Home is...where the belly is

It seems like every January when I get back from my 2+ weeks at home in the US I've eaten and drunk so much holiday cheer that I need to enter my flat in London sideways just to get through the door. It usually means a resolution is in store.

Most New Year's "health" resolutions revolve around exercise or diet.  Never one to jump on the bandwagon I like to switch things up just a little.

My January resolution?  Simply not bake.  At least for a month or so.  Add to that getting back into my fitness routine and trying to eat better than I did over the holidays (think candied bacon, doughnuts, creamy cocktails, and chocolate peppermint shortbread - to name but a few) and I should hopefully not need to widen my front door on a permanent basis.

So what did I get up to in the US?  Or rather, what did I get into I should say. My highlights were some repeats from year-on-year.

I do love tradition and ritual when it comes to my favourite holiday foods and excursions.  Something so satisfying about "tick boxing" your favourites meals you can only get when visiting home. As I say, home is...where the belly is.  Here are some highlights:

Asian food of note:

• CK Shanghai - 2x
• East Ocean City - 1x
• Lana Thai - 1x (although no fried crispy duck this year)

Lobster fest

• 4.5 pounds at $30 for New Year's Eve and we didn't even have to cook it (thank you Market Basket)
• Ritual lobster salad sandwich from the Lobster Connection

Christmas Dinner and Treats

• Foster's braised beef short ribs
• Garlic mash
• Roasted sprouts and bacon
• Chocolate peppermint shortbread
• Coconut and passionfruit cake with candied cranberries and strawberries (no real recipe follwed just copious amounts of heavy cream, passionfruit curd and butter)



Candied cranberries - my new favourite cake trick

These are a few of my favourite things...

As 2011 closed off in the unseasonably mild New England, I squeezed in some of my favourite eats of all time.  And when I say SQUEEZED, I mean that quite literally.  I was into my elasticised reindeer flannel PJ bottoms the week before Christmas.  I was a glutton.  But you do know, gluttony is good.  I think I may have single handedly pulled the US out from the economic crisis with my excessive mass consumption of alcohol, restaurant attendance, and general food consumption (the record was going to the grocery store 4 times in one day).

North Carolina BBQ,  my new favourite spot when visiting the Shinnicks:  http://hillsboroughbbq.com/

Lobster Connection (must be pronounced with a Yankee accent to sound like Lobst-AH Connection). I cry when home and this place is closed. 

 

Not much to look at, but my favourite holiday treat: Gingerbread blondies with white chocolate chunks.

Chocolate, pecan and caramel tart

Vino. Consumed with my two closest friends from University. That fact alone made everything taste wonderful! 

CANDIED BACON AND POMEGRANATE COCKTAILS.  Need I say more?

Say hello to Bob.  He was my date for New Year's Eve.