New Year's Eve at Our House

Many years ago when we were young and our children were small, we began a New Year's Eve tradition of eating a fancy dinner at home. Budget constraints, the hassle of hiring a babysitter and fighting crowds had no small part in the decision to celebrate "in." I created a recipe that was a blend of several favorite seafood ideas that I had tried previously and called the new creation: New Year's Eve Shrimp. No expense was spared in selecting the freshest and finest shrimp available. After all, we were saving by staying home. I spent the afternoon taking off the shrimp shells, chopping onions, measuring spices, squeezing lemons, and setting the table for the night. The mise en place technique would ensure that I could enjoy the meal with my husband. The actual cooking time is very short. New Year's Eve Shrimp is always served on my best china. The sterling silver flatware and crystal stems also make an appearance. The candle wicks are trimmed and lig