New Year's Resolution

While enduring my first semester as a doctoral student, I experienced firsthand the effects of all work and no play. Thoughts that occasionally went through my head include:

OMG Is this a new grey hair?!

Hmm what would make my life easier. . . .oh I know! I could just quit this doctoral program! That's a great idea!

One more minute of learning German/post-tonal theory or reading academic texts and I will surely have a f@*king brain aneurysm.

To avoid self-destructive thoughts this semester despite numerous obstacles (a degree recital in April, four additional major performances, still not being able to translate a lick of German, etc), I have decided that my New Year's Resolution is to "get a life." I have thought of dozens of ways to interpret this, and I have decided that the most important thing is to pick something social rather than solitary. I already spend enough time alone studying and practicing. While I would love to make a fool out of myself in a beginning dance class or become more active in Slow Food NYC, those things get expensive and time-consuming pretty quickly. So what is my activity of choice you ask?

Entertaining.

I am not naturally one to demonstrate initiative when it comes to socializing. By forcing myself to reach out to friends and inviting them into my home, I will experience the bliss of cooking for someone other than myself (and occasionally my boyfriend). For my first event, I decided on a small dinner party with the members of my flute, clarinet, and piano trio.

My goal is to create a casual, comfortable atmosphere that allows conversation to flow easily without my guests secretly plotting their escape (you know you've been there). I've decided on an easy four course menu with a middle eastern theme:

Aperitif

Rosabel

Cinzano Rosso Vermouth, creme de cassis, Prosecco

Appetizers

Platter of Kofta, Eggplant Caviar, Pita Bread, Pickles

First Course

Salad of Romain hearts, Cherry Tomatoes, and Cucumber with a Yogurt-Parsley Dressing

Main Course:

Shashuka with Fragrant Basmati

Eggs baked in a Spicy Tomato Sauce and served in a cast-iron skillet

Dessert

Date Ice Cream and Madeleines

Coffee or Mint Tea

Hopefully this isn't too ambitious. I plan on buying the eggplant caviar at Mimi's Hummus down the street (which comes with the pita bread and pickles) to save time and free up my oven for the kofta and Shashuka. Madeleines I can probably pick up from the Co-op.

I will try to post pictures from the dinner!