For the first time, we didn't spend New Year's Eve with our regular group of friends. No one had party plans this year. Our great neighbors across the street invited us over for the Portuguese version of tapas and light snacks before ushering in the New Year. Our neighbors bought their home in our neighborhood a few months before we moved in. We are both original homeowners and this year marks the 10th year of this neighborhood. They are a very fascinating couple with two beautiful girls. The wife is Mexican American, raised in Chula Vista and her husband is Portuguese, but born and raised in Angola (in Africa). They met in Armenia (through their respective jobs) and courted each other in Angola and other parts of Africa. They all speak three languages. They are not only good neighbors, but people we are glad to be friends with. We can trust them with our daughter and vice versa and we watch out for each other, like all good neighbors should do. Unfortunately, not everyone on our street is as nice as them, but that's another post or rant for the future. My friend bought some of her tapas appetizers at Fresh & Easy such as the sliced Spanish chorizo, the pimiento stuffed manzanilla olives (oops, not pictured) and sliced of Serrano Jamon.
There were also American buffalo wings, sliced provolone cheese and also an Armenian braided cheese (Fresh & Easy) which was cut up in smaller pieces here, smoked salmon with capers, and a small plate of crackers. 
This is the Rosca de Reyes cake which is eaten traditionally during the holidays by Latinos. In Spanish, it is called Rosca de Reyes, but according to my neighbor's husband, they call it Bola de Rey in Portuguese. Normally the baby Jesus is baked inside the cake, but this one was outside. If you get the piece with JC, then you are supposed to host the next party. The colored strips you see on top of the pastry are dried fruit strips (guava and I forget the other flavors). The bread is kind of like Brioche. We've never had it before and we actually didn't eat it that night. Bert enjoyed it a few days later with his coffee.
Now this was a dish I really enjoyed. She made a Portuguese shellfish dish called "Almeijoas". These are supposed to be made with a certain kind of clam, but since they're not found here in the U.S., she used Manila clams instead. First you heat extra virgin olive oil in a pan with garlic slices.
Once the oil and garlic are a bit browned, add the clams and cover until they open.
Before serving, squeeze lemon juice on top and sprinkle chopped Italian flat leaf parsley. Serve with bread to mop up the sauce!
I've also seen version of this recipe where you can add white wine to the dish while the clams steam. In this version, it's just clams simmered in oil. I'm sure it's good both ways! We had white wine with this (as a beverage) and later on, a small shot of Porto.
While the adults were yakking away (yes, that's us), enjoying the food and all, the girls were at times, playing the Wii or ensconced in one of the bedrooms making a "tent" with chairs and blankets and playing Explorer. We watched on TV as the crystal ball dropped in Times Square, wearing silly hats and waving noisemakers. The girls had a blast. TC is normally never up this late and we all crashed when we got home. Luckily it was a short walk and we weren't drunk or anything. Here's to 2008 and hope that this year was better than the last! I resolve to try a new recipe at least once a week! Either that or a new ingredient. Let's see if I can do it.
There were also American buffalo wings, sliced provolone cheese and also an Armenian braided cheese (Fresh & Easy) which was cut up in smaller pieces here, smoked salmon with capers, and a small plate of crackers. 
This is the Rosca de Reyes cake which is eaten traditionally during the holidays by Latinos. In Spanish, it is called Rosca de Reyes, but according to my neighbor's husband, they call it Bola de Rey in Portuguese. Normally the baby Jesus is baked inside the cake, but this one was outside. If you get the piece with JC, then you are supposed to host the next party. The colored strips you see on top of the pastry are dried fruit strips (guava and I forget the other flavors). The bread is kind of like Brioche. We've never had it before and we actually didn't eat it that night. Bert enjoyed it a few days later with his coffee.
Now this was a dish I really enjoyed. She made a Portuguese shellfish dish called "Almeijoas". These are supposed to be made with a certain kind of clam, but since they're not found here in the U.S., she used Manila clams instead. First you heat extra virgin olive oil in a pan with garlic slices.
Once the oil and garlic are a bit browned, add the clams and cover until they open.
Before serving, squeeze lemon juice on top and sprinkle chopped Italian flat leaf parsley. Serve with bread to mop up the sauce!
I've also seen version of this recipe where you can add white wine to the dish while the clams steam. In this version, it's just clams simmered in oil. I'm sure it's good both ways! We had white wine with this (as a beverage) and later on, a small shot of Porto.
While the adults were yakking away (yes, that's us), enjoying the food and all, the girls were at times, playing the Wii or ensconced in one of the bedrooms making a "tent" with chairs and blankets and playing Explorer. We watched on TV as the crystal ball dropped in Times Square, wearing silly hats and waving noisemakers. The girls had a blast. TC is normally never up this late and we all crashed when we got home. Luckily it was a short walk and we weren't drunk or anything. Here's to 2008 and hope that this year was better than the last! I resolve to try a new recipe at least once a week! Either that or a new ingredient. Let's see if I can do it.
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