(† Although, unlike Mr. Buffet, I don’t recommend the white dinner jacket unless you happen to be spending junkanoo in the islands. In which case, opt for the fresh prawns in the recipe below.)

The swan-like Mrs. E. and I will be celebrating our tenth year of marriage on New Year’s Eve. We’re returning to the scene of the crime for dinner and evening drinks with our closest friends at The Jefferson Hotel. Black tie and a decadent dinner. Just the way we started things off when we first met a dozen years ago (Thank you JBT!)

Just because you’ve elected to avoid the madness of a night on the town this New Year’s Eve and stay in with a significant other doesn’t mean that you have to sacrifice an elegant meal together. In fact, with a bit of foresight, you’ve already laid in a stock of bubbly and are contemplating the joys of the evening to come. But what will you serve?

As long as I’m sharing all of my secrets for leading an easy and elegant life, I might as well let you in on my sure-fire dish. This was my standby for “first dates in” through college and for about a decade following. It has stood the test of time well and makes a fine impression. A word of warning, it will quickly become “that meal that you cooked on New Year’s, remember?” In short, a favourite memory and often requested repeat performance. Fortunately, it is as easy as it is elegant.

Easy and Elegant Life’s Shrimp in Champagne Sauce
1 Cup of sliced mushrooms
1 Tablespoon of Olive Oil
1 lb. of medium fresh shrimp shelled *
1 1/2 cups of champagne
salt
2 tablespoons of minced shallots (scallions are OK, too)
2 roma or plum tomatoes, diced
1 cup of heavy cream
1 box of angle hair pasta
chopped parsley

(* if you’re using frozen shrimp, opt for about half as much and “give them a bath” in lukewarm salted water to thaw them out and rehydrate them a bit.)

Start a pot of water to boil for the pasta.

Sauté the mushrooms in the olive oil over medium-high heat. As soon as the mushroom juices evaporate, remove the mushrooms and set aside.

Prepare the pasta.

Next combine the shrimp, champagne and salt in the pan and heat on high until they simmer. When the liquid begins to boil, the shrimp are done. Remove them with a slotted spoon and set aside. Add the chopped shallots and tomatoes to the liquid in the pan. Boil until the liquid is reduced to 1/2 cup or so.

Add 3/4 of the cup of heavy cream and boil a couple of minutes until the cream begins to thicken and reduce. Add the shrimp and mushrooms back in and heat through. Salt and pepper to taste.

Drain the pasta and return it to the pot. Toss with the rest of the cream and the parsley. Divide the pasta onto plates (this will serve four with a salad and french bread.) Spoon shrimp and sauce over pasta.

Pour bubbles and toast your success. Follow dinner with store-bought truffles and more champagne. Or peel some clementines, toss in some Grand Marnier and some superfine sugar, mix well and chill. Serve with the truffles and champagne.

Happy New Year.

I’ll have to admit to being more than a little harried this Christmas. The kids took notice of the holiday for the first time and despite repeated commentary about the “reason for the season,” the presents took over. Especially when the grandparents got into the act. Our home is awash in noisy, plastic, branded merchandise. They’re loving it.

So how does this fit into my normal posts about leading an easy and elegant life? My Christmas wish for next year is a little quiet time, especially with the kids. Maybe singing a few carols on Christmas Eve — my Mom plays the piano and can work her way around my keyboard with ease.

In the meantime, I’ll have to content myself with the repeated viewings of holiday favourites on the enormous TV. (Black and white films sample up very nicely on HD, by the way.)

Today’s recommendation is “Holiday Inn” starring Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire with music by Irving Berlin. To paraphrase the “review” the Inn gets: “Don’t ask why, just go watch. And God Bless America.” Yes, there are a couple of cringe inducing moments (Lincoln’s Birthday in blackface…..) but on the whole it’s a wonderful piece of filmmaking and costuming (if Mr. Astaire’s elegance can be so classified. He looks modern when many of his co-stars would stand out today.) So treat yourself to a little luxury after the madness.

“Come To Holiday Inn”
(Lyrics from SoundtrackLyrics.net)

If you’re burdened down with trouble
If your nerves are wearing thin
Pack your load down the road
And come to Holiday Inn

If the traffic noise affects you
Like a squeaky violin
Kick your cares down the stairs
And come to Holiday Inn

If you can’t find someone who
Will set your heart a whirl
Take your car and motor to
The home of boy meets girl

If you’re laid-up with a breakdown
Throw away your vitamin
Don’t get worse, grab your nurse
And come to Holiday Inn

My photography skills rank right up there with the rest of my artistic abilities…. (”You’re not going to draw again?” my art director would say…) but I thought I’d try and capture some of the wonderfulness of Monument Avenue. Monument is the only registered historic avenue in the US (I think.) At Christmas, everyone goes all out. It is far more magical than the photos let on.

Without further ado. “Mur Crismus.”