backstage - new year's eve dinner

this semester has been crazy -- haven't had time to cook at home much since sept. but tonight (or yesterday night) -- i had my redemption -- we were cooking from 6pm till almost midnight 2006, with 6 courses and really nice pinot grigio, super tuscany tinorso 98, and prosecco. For most of the dishes we didn't even bother digging up recipes - improvisation is more fun :)

The only regret though, is that i forgot to drizzle truffle oil on my raviolis. what a shame!

rolling out dough with rolling pin -- a pasta machine is the next to-get. can't find semolina flour yet. all-purpose flour for now. also the dough really should be done the night before. my lab schedule is to blame.


raviolis cut into really cute shapes :) it's a bad idea to go shopping 1 hr before savenor closes - most mushrooms got really dry - only portobello and shitake are in reasonable shape.


One minute in boiling water is enough for freshly made pasta.


the strawberries are so nicely arranged that taking any piece away would destroy the overall harmony. courtesy of sueann (both the strawberries and picture).


sueann using chopsticks to save our drowning strawberry!


a promising one.


a scary one.