We totally lucked out with the weather on New Year’s Eve. It was 51 degrees in Chicagoland and we had no problem grilling our dinner out on our deck in t-shirts! I am just happy all the dirty snow is melted. 😀
We have stayed in for New Years for as long as I can remember – too many assholes out there. We usually do a surf and turf, and this year was no exception. I decided to make it a progressive dinner – we had appetizers around 6:00, then dinner around 9:00 and then a tasting plate of cheese, sausage and crackers around midnight.
I did his and hers appetizers. Tony loves escargot. The first time I tried it was when we were in Florida together right before we got married. The smell of the melted herbed butter with garlic was intoxicating! But I took one bite of the snail and almost tossed my cookies – I did dip my bread in the butter though!
While we have had it in restaurants with puff pastry on the top, I decided to bake two of these:
I already had the snails in our pantry – you can buy them at Whole Foods and Fresh Market – only $4.99 a can. I baked the puff pastry separately, then set aside to cool. Next I used my muffin tin and put 5 snails in each tin (using a 6 muffin tin pan), put in a healthy tablespoon of butter into each cup, added garlic, salt, pepper and parsley. Bake at 450 for 15 minutes.
I then spooned the mixture into the puff pastry cups. Tony loved it! 😀
My appetizer? Goat cheese stuffed jalapeno poppers. I mixed 2 ounces of crumbled goat cheese with 2 tablespoons fat free cream cheese, then whipped that together. I cut three jalapenos in half, divided the cheese mixture among the six halves, then dipped each one into panko bread crumbs and baked at 450 (since the stove was already at that temp) for about 7 minutes.
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Then Tony took over for the entree – grilled steak with lobster tails. He takes all the lobster meat out of the shell, dices it up pretty big, puts fresh rosemary on the bottom of the shell, and then pours a tiny bit of butter over the top. These cook in a cast iron skillet on the grill until the lobster is cooked through.
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We had a pretty low key weekend actually. The usual housework, laundry, cleaning etc. We took down all our Christmas decorations much to Tony’s delight. He would be happy if I put up the tree Christmas Eve and took the tree down on December 26! I did a clean sweep of both our fridges, freezers and deep freeze. I actually had to climb into my deep freezer to clean it that’s how big it is! I bought these canvas totes from the Dollar Store which work out perfectly. I have a tote for chicken breasts, red, meat, veggies, etc. Love starting the year somewhat organized 😀
Do you subscribe to Food Network’s magazine? I absolutely love how they have a picture for each dish and as soon as I saw the split pea soup with smoked turkey I knew that was going to be made. I have never even cooked with a smoked turkey leg before – but it ended up having about 14 ounces of meat on it!
Split Pea Soup with Smoked Turkey
Course: main meals
PointsPlus™ Value: 6
Servings: 9
Preparation Time: 5 min
Cooking Time: 420 min
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Course: main meals PointsPlus™ Value: 6 Servings: 9 Preparation Time: 5 min |
Ingredients
1 pound(s) dry split peas | |
2 cup(s) Carrots | |
14 oz cooked skinless dark meat turkey (one smoked turkey leg) | |
7 cup(s) water | |
1 cup(s) celery | |
1 Tbsp dried parsley | |
1/2 tsp table salt | |
1/2 tsp Durkee Pepper, Black Ground |
Instructions
Pick over dried peas and rinse. Place in bottom of crock pot. Add celery, carrots, salt, and pepper and mix well.
Add the smoked turkey leg to the top of the peas. Cover and cook for 6 hours.
Remove turkey leg and let cool. Pick off meat and toss back into soup, cook an additional hour.
Top with plain yogurt and serve with bread if desired.
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Some other memorable meals from the weekend – chili mac – 1 cup of my Buffalo Chicken Chili with 1 cup whole wheat shells with baby spinach and dashes of Frank’s hot sauce – 11 PointsPlus:
And a 4 oz. sirloin burger with Dijon mustard, 1 ounce pepper jack cheese, dill pickles and lettuce on a Rudi’s Organic Whole Wheat Bun and 3 ounces of potato fries on the side – 16 PointsPlus.
And I lucked out this weekend that Hannah didn’t have to work so much, so we made our almost weekly trip to Goodwill. I got a couple great finds – this french bread bowl cost $3.99 – its made from California Pottery and this particular dish is selling on eBay for $25 😀
![new years eve 136](http://biz319.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/new-years-eve-136.jpg)
And normally they have all their good purses locked up, but when I was walking along the wall of regular purses, as soon as I felt this one, I knew it was 100% leather, the stitching was perfect, and the hardware was sturdy – I bought it for $6.99 – and purses by this same manufacturer sell for between $45 and $125 dollars! I couldn’t find the exactly the same one I bought, but I think I made a great deal!
