New Year's Day Dinner Menu

My husband and I celebrated New Year's Day with Little Sis and two of her friends, Joelle and Morgan. Morgan is French so we were anxious to impress him with some good cooking. This is what Kelsey and I decided to make...

Happy Hour Stuffed Mushrooms

Presecco

Chicken Parmigiana

Shiraz-Cabernet-Merlot, 08 Barren Jack

Bacardi Rum Cake

Chai Tea

We loved the chicken parm so much that we decided to make it again the next night. Pioneer Woman has great photos and step by step instructions for all her recipes. It makes things a lot easier on the chef.   Here are our recipes:

Happy Hour Stuffed Mushrooms
15 medium sized mushrooms
6 tablespoons butter, softened
1 clove garlic
5 tablespoons shredded Jack cheese
2 tablespoons dry white or red wine
1 teaspoon soy sauce
1/2 cup Italian bread crumbs

Remove stems from mushrooms and save for other use. Melt 2 tablespoons of butter; brush over mushroom caps, coating thoroughly. Stir together remaining 4 tablespoons butter, garlic, and cheese until well blended. Place mushrooms, cavity side up, on a rimmed baking sheet. Evenly mound filling in each mushroom, pressing it in lightly. Broil about 6 inches below broiler unit until bubbly and lightly browned (about 3 minutes). Serve warm.

Chicken Parmigiana
See this recipe on The Pioneer Woman blog...

side note: I don't think I can last another day without making this recipe from the same site. It's just looks too mouthwatering!

Bacardi Rum Cake
1 C. chopped pecans or walnuts
1 pkg. yellow cake mix
1 3-3/4 oz. pkg. jello instant vanilla pudding
4 eggs
1/2 C. cold water
1/2 C. Wesson oil
1/2 C. dark rum

Glaze:
1 stick butter
1/4 C. water
1 C. sugar
1/2 C. dark rum

Preheat oven to 325˚. Grease and flour 10” tube or 12-cup bundt pan. Sprinkle nuts over bottom of pan. Mix all cake ingredients together. Pour batter over nuts. Bake 1 hour. Cool. Invert on serving plate. Prick top. Drizzle and smooth glaze evenly over top and sides. Allow cake to absorb glaze. Repeat till glaze is used up. For glaze: melt butter in saucepan. Stir in water and sugar. Boil 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Stir in rum.

Many warm wishes for the new year and the new decade!  May 2010 bring you health, happiness, great adventures, and delicious meals with friends and family.

The Art of the Movie Makeover

With the New Year only a few days away, many of us are thinking about what our resolutions will be for 2010.  Paying off your student loan debt, getting toned Michelle Obama arms, learning how to make homemade fruit preserves, getting organized, or finally finishing that knitting project you started 4 years ago?  But maybe all you really need to start the new year off right is a simple makeover!  This is something that Little Sister and I both agree on.  Sometimes a new pair of boots, a haircut, or a colorful T is all it takes to change your whole attitude.  To get you inspired we've compiled a list of our favorite makeovers captured on film...

Calamity Jane  A good ol' tomboy turns girly and gets the guy story. The transformation scene also includes a home makeover set to song that is quite enjoyable.

Clueless  Rotating closet? Say no more.  A classic and the role of a lifetime for the late Brittany Murphy.

Cinderella  This old and wise tale could be the first ever makeover recorded in history.

My Fair Lady  The ultimate makeover title.  Whereas most movie makeovers are shown in a montage or a single scene, this entire film is dedicated to the Eliza Doolittle' metamorphosis.  It is after all, a process, not an event.

Pretty Woman  Yes!!

Roman Holiday   Because sometimes getting bangs is just enough to change your life.

Sabrina  Once again Audrey Hepburn stuns us all.  A year in Paris will always do the trick.

(see also: An American in Paris, Gigi, Amélie, and Ratatouille).

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers  Our one manly makeover on the list.  It's amazing what a clean shave, dancing lessons, and a jewel-toned button-down can do for a lowly back woodsman.

Strictly Ballroom  Don't be scared!  Just remove the thick lenses, get a hair straightener, apply some mascara, et voilà!  The vision of a lady.  It also helps to know the rumba.   

A special mention to makeover television programming:
What Not to Wear
And anything that Trinny and Susannah have ever done

What are your favorite makeover flicks?