A Peaceful New Year's Eve

No, really. Even with a party going on downstairs, for Chuck and me things were calm and quiet.

We played Scrabble and I made some homemade caramel popcorn and we toasted in the New Year with sparkling fruit juice (we were, after all, responsible for all those kids downstairs, who were remarkably well-behaved).

Not a bad way to spend many people's least favorite holiday. I think there is just so much pressure put on the New Year, it's hard to get into the required festive spirit. There is all this baggage of the previous year to reconcile and huge expectations for the coming year. It does us good to remember January 1st is just December 31st's tomorrow. That's all. No more onus on the day than any other day -- and just as much promise.

My caramel corn recipe, for those interested:

In a brown paper grocery bag put 16 cups air-popped popcorn (approx. 1 cup unpopped)

Place in a glass microwave safe bowl:

1 cup brown sugar
1 stick butter (1/2 cup)
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup light corn syrup

Microwave on high for about 5 minutes, stopping to stir at 1 minute intervals, until bubbly. (Alternatively, you can do this on the range top in a heavy pot until bubbly).

Take off heat and stir into mixture:

1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. vanilla

Pour this over popcorn in bag, close bag and shake well. Place in microwave on high for a total of five minutes as follows: 2 minutes, shake; 1 minute, shake; 1 minute, shake; 30 seconds, shake; 30 seconds, shake.

Pour into large bowl and stir a little more. Allow to cool and stir to break up.

(You can also add up to 2 cup of whatever nuts you may want. I like cashews, personally...)