I’ve decided I may have to name my Wednesday blog “Food Porn” since lately I have been posting recipes for food we all enjoy but know we shouldn’t have.  So if you’re trying to eat healthy like I am, then you can either make a half batch, do like I did and make a full batch but only eat a few, or just enjoy the pictures and the recipe (too bad there’s no Smell-a-Vison app!)

Ingredients:

oil for frying

1 cup flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp sugar

(salt and sugar are more to taste depending on if you like your fritters sweeter or saltier.  This particular recipe is more even, so you can either dip them in ranch dressing or maple syrup when you’re done, whichever you prefer.)

1 egg, lightly beaten

1/2 cup milk

1 Tbsp. melted butter

1 can (14 oz.) sweet kernel corn, drained

Directions:

Heat oil in a heavy pot, at least 3 inches deep, until a tiny amount of batter will sizzle when dropped in.

In a medium bowl, combine all the other ingredients.

Drop fritter batter by heaping teaspoonfuls into the hot oil and fry until golden.

Drain on paper towels.

Serve warm with your favorite sweet or savory condiment.

Enjoy!!

For most people New Year’s Eve is the big night.  In our family, December 31st has always been pretty tame.  We generally just have some snacks and maybe fondue, pop a bottle of champagne for the adults and sparkling cider for the kids, stay up to midnight to watch the ball drop, all yell “Happy New Year” and hug each other, then go to bed.

Our New Year’s Day tradition began during the great Napa flood of 1997.  Art & I were sleeping in, enjoying a day with nothing to do when Michelle called.  “We’re all at Bruce’s Mom’s helping her empty her basement in case the flood gets too close.  We’re hungry and we’re coming to your house in an hour. Don’t worry, we’ll bring the food with us.”

I scrambled to get everyone up and dressed and straighten up the house.  About 11 am, six people showed up with eggs, bacon, champagne and orange juice.  Art and I made some biscuits and gravy and we all had a New Year’s breakfast feast.  Afterwards we pulled some card games out of the closet and sat around talking and playing games until it got dark.

Every year since then we have continued the tradition – every other year at our house – and it is a tradition we all look forward to.  Everyone brings something to share and often people show up in their pajamas. Over the years friends have married and divorced and had children, plus we have added new friends along the way.

Yesterday was the 15th anniversary of our annual New Year’s breakfast and seeing everyone together again made me remember all we have to be thankful for.  I am very excited about the possibilities of the new year and I want to thank you all again for being part of the journey!

An apology to my email subscribers who for some reason did not receive a link to last Friday’s post in their email.  Here is the link if you are interested in reading it: Well-Deserved?