We had a really great 3 day weekend. It is so nice when Todd can take an extra day off work. When you work for yourself, you don’t really just take holidays off because it’s a holiday. If he has work to do it still has to get done. He took a week at Christmas and that was really wonderful. And he took New Year’s Day off, too.
We spent New Year’s Eve at home. We put Hudson to bed, then ate a delicious Barefoot Contessa pasta dish. Here’s the recipe if anyone is interested. It was so easy and seriously so delicious. If it was part of my “make healthy choices” resolution, we’d eat it again next week! But it’s not. And we’re not. But it is yummy and I’d definitely make it for a crowd. It tastes a little more like Spring or Summer to me, but it’s South Carolina. Anything goes, right?
Ingredients
- Vegetable oil
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt plus 1 1/2 teaspoons
- 3/4 pound linguine
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 1/2 tablespoons good olive oil
- 1 1/2 tablespoons minced garlic (4 cloves)
- 1 pound large shrimp (about 16 shrimp), peeled and deveined
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves
- 1/2 lemon, zest grated
- 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (2 lemons)
- 1/4 lemon, thinly sliced in half-rounds
- 1/8 teaspoon hot red pepper flakes
Directions
Drizzle some oil in a large pot of boiling salted water, add 1 tablespoon of salt and the linguine, and cook for 7 to 10 minutes, or according to the directions on the package.
Meanwhile, in another large (12-inch), heavy-bottomed pan, melt the butter and olive oil over medium-low heat. Add the garlic. Saute for 1 minute. Be careful, the garlic burns easily! Add the shrimp, 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt, and the pepper and saute until the shrimp have just turned pink, about 5 minutes, stirring often. Remove from the heat, add the parsley, lemon zest, lemon juice, lemon slices, and red pepper flakes. Toss to combine.
When the pasta is done, drain the cooked linguine and then put it back in the pot. Immediately add the shrimp and sauce, toss well, and serve.
After dinner, we curled up on the couch and watched Shakespeare in Love (which neither of us had ever seen, but we did happen to own the movie. Still in its original packaging). When the movie ended, it was still only 11:00, so we watched some horrible New Year’s Eve programming and waited for midnight. Around 11:45 we went upstairs and got in bed and stayed awake long enough to give each other and kiss and wish each other a Happy New Year. Eventful, huh? But definitely cozy and just what I wanted.
On New Year’s Day we watched a good amount of football and I spent most of the day psyching myself up to prepare my first traditional New Year’s Day meal of black eyed peas, collard greens, and pork. I turned my black eyed peas into hoppin’ john and I soaked my collard greens in bacon grease and added bacon to the pot. Also not part of “make healthy choices,” but both of the traditional dishes were tolerable, if not delicious. I made a pork tenderloin. My favorite. And we really enjoyed the whole meal. I was actually quite surprised at how well everything turned out for a first-timer.
I think it’s pretty remarkable that Hudson has been alive in two different decades and he’s only 7 months old. He turned 7 months old today! So you know what that means.
Monkey pictures tomorrow! (and tonight I’ll be watching Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs so I can share it with all of you!)
Our New Years sound very similar. I have eaten my weight in collards and black-eyed peas, and had a cozy and calm eve. It was glorious! Hudson is so cute! I think he has grown since I met him a week and a half ago. Hee. Also- I love that Ina Garten recipe. Her cookbooks are always realiably delicious.
I’m looking forward to your review of Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs. I have heard there is a peanut allergy/anaphylaxis scene. As mom to a food-allergic child (peanuts and eggs), I’m anxious to read as many reviews as possible before seeing the movie (though we’ll probably get it from redbox and I’ll watch it first, anyway).
The yummy foods and low-key holiday sounded nice! We were also low-key around here – though we did travel between the holidays – and I really enjoyed it! (PS – check your hoppin’ john link)
Finally, happy 7 months to Hudson! He’s adorable!
He’s just a doll, and I love all his outfits! Sometime I’d love for you to post about where you find cute baby clothes…I’m having a boy in 7 wks and it’s so much harder to shop for boys than girls it seems!
Your little man is always dressed so cute! And his smile just kills me–adorable! We had a very low key NYE as well, I made a nice pasta dish too and we just relaxed. Sometimes it’s just nice to have a quiet evening–even if it’s a traditional “party” night.
All your cooking sounds delicious!
Our NYE was very quiet also. I am finding that I enjoy it more this way. Actually, New Year’s Day was my first attempt at cooking (and eating) collard greens. I must say, your version sounds must tastier than mine, as all I knew to do was the old-fashioned boiling. Yuck. I’ll have to try yours next time!
Everytime you post photos of little Hudson, I swear that he gets cuter and cuter! Seriously, you’re little guy is darling 🙂
Cannot wait to try out that recipe! We love a good pasta with lots of butter!
I just watched Shakespeare in Love for the first time a couple of weeks ago…I really liked it! In fact I was kinda shocked I hadn’t ever seen it.
Hudson is such a cutie!
I reeeeeally wanted to see Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs in 3D at the theater but I couldn’t convince Evs that we needed to spend another $24 (those 3D movies are $$$) on another 3D cartoon (we saw Up in 3D). I loved the book as a kid and saw it at Barnes & Noble this week!
Correct me if I’m wrong, but you look like you’re really getting down on the floor to take pics of Hudson (using different angles) !!! That last one is really great! The last two, actually!
Hudson is just so adorable, does he ever stop smiling! You always take such great pictures.
I am SO jealous of your New Year’s. We only went out to our neighbors house, but I just LOVE the idea of spending the evening at home with my husband and enjoying one another’s company. And being in bed to celebrate the New Year! Sounds awesome to be!
I just watched that movie also! And … would love your reciepe for collard greens & black eye peas.
I love simple NYE! I think they are way better than the hyped up ones. And your baby boy couldn’t be any cuter…his smile is huge!! 🙂
Y’alls New Years Eve sounds a lot like ours. Except we didn’t even stay away til midnight! Oh well.. wouldn’t have had it any other way!
that boy is insanely cute 🙂 such a happy boy 🙂 i miss him! i need to hold him again real soon. your nye night sounds delicious, all of it 🙂