Holy Ravioli! (and Happy New Year)

Happy New Year from Sandholm Ranch! Due to this being our first New Year with a youngin' -- and a brand new one at that -- we rang in a very low-key, sober New Year at Mike and Sarah's along with Kevin and Laura and the three new 2006 kiddos: Claire, Christian and Sullivan. To be clear, I can't think of an amazing, out-of-hand New Year's Eve celebration that I've ever attended or been a part of, but at least this year I can blame my boring-ness on being a new mom. Can't wait until the kids are big enough to bring us our beers and mix us our drinks. That might result in the rowdiest New Year's Eve I may have yet. :)

On New Year's Day, Grandma Sandholm, Gabe, Sullivan and I were invited to David and Judy Hennessey's for their annual New Year's Day ravioli and sausage making bash. This was the first year we were able to make it; for the previous years we have missed it as Iowa was always in a bowl game on New Year's Day and -- being the dedicated Hawkeye fans we are -- we always prioritized Hawkeye football watching over being sociable and having a good time with others making great food ;). This year, however, the Hawkeyes' made it to a crap bowl game that didn't land on New Year's Day (and a game they still managed to lose), so this year we were able to see what this party was all about.







Needless to say, we had a great time, as the pictures show! Judy made Sullivan and Alistair their own little aprons and chef's toques to fully get in the spirit of the day. The guys were in charge of the sausage making, and the ladies were in charge of the ravioli making. I was able to help make about three trays of ravioli (only like 36 ravioli) until Sullivan called me away because he was hungry. By the time I got back into the kitchen, all of the ravioli was rolled, stuffed and finished! Oh, well -- there is always next year.

After everything was made, we ate ourselves silly on the approximately 50+ pounds of sausage that were made and trays and trays of ravioli. Very good eating, for sure! Making dinner with 15 or more other people is a pretty good time and a nice way to bring in 2007.