Ringing in 2010--celebrations part 2

First, of course a random holiday photo that ain't so great but shows the lights and children playing pingpong in the street. Yes it's true and a bit odd, but nice. They also had other games such as ring-toss, Jacob's ladder etc scattered around for children to try....

And then for some funky tapas photos. Here is a typical snack which can turn into a meal if you have a few with a few drinks. Luckily the beers are small so it quenches thirst but doesn't make you slosh around or have to use the loo every half a glass. Different toppings adorn a small slice of bread, and they range from tortilla topped with ham and a pepper, or mixed tuna concoction (don't remember what it was exactly but it was yummy....)
to fancy prawn and cheese or curried chicken shishkebab. Mmmmm....the possibilities are endless and limited to your imagination, and oh so inspiring for this wanna-be tapas entrepreneur. :)

Who said tapas had to be conservative and boring?

Latest news from the experimental kitchen (yes, more food photos, haha):

First attempt ever at cannelloni: stuffed with spinach, feta, shrooms and walnuts and topped with bechamel with a twist--mixing things up! ;)

My contribution to NYE dinner--the classic, ever-popular and un-Spanish apple pie (their version of apple pie is open-faced and tart-like)! :)

New Year's Eve dinner

Late on Dec 31st, it was dinner time with the other side of Ruben's family. This time in attendance was aunts and uncles from his mom's side, and was a smaller affair. Still tons of food including prawns, ham, paté, foie gras, bread, wine, meat and desserts of more turrón and my apple pie (which was too small to have more than a tiny portion for everyone....oh well).

Fewer in attendance for this holiday feast with the other side of the family

After dinner, it was already getting pretty close to midnight (late Spanish mealtimes....plus a long social affair with lots of talking and slow savouring....) so the grapes were distributed in preparation for the big moment.

NYE tradition in this country calls for eating 12 grapes, in time the chimes of festivities of Madrid broadcast on tv. You have to eat pretty quickly to get them all in to the rhythm, and they aren't tiny grapes, but normal ones with seeds. Some people prepared their grapes by peeling and seeding them, but I figured it was my first time, so I should eat the whole thing authentic style. :) Before eating, you should make a wish and if you succeed in getting them all eaten to the chimes, then your wish will come true. I was too busy thinking about chewing fast that I forgot to make a wish! Oh well.....

Watch the video below for the actual goings-on in the house as we all watched tv and munched grapes (you will see me making funny faces as I try to film and eat simultaneously......) ;D

Watching the Madrid countdown and furiously chewing on grapes

Post-grapes activities involved toasting champagne (of course), hugs and kisses all around (including a very emotional aunt who was tearing up), doling out of presents (from that same aunt) and chitchat, accompanied by more sweets and drinks of various sorts.

Later on, we went to the flat of some of Ruben's friends and chatted and had some drinks for a while and then all caught a taxi into town. This took awhile since there was some issues getting one to arrive and when we did finally get one, of course it cost more than usual with the "holiday supplement". =P We spent more time talking in various bars (by this time, more listening than talking from my end) and then left to go home around........5:30am.....I was beat of course, but couldn't just run off....

New Year's Day began right before lunch, as of course there wasn't enough sleeping time before the meal, and we headed again to the same location, with the same attendees. The meal was lighter and prepared by Ruben's mom--a "regular" 3 course deal without doubt. :)

On Saturday the 2nd, I started off the new year having dinner with some students, as one of them has stepdaughters visiting from Australia (she's Argentinian but her husband is Spanish/Oz) who don't really speak Spanish. So what better way for her classmates to practise again? :) We went for a nice Italian dinner and stayed talking away in the restaurant till 1am--time flies when you're having fun eh? :)

Now that 2010 is well upon us, what are your resolutions? Post and share--if it's public, you are most likely to be motivated to keep them! ;D