New Year's Day, 2009

Today we celebrated New Year's day in a way that comes close to being a family tradition -- we've celebrated this way not every year but definitely many years. We're visiting Barbara, my college roommate, and her family. Last night - New Year's Eve - we watched (on TV) the ball drop in Times Square. Today we went for a walk in John Bryant park, then stopped by Young's Dairy to eat ice-cream and feed the goats. Back at the house, Barbara served up a slew of hor d'ouevres, and then served the traditional meal of pork and sauerkraut with mashed potatoes, apple sauce, and peas. Yum.

Barbara's Buffalo Chicken Dip

(quantities below are approximate)
8 oz. cream cheese
1/2 cup Frank's Red Hot sauce
1/2 cup ranch dressing
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
10 oz. chopped, cooked chicken breast
tortilla scoops or chips (or celery)

Soften cream cheese in microwave. Combine all ingredients (except tortilla scoops or chips) in 9x13 glass baking dish, and bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes. Serve with tortilla scoops or chips.


Barbara's Chili Cream Cheese Dip

8 oz. cream cheese
1 pkg. Sky Line frozen chili (just meat, no beans)
4-8 oz. shredded cheddar cheese
tortilla scoops or chips

Spread cream cheese in 9-inch pie pan. Cook chili (microwave for ~6 minutes), then spread over cream cheese. Add shredded cheese and microwave to melt the cheese. Serve with tortilla scoops or chips.