The beautiful and damned new year

Happy new year, all. The past two weeks have stumbled past in a blur of reunions, snowpocalypses, boozing, and feasting. As we slowly emerge out of our collective holidaze into the cold harsh reality of January, here's a peek at 2010's final debaucherous moments and a few of the culinary gems that emerged amidst all that revelry.

A sampling of every sparkling wine found at Mecca (aka TJ's wine shop)...

Drunk munchies for the Beautiful and Damned NYE Soiree

We don't mess around in my apartment when it comes to hosting parties. Holidays are excellent excuses to throw elaborate affairs that use our OCD powers for good - baking! cleaning! chalkboard drink menus! Why wouldn't you use Powerpoint to format hors d'oeuvres menus?  This year, rather than brave the B&T swarms on NYE for the third time (look, we finally learn!), my roommates and I threw a Great Gatsby themed soiree, replete with baked goods and more alcohol than even we were capable of consuming. For our sweets-loving guests, there were homemade mini donuts, Christina's delicious monkey bread, stir-me-nots (recipe below), and Smitten Kitchen's spicy gingerbread. Hey, if you're gonna indulge, why not just flat out gorge? 'Tis the season after all...

MORE FOOD!

Stir-me-nots (aka crack bars)
A childhood favorite and quite possible one of the easiest desserts to throw together in a pinch. Dangerously easy in fact. Before you know it you're making these bars of joy weekly and running 20 milers to compensate. Whoops?

1/2 cup melted butter
1 1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs  (about 3/4 of one of the three packets in a graham cracker box)
1 cup shredded coconut
1 - 12 oz bag of chocolate chips
1 can - 14 oz condensed sweetened milk
1 cup chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  While waiting for the oven to warm up, pour melted butter into a 13 x 9 in. pan. Sprinkle crumbs evenly over butter, then top with coconut followed by the chocolate chips. Drizzle condensed milk over ingredients and top with nuts. No need to stir anything! Bake 35-40 minutes, and enjoy how awesome your apartment will smell. Resist the temptation to immediately dive into the yumminess and allow the bars to cool completely. Cut into squares and devour.

Strawberry Margarita Punch
Adapted from Food Network's Raspberry Margarita Punch
Consider this a classy version of college jungle juice - fresh berries, lemonade, sugar, and lots of tequila make for a deceptively tasty punch. 

2 cups strawberries, pureed 
1 large container frozen lemonade
1 quart water
2 cups orange juice
2 cups tequila
1/2 cup sugar
3 lemons, sliced

In a food processor, blend strawberries with lemonade concentrate until smooth. In a large bowl, combine raspberry mix with water, orange juice, sugar, and tequila. Float sliced lemons in punch. You'll be feeling like you're at a boozy West Egg party in no time.