If you’re reading this on New Year’s Eve, you’ll know that there are people, many people, cooking in my kitchen right now. One of the best things that Dan and I did even before we became parents was to start a tradition of spending New Year’s Eve at home with another couple and assorted other dear friends. In the early, pre-children days we all brought something to read aloud. Once our families expanded and the kids got older, this evolved into a cooking tradition.

Here’s what we’ve come to over time: we set a theme (in the past this has been French, Mexican, Comfort-food, cherries, and Peruvian/citrus) and then everyone picks a team name out of the hat. We might be on the Drinks/Apps, Entrees, Sides, or Dessert team and we never know who our team members will be. Once teams are chosen each team decides what they are going to prepare, we make long ingredient lists and have two mad days of shopping and cooking.

All of this is preceded, at this point, but a great deal of email debate about the merits of suggested themes and possible dishes.

So for my foodie post today I’m sharing a few photos of our preparations in years past, and urging anyone who’s interested in food to ring the New Year in by cooking a homemade meal.

Every other year we alternate between our households, with occasional trips to other special locations. 2014 is a Cape Cod year.

Every other year we alternate between our households, with occasional trips to other special locations. 2014 is a Cape Cod year.

Sometimes there are too many in the kitchen, but that's OK too.

Sometimes there are too many in the kitchen, but that’s OK too.

On New Year's Eve there is constant cooking, conversation, music and general hub-bub.

On New Year’s Eve there is constant cooking, conversation, music and general hub-bub.

Someone got playful with the pizza dough balls that were resting.

Someone got playful with the pizza dough balls that were resting.

This was what the dessert team produced one year.

This was what the dessert team produced one year.

This is my New Year's wish for all of you.

This is my New Year’s wish for all of you.

 

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