TWHC, January 7, 2012 ‡

By now, our friends and neighbors have pretty much gotten used to coming to the Taus Mahal every year in mid winter to join in revelry with friends, family, and newcomers, to reflect on their blessings, and to resolve betterment of their future states. It has become the practice, just recently, to hold the gathering early in January, directly after the winter holiday season, when guests are less stressed with the pace of other commitments of the season. It thus has become necessary, consequently, for those in attendance to retain the spirit of the just-ended holiday season for just a little longer.

The old timers can almost recite by rote my regular welcoming remarks and mantra about the significance of Posole in the New Mexico Holiday Tradition. They know to bring an appetizer, bottle of wine, dessert, or other item to share, if they wish. They know that dinner, however, is on me--no interference there! This year was no exception, and hardly bears inclusion here, except for nostalgic purposes, and to remind me not to use the same brand of hot sausages in future. For those less disposed to piquancy, the HMFP was too spicy, even without pungent side condiments.

Appetizers

• Famous Queso Dip†
• Various guest-borne nibbles

Beverages

• California Merlot and Chardonnay
• Margarita cocktails†
• Katrina cocktails†
• Beer, various and sundry varieties
• Lemonade
• Diet Coke and 7Up
• Bottled water
• Guest-borne bottles

Dinner

• Holy Molé Frijole Posole†, again
• Buttered tortillas, corn and flour
• Sliced avocado
• Taubasco sauce†
• Jalapeño sauce
• Bhut jolokia sauce
• Leaf oregano
• Farmer-Brown Mac & Cheese†
• Mixed green and tomato salad with Skinny Cardini Dressing†

Desserts

• Pumpkin pie†
• Carb Smart® vanilla ice cream
• Vanilla-Chocolate Swirl ice cream
• See’s candies
• Guest-borne goodies

Finale

• Coffee
• Margaritas
• Katrina cocktails
• etc, as above