New Year's Eve

This day marks the closing of a year, and the official beginning of a new year. All accounts of the previous year are coming to a close which means any business you would conduct for the year must be finished in these next hours, and any tax deductions you wish to take must be completed in the next hours as well. The next year is but a mere speculation at this moment, all future business is at this point simply futures. For many individuals this is a great time of reflection of the events of the past year or years of their life. It is a time that adjustments can be made to their hopes and ambitions of the coming year, and the methodology in which they hope to achieve each of these great things.
The coming hours bring a close to the year of many firsts for you, however being ushered in is a year also filled with firsts for you and a few seconds. Your first Christmas, Thanksgiving, teeth, words, and many other firsts have been the highlights of the closing year for you. The great and wonderful things that are yet to arrive for you in this coming year is a small sparkle of light in the distance which can best be described as a prediction of a coming age. Your first birthday cake, first steps under your own power, and your first spoken sentence are among these amazing feats which one may assume will occur for you in this coming year.
I look forward to your future with great ambition of many fantastic events for you. It comes with understanding that I have created a planned course of action of the many things which I can do to make your future as promising as what it is in my power to assure. Even after all I have done to ensure that you are well fed, housed, clothed, and cared for in every way the rest will remain up to you. It is essential that you always maintain for yourself a great level of self respect and a positive attitude. With these you will be able to fully manipulate the outcome of how your future unfolds itself.
There is really no concrete and certain method that can be applied in order to ensure the desired outcome in anything which we do. Outside forces are constantly at work which may either help, hinder, or be indifferent to the projects we undertake. The best advise that can be given on the subject is that you greet every obstacle and stumbling block with the great power that is to be had in positive thinking. When things do work out slightly alternate to what was anticipated how you react will be a great reflection of your character and yourself as a person. There will be many individuals who help you to get to where you are going as well and it will always be essential that you treat them with much love, respect and dignity. As it is said, "Great men stand on the shoulders of giants." There will be hard times, and I am in no way promising you all rainbows and cupcakes in everything that you attempt to do. In fact much to the opposite of this I promise you hard times, unexpected obstacles, and disappointing let downs from the very people you thought you could trust the most to never let you down in any way. You are only human and all of those people around you suffer from this same shortcoming. Remember this, expect the unexpected, and no matter what treat each person and event with respect, an open mind, and a positive attitude.
I beg you my son to always see the best in people, always see the learning experience that accompanies the disappointments, and cherish every day the Lord gives you to be involved in the daily dealings of this world. Do your best every day to make someone else smile. Do your best every day to make yourself smile. I desire for you to have many years of reflections of great happenings at the close of the year. I hope for you to have great hope for many coming years to come.

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!" Philippians chapter 4



In closing I leave you with this recipe you may want to try out for your New Year's Eve party or celebrations:

Lamb Meatball Sliders

Ingredients
For the Meatballs:
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 cup diced onion
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon fennel seeds, chopped
1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary
2 ounces fresh goat cheese (1/4 cup)
1/2 pound merguez (spicy lamb sausage) or hot Italian sausage, casings removed
1 pound ground lamb
1/2 cup breadcrumbs
2 large eggs
Kosher salt
For the Sauce:
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 medium onion, diced
1 28-ounce can whole San Marzano tomatoes, crushed by hand
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
For the Sliders:
1/2 pound fresh goat cheese (1 cup)
2 1/2 tablespoons mascarpone cheese
1 1/2 tablespoons whole milk
1/8 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary
1/4 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
1/4 teaspoon chopped fresh dill
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
24 slider rolls
Pickled sliced cucumbers, for serving
Directions
Make the meatballs: Heat the olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until soft, about 3 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 1 minute, stirring constantly.

Stir in the coriander, fennel seeds and rosemary; toast 1 minute. Transfer the mixture to a large bowl and refrigerate until cool.

Meanwhile, roll the goat cheese into 1/2-inch balls (the size of marbles); set aside.

Add the sausage, ground lamb, breadcrumbs, eggs and 1/2 teaspoon salt to the bowl with the spice mixture and mix with your hands until just combined. Roll into 24 small ovals (about 2 tablespoons meat each). Make an indentation in each with your thumb, then insert a goat cheese ball and form the meat around it. Roll between your hands to make a smooth ball. Refrigerate until ready to cook.

Make the sauce: Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook until soft, about 1 minute. Add the tomatoes and their juices, red pepper flakes, 1/2 teaspoon salt and the sugar; cook until thickened, about 10 minutes. Add the oregano.

Add the meatballs to the sauce. Reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer until cooked through, about 10 minutes.

Assemble the sliders: Beat the goat cheese, mascarpone and milk in a bowl with a wooden spoon. Stir in the oregano, rosemary, thyme, dill, 1/4 teaspoon salt and a pinch of pepper. Spread the goat cheese mixture on each roll; fill with the pickled cucumbers, meatballs and more sauce.