THE VILLAGE VOICE

For the French, New Year Means Good Oysters (and this was the tradition in my home growing up) "We are having oysters for Christmas and for New Year's Eve. The tradition is that you have to eat oysters for feast. So if there are no oysters for New Year's Eve, for instance, something is missing." (Jean Goese) "Oysters accompanied by white wine or champagne are eaten raw in France, scrapped out of their shells with tiny forks while still alive ..." (Eleanor Beardsley) OYSTER STEW (Christmas or New Year's Eve Favorite) 2  pints oysters in their liquid 10  Tbsp. unsalted butter 1/2  cup flour 4-6  stalks minced celery and leaves 2-3  minced large shallots 4 - 6  cups 1/2 and 1/2 or mix of heavy cream and milk Tabasco splashes to taste 1 cup minced fresh parsley freshly ground black pepper and sea salt to taste Strain and reserve oyster liquor. Strain oyster liquor again to remove any sand or grit. Discard...

"My only regret in life is that I did not drink more champagne." ~ John Maynard Keynes ~ L. Mawby Vineyard ( Leelanau Peninsula) ______________________ CHAMPAGNE SALAD with PEAR-GOAT CHEESE TARTS ~ A rich blend of autumn flavors from a treasured (November 2006) SOUTHERN LIVING clipping * 2 (5-oz.) bags gourmet mixed salad greens 1/3 cup dried cranberries Sugared Walnuts Pear-Goat Cheese Tarts Champagne Vinaigrette Combine salad greens and cranberries in large bowl. Arrange mixture on serving plate. Sprinkle evenly with Sugared Walnuts. top with 8 Pear-Goat Tarts . Serve immediately with Champagne Vinaigrette. (8 servings) Sugared Walnuts 1 1/2 cup walnut halves 3/4 cup sugar Stir together walnuts & sugar in heavy saucepan over medium heat, and cook, stirring constantly, 8-10 minutes or until sugar melts and turns golden brown. Spread mixture in single layer on lightly greased was paper: cool. Break into pieces; store in airtight container up to 3 days. Pear-Goat ...

Gardener's note: Fragrant sweet woodruff , a low-growing perennial herb, is an ideal woodland or shade tolerant ground cover. Its sweet smell intensifies as the plant dries ... perfect for strewing throughout the house as a room freshener. When in bloom, like the Germans, greet the season and rejoice ... it's time for May wine! ~ Sweet woodruff ( Galium odoratum ) _____________________________ MAY WINE ~ Once tasted, this simple pleasure will surely become a haunting spring ritual * 2 bottles Rhine or Moselle wine * a handful of sweet woodruff sprigs fresh strawberries & sweet woodruff flowers for garnish Rinse woodruff sprigs, and stuff into uncorked wine. Allow to steep several hours in refrigerator. Strain into wine glass & garnish with a fresh strawberry and pinched top of blooming sweet woodruff . ________________________ MAY WINE CHAMPAGNE PUNCH 1 gallon good German wine * handful of sweet woodruff sprigs 1-2 pints fresh strawberries 4 Tbsp. sugar champ...