Has anyone ever heard of this purse before? You can tell I am not exactly with it with designer bags!
And now if you’ve made it down this far. . . the winner of my New Year’s Giveaway is . . .
24
My number one goal is to move out of my mother-in-law’s house. And it had BETTER happen, or else there will be a homicide and someone will end up in jail. Which one of those two I will be is anybody’s guess at this point, as is who the other person will be.
I am going to put my number two goal as well, which is to lose the last 17 pounds that would officially put me into the “normal” range of the BMI. I’ve got a whole year – surely I can accomplish that!
Congrats Morgan! Send me your address to mybizzykitchen@gmail.com 😀
Stats for Friday:
- 46 points (including my 30 point NYE dinner!) 😀
- no exercise
Stats for Saturday:
- 43 points
- 55 minute treadmill workout which included a 41 minute 5k
Stats for Sunday:
- 34 points (with 30 flex points left for the week)
- no exercise
Off to the gym to swim – make it a great day! 😀
Looks amazing!! I loved the warmer weather on NYE!
What a terrific celebration dinner! Amazing what’s in the bottom of those freezers
Dave
happy new years biz!!
I had no idea you could buy snails in a can….that’s so gross!
I wouldn’t even be able to touch one 🙂
Other than that, your New Years feast looked awesome!
And I love that french bread bowl too 🙂
Looks like a wonderful New Years! I love that you do a special meal.
Goat cheese stuffed jalapeno poppers! That sounds amazing!
what a great new years! i love the surf and turf tradition! the split pea soup sounds awesome, i’m going to keep my eyes open for smoked turkey legs the next time i go to the store!
I am so not patient enough to go through our thrift stores, but I’m always so jealous when people find hidden gems.
I <3 lobster, but haven't had it in far too long. So loving all that butter!
Happy New Year, Biz!
I have a couple of Tiganello purses – bought at TJ Maxx, of course – they are really nice. You did get a bargain! But I have to say that I am disturbed at the thought of fruit in your new dish – it clearly states “French Bread” – you must follow directions! 😉
I could not do snails, but I love how you and Tony had your own special appetizers. And LOL on the tiny bit of butter on the lobsters! Looks like it was a fun night.
Congrats to Morgan – her comment cracked me up.
Oh, your split pea soup looks wonderful. I haven’t made it yet this winter, but I usually do. And I never pick through the dried peas…think I am tempting fate?
We had seafood( me) and steak( partner) on NYE too. I have 2 tignaniaello purses. I got both at TJ maxx for 30 and 50 each. I also get food network magazine. I was a charter subscriber so I got 3yrs for 10 bucks( total). Great deal. My partner and I joined WW on Dec 31st. We’re doing great so far. Thanks for the inspiration.
The bag you bought is a good bag. There are on the same level as Nine West, Liz Clairborne. Not as good as say Coach but Coach is not up there with Prada or LV either.
My mom loves there bags and they do hold up well.
Congrats to Megan – funny post [but I think she is serious!] and the 17 is going to be easy peasy girl! You go.
I love the idea of the split pea soup with smoked turkey – I don’t make it with ham anymore because of the sodium so maybe a turkey leg would be less….one can hope! 🙂
The best part of escargot is the garlic butter reduction. YUM. I could eat it with bread all night long. Thank heaven for no salt butter.
Hi Biz, LOVE the photos of your New Year’s feast!! And LOVE the finds at Goodwill!!! I love thrift stores. Takes a bit of digging, but you really can uncover some treasures! (and you certainly did!!) Have a great Monday!!
Happy NY, Biz!! Congrats to the winner — I’m jealous!
The lobster AND the split pea looks fantastic! The weather over the weekend was STUNNING — I want it back!!
Puff pastry cups, stuffed peppers, & lobster – what a delicious menu! I really want to live in your house! 🙂
The french bread bowl is lovely! What a great find!
Have a great week!
Your NYE dinner looks fantastic! You did really great keeping your points at a good range while still having amazing food.
I hope you have a great 2011!
heres to more delicious meals in 2011 – HAPPY ABUNDANT JOYOUS AND GENEROUS NEW YEAR to you and yours.
I should introduce you to my SIL – she is a thrift store queen. I have actually owned Tiganello purses… you got a great deal!
I love the idea of a progressive dinner on New Years… maybe we would stay up until midnight if we knew there would be snacks.
We had steak and lobster for New Year’s too!! It was soooo good. Nice grilling weather 🙂 I think I’d have to skip the snails too. Happy New Year!
Looks like a delicious New Year’s Eve, Biz!
I love going to Goodwill, too! You can really get some great finds!
Wasn’t the weather on NYE divine??! Loved it. 🙂
And I get Food Network mag, too. That magazine always makes me hungry, though!