"Every
year, I like to invite lots of friends for New Year's Day lunch."
It's very casual;
my friends know to drop in any time. I have two big pots of soup
simmering on the stove: Cheddar Corn Chowder and Lentil Vegetable
Soup. [more]
I place everything on the kitchen table: a Baked Virginia Ham, a tossed
green salad, chunks of English Farmhouse Cheddar and Stilton from
Neale's Yard Dairy in London, a cutting board with Eli Zabar's wonderful
breads like the sourdough or health, and a tray of assorted shortbread
for dessert. We watch old movies all afternoon as everyone helps themselves
to the buffet in the kitchen. Everything's done before the first guest
arrives and it's a warm and cozy way for me to start the New Year
with my friends."
- Ina Garten
