates. Spanish tapas meet Mexican peasant food if you will!

A Mexican New Year's Eve Menu Fresh guacamole and chips Sopa de Tortilla Mexican-style hot wings Chicken mole pizzas on fresh masa Tamal de Puerco Tamal de Jalapeño y Queso Cervezas Mexicana

Matt & Nicole live in Santa Cruz, California not too far from Watsonville, an agricultural town with a large Mexican population. The perfect town to shop for fresh produce and spicy ingredients.

Guacamole: Recipes for guacamole abound. Some get completely out of hand. I go for a traditional approach with fresh avocados, minced red onion & tomatoes, chopped garlic & cilantro, and salt & pepper. I do have one other addition, but let's go ahead and keep that secret for now. Halve the avocados, removing the pits and separate the flesh from the rough, bitter skins. Cube the avocado and put in a large bowl. Add the juice of one lime for every 4-5 avocados. Add all other ingredients and stir together completely. Use a potato masher for a smoother consistency. A dash of coconut milk will increase the smooth texture and add a hint of sweetness.

Back in Watsonville, we were able to accomplish all of our shopping with just two stops. One for tamales, and the other for everything else. First, The Tamale Factory on Main Street. Formerly Lucy's Tamales, this place was strictly bare-boned tamale making. No frills, no fuss, no English! Luckily, I had not one, but two Mexican mothers and just enough Spanish to count to 12 and know the difference between puerco and pollo. Two dozen tamales (12 pork, 12 jalapeño and cheese) set us back a non-whopping $48.

Next it was off to Mi Pueblo, a Mexican supermercado, for fresh produce, chilies, meat, tortillas and masa - a cornmeal dough used for tamales and tortilla making. I got it into my head that we could use it for the mini chicken mole pizzas I forced onto the menu, but more on those later. We had what I thought was an alarming amount of food, but when we got to the checkout stand, our total came to roughly $100 and included a llama piñata for a centerpiece. We paid roughly one-third of what it would have cost us back in town. Matty claimed that if we ever went broke, we could all move to Watsonville and still live comfortably.

Mexican-style Hot Wings:

2 lbs chicken drummettes 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil 8 Tbsp (1 stick) unsalted butter 6 Tbsp honey 2 Tbsp fresh lime juice 4 tsp freshly ground dried pasilla chilies 4 tsp freshly ground dried red chili powder ¼ tsp crushed red pepper flake

Toss chicken with olive oil to coat, spread into an even layer on a shallow baking pan and season with salt and pepper. Bake in a pre-heated 450° oven for 25 minutes, or until chicken begins to brown.

While drummettes are roasting, mix all other ingredients in a small saucepan and heat through until butter melts and the ground chilies have dissolved. Adjust the chili and lime seasoning to taste.

Once wings are cooked, remove from baking pan and toss with the sauce in a large mixing bowl.

Keep warm in a glass baking dish covered with aluminum foil in a 250° oven until ready to serve.

Chicken-mole Mini Pizzas: While Matt and Nicole went on a booze run, I had a mini freak out moment with the masa pizza dough. I knew steamed masa firmed up but would crumble supporting shredded chicken. Should I fry it? I had no clue, but resolved to try several methods. My first trial turned out to be the best solution. I stirred dried chilies and some salt into the fresh masa we picked up at Mi Pueblo, and then baked flattened 3" rounds on an greased baking sheet in a 400° oven for 25 minutes. The resulting pizza crusts came out looking like some weird red cookie. I cautioned everyone however, that they were not dessert.

For the chicken mole, I seared three boneless, skinless chicken breasts in a little butter just until they started to brown. I removed the chicken from the pan and de-glazed it with a little chicken stock. I returned the chicken to the saucepan, added 4 cups of chicken stock, 4 Tbsp of mole sauce, 3 Tbsp of sugar, and a teaspoon of salt. I reduced the heat under the saucepan to low, covered the pan and let the chicken slow cook for almost three hours. At the end of that time, all it took was a light tossing with tongs to shred the chicken and absorb the sauce. I heaped each masa round with a spoonful of chicken mole and topped with chopped queso fresco and cilantro. Genius.

Tortilla Soup: Nicole had a tortilla soup starter that was a huge hit:

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cubed 1 medium red onion, roughly chopped 3 cloves garlic, finely sliced 4 cups chicken stock 2 ripe tomatoes, medium chop 3 Tbsp adobo sauce 4 tsp freshly ground dried red chili powder

In a large stock pot over medium heat, sweat onion for 5-6 minutes, add garlic and cook for another 60 seconds. Add chicken stock, adobo sauce and chili powder. Heat to dissolve adobo and chili powder. Add cubed chicken and bring broth to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover pot and let simmer for 60 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through, add tomatoes and heat through. Ladle soup into large bowls over crisp tortilla chips. Add small cubed avocado, queso fresco, and chopped cilantro. Serve immediately.

Finally, yellow and red bell peppers, zucchini, Mexican onions and carrots roasted over a hot grill and served on your fanciest platter complete this Mexican fête. The card playing and drinking went long into the night, but that's a different story.

Thanks for taking the time, and Felix Año Nuevo - Blog O. Food