YOU can have all the
New Year’s hoopla
with big parties with a
bunch of strangers, but
that’s not for me.

Bringing in any new vear
needs to be done with those
nearest and dearest. It ought
to be accompanied by some
fine food, excellent wines

-and convivial company.

It must involve some ret-
rospection: laying out the
good and the bad of the pre-
vious year and sorting every-
thing out, leaving no loose
ends to be tied up, so the
new year can begin fresh —
at feast in your mind.

Then, as magic midnight
approaches, you're ready to
begin laying some plans,
setting some goals and
putting time aside in the
coming year’s busy sched-
ule for some activities to
look forward to.

Whether the group
you’re sharing that with is
only one, two, a family ora
dozen or more dear friends
doesn’t matter,

So, you choose the
friends or family you'd like
to be with, and Ill provide
some suggestions for the
nibblies you share while
you reminisce or gaze into
the crystal ball.

Mom’s Fish Spread

This is just delicious
served on crackers or those
cocktail rye bread slices. I
had a bunch of teenagers
taste-test it the other night
and they all wanted more.

Cooking two perfection

4 oz. tuna

7.5 oz. sardines

3 Tbsp. ketchup

1 Tbsp. lemon juice

1 Tbsp. worcestershire
15 drops tobasco

Drain a tin of water-
packed tuna and two tins of
sardines and dump them into

Ham, Cheese and Spinach Bites

These look and taste good, but Mince ham and grate well-aged

they're not diet food.

% package puff pastry
3 c. fresh spinach

4c. minced ham

4c. grated cheddar
1-2 green onions

a flatish bow! where you can
easily smush everything,
together with a fork. Add the
remaining ingredients and
thoroughly mix it all togeth-
er. Test and alter the ingredi-
ents to your taste.

Potted Cheese

As the name implies this
is probably of British origin,
as my Mom was, and it’s
extremely rich. Don’t even
think about fat or choles-
terol, just enjoy it on crack-
ers.

1 Ib. aged cheddar

4 lb. butter

4c. brandy

1 Tbsp. worcestershire

dash tobasco

Soften the butter and
grate the well-aged cheddar
cheese. Blend the two, then
add the brandy and season-
ings and work it into the
butter and cheddar mix.

For a different flavour you
could substitute sherry, wine
or beer for the brandy.

This should be packed
into small crocks, pots or jars
and ripened at feast 48 hours
in the fridge before using.
Makes a delightful gift.

— Uf vou have questions to ask
or recipes ta share, contact Plrl
and = Jude — at: 1592
MeNanghton Rd, Kelowna,
B.C. VIZ 282.

cheddar (you could substitute a swiss
cheese or even a cream cheese for a
milder flavour), and mince green
onions before adding ail to the
spinach and mixing well with salt and
pepper, cayenne pepper if you use

cheddar.

Roll out puff pastry and use the

4 tep. cayenne
salt and pepper to taste

Chop raw spinach and cook until
just limp. | do it in a large glass mea-
suring cup in the microwave for about

filling in either small rolls or bite-sized
turnovers. Other refrigerated doughs
or home made ones could be substi-
tuted to enclose this filling.

one minute.

”

we *

x
Oe

fi HOD

NEWS phcto Mike Wakefield

POTTED cheese and crackers make a simple but
festive snack for New Year’s celesrations.

RAC

402 Wiest 1st Ave. Vencomer ridge St. Coquitiam
872-7225 — wwwracketiect.com 528-7225._-

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