Ringing in the New Year
January 2, 2012 2 Comments
Well, so far Real 2012 is pretty great!
The morning of New Year’s Eve I went with a group of friends from church to watch the Aggies FINALLY win a bowl game! That hasn’t happened in ten years, so it was great to win, even if it was the Meineke Car Care Bowl. At least it didn’t have “.com” in the bowl name, right?
That night I went with three friends to the New Year’s Eve party that was held at our favorite place to go salsa dancing. It was just like any other Saturday night at The Village ($5 for a 30 minute lesson and hours of social dancing), PLUS a free glass of champagne! I have been going to salsa lessons/dancing consistently since the end of summer, and it is fun to enjoy the progress I have made. It is also really fun to share the salsa dancing fever with friends!
with Ellen at The Village for Salsa!
The next morning, we went to church and then lunch with friends, but the highlight of my day was Swiss fondue! We have a friend, Stephan, who is from Switzerland, and after graduating he moved back home. He was in town visiting his girlfriend, Brennan, who we know from church, and they invited us over for fondue. It was great to catch up, see pictures from their travels around Europe, and share culture, food, and community. I truly believe that food is one of the greatest gifts from God. Food brings people together, food is delicious and therefore enjoyable, food sustains our bodies, and food represents our personalities and cultures. Eating meals together is such a fun way to enjoy the people you love!
I have had fondue before once or twice, but never legitimate Swiss fondue! I learned quite a few things about fondue:
1) I didn’t know that fondue is a traditional Swiss dish that they eat every wintertime. I never really thought about where fondue originated, I guess. Apparently it’s Swiss! Also, Stephan insisted that real fondue was made in a ceramic, not metal, pot.
2) I had no idea that it’s not just melted cheese- it is melted cheese mixed with wine! Something about the melting point of cheese/preventing it from burning. (But also probably a little bit because Europeans like wine.)
3) The Swiss tradition says that if your bread/fruit drops into the fondue, you must kiss the person seated to your left! Comment of the night from Ellen: “I wish there were more boys here!” For the record, the only bread dropping/kissing was Brennan kissing Ellen on the cheek.
4) After the cheese is mostly gone, and there is a little burnt bit at the bottom, you are supposed to crack and egg in the pot and let it cook. Then you dip the rest of your bread into the cheesy egg goo, and eat it. This egg cheese mixture? It’s called “the grandmother” in Swiss-German. So great!
I hope the start of your 2012 has been as magical as mine!
What a FUN new year you have had! Fantastic! : )
Who knew fondue had so many interesting facts about it?