TWHC, January 11, 2014 §

The 2014 TWHC†, as has become the norm, proceeded much the same as its predecessors, with mostly familiar faces in attendance. Once again they joined with friends, family, and newcomers, to bring a closing cheer to the holiday season just past. It also afforded them the opportunity, in Posole Tradition, to appreciate their blessings, to remember those that have since passed, and to reaffirm their New Year Resolutions.

My welcoming remarks were again short, with the usual explanation of the origin of the event and my past New Mexico Holiday Tradition given only a bare mention, to avoid audience ennui. This year, the main-dish Posole ingredients of the past, like those found in HMFP†, were completely absent. Rather, I served a main course of Chile Verde con Salchicha†, which I again believed would better fit my dietetic guidelines than Posole. The remaining menu bore a great resemblance to those of earlier years.

Although many in attendance lauded the dish, I felt that it fell short of previous presentations due to its composition. It was not as thick a stew as had been provided in past years, and because of this, the earlier diners ladled out more of the meat and vegetables than became available to those last in line, who only got a dish of what I would call more of a soup than a stew. In future parties, this lesson will be remembered.

Appetizers
  • Chile Con Queso y Refritos Dip with Corn Scoops†
  • Various guest-supplied appetizers
Beverages
  • California Merlot and Chardonnay
  • Margarita cocktails†
  • Katrina cocktails†
  • Beer, various and sundry varieties
  • Raspberry Lemonade†
  • Diet Coke, Root Beer, and 7Up
  • Bottled water
  • Guest-brought bottles
Dinner
  • Chile Verde con Salchicha†, with options
    • Buttered tortillas, corn and flour
    • Sliced avocado
    • Taubasco sauce†
    • Cilantro sauce†
    • Bhut Jolokia sauce
    • Leaf oregano
  • Farmer-Brown Mac &Cheese †
  • Camilla’s Taus Mahal Salad† with Skinny Cardini Dressing†
Desserts
  • Pumpkin pie†
  • Carb Smart® vanilla ice cream
  • Bob Woelffer’s Cookies
  • Other guest-provided goodies
Finale
  • Coffee
  • Continued access to Beverages, as above