So here it is, the first day of 2012. I lay in bed this morning thinking about time. It’s such a mysterious phenomenon, and really, something we just made up to glue ourselves to some sort of reality. If we all agree that this is 2012, then we’re all connected and attached to the same real estate. We’re not just drifting out there bumping into each other occasionally but unable to compare notes. It creates relativity: just in time, it’s about time, time to get up. So, OK, happy New Year! I need coffee.
I spent last evening with my neighbors/friends Ann, Wall, and Sarah. We had agreed that we would see in the New Year by watching favorite movies at home and eating snacks. At the last minute, Ann, a wonderful and creative cook, decided that she would make crab Benedict for dinner, so we began the evening with that. She used crab cakes from Fresh Market (Note to self: these exist and are fabulous! Place on grocery list.), and placed them on a bed of fresh arugula and chopped avocado, then topped them with poached egg and homemade hollandaise. Here’s a picture (This is a food blog, right?).

Ann Wallis' Crab Benedict
And let me just say, it was every bit as yummy as it looks! We did, of course, also have the aforementioned snacks while watching the movies. I brought green dip (recipe follows) with Krunchers potato chips (AKA, crack) and carrot and celery sticks just to create the illusion of “healthful,” dried fruit, and Godiva truffles. I discovered a lovely bubbly white wine at Schnucks that is a nice compromise between too dry “champagne” and too sweet Asti. It’s Mumm Napa Cuvee M. We watched Mars Attacks! – a satire from 1996 starring everyone alive in Hollywood at the time, and a Steven King story starring Johnny Depp (my man) called Secret Window. Johnny does crazy/spooky/funny so well. The triumph of the evening was that I managed to stay awake, without dozing even, until past midnight and through the entirety of two movies.
Green Herb Dip (From Ina Garten, I think. I clipped it from a magazine and don’t have the context.)
(Makes 2 cups)
8 oz. cream cheese at room temperature
½ c. sour cream at room temperature
½ c. good mayonnaise, such as Hellman’s
¾ c. chopped scallions, white and green parts
1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill
1/4 c. chopped cilantro or parsley
½ teaspoon kosher salt
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Place all in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Pulse 10 to 12 times, until just blended, but not pureed. Serve at room temperature.
Jeanne Silliman
January 1, 2012