Had not thought about transforming it into soup - that's a good idea. With both sons home from college, we'll eat it all, but that's a good idea for the empty nesters once they go back.

I am working my evening job and my husband is working til 9 tonight, so our sous chef (19 year old son ) is making the Hoppin John. He has started college this year and has found his cooking skills to be a great ice breaker at school.

the weather is finally decent enough for soup. Other than that, there's all kinds of football snacky stuff.

greens, Marcella Hazen's Braised Parmesan Carrots, some kind of slaw, and cornbread.

Baked potato, sauteed onions and salad. A brownie for dessert.

And Julie's Organic Blackberry ice cream.

Then off to a friend's house where I'll be grazing on appetizers all evening. Good thing I rowed 10k this morning!

but seeing I landed at the airport just before the ball dropped, I'll try to make it sometime this week.

I guess it's a northeast thing (maybe not?) - baked stuffed shrimp on New Years Eve. And not just any shrimp, it's those U6-8'ers (6-8 per pound size). I'll have to check out the grocery to see what's in the seafood case.