Certain people, I’m told, are particularly susceptible to taking their parents seriously, just as they might be to sunburn, or T.B. I believe it, especially around New Year’s Eve, when a trio of my Mom’s personal aphorisms begins to clang around my head.
“Don’t drive after dark: the drunks are out.” Kinda true, and especially relevant. Not only do New Year’s Eve activities happen in the dark, but most revolve around drinking. Plus, this being Los Angeles, I drive wherever I’m going. Looks like I’m not going anywhere.
“Don’t breathe other people’s exhalations.” Admittedly one of her more bizarre pieces of advice, but no less applicable. Parties, by their very nature, are full of people, and people (the unhygienic monsters) consistently breathe. Best I stay at home. (And ask my boyfriend to direct his exhalations out an open window.)
“Nothing good ever happens after midnight.” Forget seeing the ball drop. I’ll be desperately trying to will myself to sleep at that point, avoiding whatever general “not good” waits around to pounce on people in the wee hours.
Goose is so easy to make, I don't know why more people don't make it especially at Christmas, when it makes you feel so totally gentile. But, here's one caveat: a huge goose feeds a surprisingly small number of people. 
Probably one of the best ways to sample Italian wines is in a pairing with Italian cucina especially when chefs of note are involved in the preparation and choices, and so it was one evening. To celebrate the Holiday season this very special event took place at Market City Café in Burbank, California. Together the Executive Chefs from the MCC Hospitality Group joined forces to produce a superb repast – seven courses of fabulous Italian food paired with Italian wines from Tuscany, Umbria, Asti and Friuli Venezia Guilia near the Slovenian Border. The bustling restaurant on the edge of the Burbank Mall was bright and shiny with Christmas decorations and sparkling lights, and a lot of excited and happy people, all looking forward to a very eventful evening and willing to forget all their dietary conditions and the no-nos that many nutritionists and doctors want to place on food loving folks!
I never understand how something becomes a day (or a month, for that matter -- November is National Pomegranate month. April is Grilled Cheese Month.) Washington’s Birthday and Lincoln’s Birthday suddenly became President’s Day? And who picked the date of Memorial Day? 
Do you love coconut as much as I do? If you do, then these Rice Krispie Coconut Snowballs are going to make you smile. The Rice Krispies become this sugary coconut delivery system. What could be more perfect?