Happy New Year!

New Year's is a great time to have a brunch or buffet and tomorrow is 2009 —a good reason for a celebration! Here is a sampling of some great food and drink specialties to help you ring in the New Year!

Oyster Stew with Artichokes 2 cups shucked, fresh oysters, including juice 1 (14 oz.) can artichoke hearts, drained 1 lemon 1 leek, chopped (the whole leek) 1/4 cup butter 2 T. flour 1 cup fish broth (or chicken) 1/2 cup white wine (or champagne) 1/4 cup cream 2 T. chopped parsley Dash cayenne pepper

Drain the oysters and reserve a quarter-cup of the juice —set aside. Chop three artichokes finely —quarter the others and set these aside. Chop the zest from the lemon very fine to get one teaspoonful —set aside. Melt the butter in a saucepan, add the chopped leeks and sauté for five minutes. Stir in the flour and cook for two minutes, and then add the broth, slowly stirring until smooth and thickened. Stir in the wine and oyster juice and bring to a boil. Add the cream and then reduce the heat to a simmer until the sauce thickens. Add the quartered artichoke hearts, lemon zest and parsley, and return to a simmer. Add the oysters and cook for three minutes or until the oysters curl at the edges. Sprinkle a little cayenne pepper on each serving. Serves two as a meal or four as an appetizer.

Chocolate Raspberry Martini 3 oz. raspberry flavored vodka 1 oz. créme de cacao, white chocolate flavor 1 Hershey's Kiss® chocolate

In a well-chilled martini glass (frosty from the fridge) combine the vodka and chocolate créme de cacao —drop the Kiss into the glass and serve. Delish!

Champanita 1 sugar cube Bitters Champagne (or sparkling cider) Lemon wedge or slice

Place the sugar cube in a martini glass or tall wine glass. Add two to three drops of bitters. Pour the champagne over all and serve with the lemon on the rim.

Rum Dum Punch 4 oz. pineapple juice 6 oz. orange juice 6 oz. lemon or lime juice 1 fifth light rum Sugar

Combine all of the ingredients —taste and add sugar to achieve the desired sweetness. Chill for one to two hours. Place a block of ice in a large bowl. Pour the punch over the ice block and add a quart of ginger ale or club soda. Serves 15 to 18 people.

New Age Spinach Pie 9" unbaked pie shell 3 scallions, diced 1/2 cups sliced mushrooms 1 T. oil 1 1/4 cups Swiss cheese, grated 1 T. flour 3 eggs, beaten 1 1/4 cups low-fat, plain yogurt 1 (10 oz.) pkg. frozen spinach, thawed & drained 1/2 t. salt 1/4 t. pepper 1/8 t. nutmeg

Sauté the scallions and onions in the oil until they are soft. Place the grated cheese in the pie crust and then add the scallion-mushroom combination. Mix the rest of the ingredients until well blended —pour over the cheese mixture. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees and bake for 30 minutes or until set. Serves six.

Have a safe and healthy New Year!