Tonight we play until 2020 is just a memory! Over the holidays we keep a stack of games handy in the cabin. The backgammon board is within easy reach as is a deck of cards for a few quick rounds of Gin Rummy. One of my favorite memories of my mother in law Ruby was playing mahjong. She was a FIERCE mahjong player, spending long weekends with her girlfriends playing well into the night. I didn’t play but was convinced by R to join a game he was playing with his mother. “I’ll help you” he said as I sat down. I was unsure, slowing play at the table. Luckily I didn’t speak Tagalog because I know Ruby was telling me to leave the table to the real players but not before I paid her her money.

When R joined our family, he slid right in to our holiday game tradition. He and my mother would play Gin Rummy in silence, like cold blooded killers. They were ruthless at the card table.

My game is backgammon and tonight I will try to distract R with his favorite foods and a bottle of champagne. I’ve filled a few tiffins for us to enjoy while we play - one sweet and two savory. These little snacks are easy to put together early in the day and then store in the refrigerator for later. It’s fun unpacking the tiffins and then sharing during a break in play.

The sweets include a slice of Prantl’s Burnt Almond Torte, a favorite from my time living in Pittsburgh and now available on goldbelly.com. It arrived yesterday and is just as I remember it. You can fill yours with anything you love and variety of small portions will be enough for a delicious New Year’s Eve feast.

New Year’s Eve Menu

Sweet Tiffin

Prantl’s Burnt Almond Torte | Chocolate covered strawberries | Homemade shortbread

Savory Tiffins

Shrimp Cocktail | Sushi | Anne’s Pate | Curried Walnuts | Blue cheese Stuffed Olives | Honey chevre on gingersnaps

Champagne

Happy New Year and I hope your celebration is wonderful. Mabuhay!

XO

Julie