My Wish for You in 2008

May peace break into your house and may thieves come to steal your debts. May the pockets of your jeans become a magnet of $100 bills. May love stick to your face like Vaseline and may laughter assault your lips! May your clothes smell of success like smoking tires and may happiness slap you across the face. May your tears be those of joy, and may the problems you had, forget your home address! In simple words.... May 2008 be the best year of your life!!!

Have you started YOUR list of potential New Year’s Resolutions? Click here for the countdown to New Years!

Happy New Year!!! Pop the Balloons!

************** The History of New Year's Resolutions The tradition of the New Year's Resolutions goes all the way back to 153 B.C. Janus, a mythical king of early Rome was placed at the head of the calendar.

Saint Basil and other January HolidaysWe have had this cake and it is quite tasty. I wrapped the coin in aluminum foil so it would be easier NOT to bite down upon it. Of course I sterilized the coin first. ****************** *******************

Lucky Food in Greece The Greek tradition of eating Vasilopita (a cake baked with a coin inside) originated from the famously high taxes that the Ottoman Empire imposed on the Greek people during the long Ottoman reign. It is believed that a Bishop of Greece, through some miracle, managed to recover a large portion of the Greek people's riches from the Ottoman's grasp. When he attempted to return the riches to their respective owners fighting among the Greek people broke out -- no one could agree on who had owned what! The second miracle of the story unveils itself here: Saint Basil asked the women to bake a large cake with the valuables inside.

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When he sliced the cake, the valuables miraculously found their way back to their rightful owners! Today, a cake is baked in honor of this miracle and one coin is baked inside of it. The person who bites into his piece of cake and finds the coin will be blessed with good luck in the year to come.

St. Basil's Cake (New Year's Eve Cake)

******************** This cake from Greece is usually cut just before midnight. The person who gets the piece with the coin is believed to have good luck in the upcoming year.

****************** Serves 8-10

* 10 Eggs, separated

* 8 ounces Butter

* 3 cups Sugar

* 2 ounces Brandy

* 3 Oranges

* 1 Lemon

* 1 1/2 Tablespoons Vanilla

* 6 1/2 cups Flour (self-rising)

* 1/2-cup Sesame seeds

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* 1 Coin (wrapped in aluminum foil)*************

** Whip the egg whites until stiff.

** Cream together the butter, sugar, and egg yolks.

** Fold into the whites.

** Add the zest and juice of the oranges and lemon.

** Add the brandy and vanilla.

** Sift the flour and add it to the mixture.

** Add the coin. Grease and flour a round cake pan.

** Pour the mixture in.

** Sprinkle on the sesame seeds.

** Bake at 350 for about an hour or until firm in the middle.