Eggnog Pound Cake with Crystal Rum Glaze

It is New Year's Eve morning and I spending it putting away the Christmas decor. As I take one last look at all the beautiful and thoughtful holiday cards that were mailed to me, nostalgia hits. Memories. Magic. Love.

Yes, New Year's Eve is a day of enchantment, glamour, and the possibility of a kiss. There is a wonderful quote by Nora Roberts that seems to capture my sentiments about New Year's Eve, love, romance, and magic. "...Love and magic have a great deal in common. They enrich the soul, delight the heart. And they both take practice."

I do believe in magic; magically finding the one, falling in love, and living happily ever after.

Then there is my friend G.G. (Yes, he has the same initials as me.) who not only believes in magic but can also, do magic.

G.G. enjoys performing magic for entertainment, as an ice breaker when meeting new people, or just to make a stranger smile. He does all the standard magic tricks: making a quarter appear from one's ear, is this your card?, and the disappearing scarf. He has mastered his tricks by practicing, practicing, and then practicing some more.

I asked G.G. why he devoted so much time to his hobby. He replied, "...Magic gives me confidence, an openness to meeting new people, and freedom. It has no language barriers. It is a lot like falling love. Except with magic one falls in love with the mystery and illusion of the trick. It is a love composed of learning and secrecy".

I find what G. G. said to be true. There is magic in falling love, being open to meeting new people, and so on.

For instance, if I had not loved D., I would have never discovered how much fun rock concerts and running down the Indiana Dunes could be.

If I had not loved J., I would have never discovered how entertaining drinking beer, peeling peanuts, and watching a baseball game is.

If I had not loved R., I would not have had the motivation to finish school and become a healthier person.

G.G. ended our conversation by stating that every single person we care for brings a little magic into our lives. That magic being in the form of love, gives us strength, enjoyment, and prepares us for our soul mate.

Which brings us back to New Year's Eve ...a night where a single magical kiss at the stroke of midnight can turn into a world wind romance ...or have I had too much eggnog pound cake with crystal rum glaze?

Wishing all my friends and readers a magical 2010! Happy New Year!
Love, Gigi

Print: Eggnog Pound Cake

Pear Wafers

Oh yes, it's that time of year again. You know, the last meal before we impose starvation on ourselves. That's right, I am ranting about New Year's Eve and the "resolutions" the new year brings.

This year, I vow to "lose".....all the toxic people from my life. My good friend "K" and "C" know exactly of whom I speak of. And I plan on "losing" this toxic person in style.

I am thinking of having a glamorous New Year's Eve party with endless glasses champagne and fabulous eats. I will toast the New Year to being "toxic free."

I am pondering ...traditional champagne for our aperitifs and rose champagne for desserts. Which means a cheese platter with homemade crackers is order. These lovely pear wafers aren't exactly "crackers" but they add the "glamor" I am looking for.

The crisp pear wafers are stunning on there own and with a little blue cheese on top they are divine. The best part about the wafers is that they require hardly any effort.

As I look forward to the New Year, I hope it will bring me one year closer to finishing school, one year closer to moving home, one year closer to meeting "K", and one year closer to everything that life has to offer.

Happy New Year dear friends!!! May the New Year bring you closer to the "goals" you are working towards.

Pear Wafers
Donna Hay Issue 39

440 grams granulated sugar
2 sensation pears thinly sliced

Preheat the oven to 320F degrees. Place the sugar on a plate and press the pear slices into the sugar. Place the sugar sliced pears on baking trays lined with parchment paper. Bake for 15 minutes and turn the pears over and bake for another 15 minutes. Cool on wire racks until crisp.

Makes 12 pear slices