UBC January 2025 - New Year's Eve

Hello and welcome back to January's UBC! Posting late today. I've been sick last week and still catching up at work... 

Today I will tell you about our New Year's Eve.

Fortunately, I didn’t have to host Christmas dinner for my parents this year, but New Year’s Eve was a different story. We invited our friends, with whom we have been celebrating for many years, and I spared no expense or effort to make it a night to remember.

Despite my good intentions, the preparations turned out to be a Herculean task. I went shopping a few days in advance and officially started the cooking marathon on Sunday. By "cooking marathon," I mean turning my kitchen into a battlefield of flour, sugar, and a little bit of chaos. 

My ambitious menu included homemade Spätzli, a cheesecake with a base that was essentially a giant homemade brownie cookie (because why not add more complexity?), and decorated gingerbread men that looked like they’d been through some adventures of their own.

As the hours ticked by, it became increasingly clear that I had bitten off more than I could chew. Everything took far longer than anticipated. 

The gingerbread men, however, turned out quite good despite their earlier rebellion. But the real decorating challenge came with the cheesecake. I decided to make a topping by freezing cranberry jam in a reindeer-shaped cookie cutter. When it came time to transfer it onto the cake, the reindeer’s rear leg stubbornly refused to come out of the cutter. After much effort (and a few choice words), I managed to free it—but the poor reindeer looked like it had suffered an unfortunate injury. Let’s just say it added character to the dessert!

When the clock struck midnight, the table was full of food, the guests were full of compliments, and I was full of relief. It’s safe to say the hard work paid off. Everyone seemed to genuinely enjoy the meal, and I’ll admit I was a bit proud of what I’d pulled off.

The evening wasn’t just about the food, though. Our friends shared stories and photos from their recent adventure on a huge ship navigating the “Northwest Passage,” traveling from Iceland through Greenland to Canada and Alaska. Along the way, they admired towering icebergs, observed countless water birds, and even spotted polar bears and seals. Their photos were breathtaking—a vivid reminder of how vast and beautiful the world can be.

On a bittersweet note, this was the first year Colin didn’t celebrate New Year’s Eve with us. He was invited to a friend’s house instead. It felt a bit strange not having him there, but as they say, “it’s the way of the times.” Kids grow up, and traditions evolve. All the more reason to savor the moments we do get to share, whether it’s over a glass of champagne, cheesecake, or a slideshow of polar bears.

Here’s to another year of making memories—and hopefully biting off slightly more manageable amounts!