We are really looking forward to ringing in the New Year tonight. We have quite a bit of celebrating to do. We just turned in our 232-page cookbook manuscript (aka our baby) to our publisher today, yes TODAY. WOW! We canโ€™t believe our due date is already here. We have labored for months and we did it. Itโ€™s been many a late nights writing, editing, cooking, and more editing. We have spent countless hours preparing for each and every photo shoot, shopping for props worthy of each dish and lots of testing and re-testing of every recipe. Our biggest challenge was making sure everyone could replicate our familyโ€™s recipes without too much fuss. The intense photo shoots were exhausting, to say the least, but all the eating and drinking afterwards was like one big fiesta. We gained a few extra pounds along the way too but it was all worth it (somebody had to do it).

We are thrilled to have this blog as our refuge for all good things to eat, drink, and worth celebrating. So today we want to thank you our readers who came, hung out, and are still with us today. Weโ€™ve done a lot in the last year. Thank you for reading our stories, reliving our adventures, and making our recipes. We love it that you take the time to leave us your comments; it makes us feel all warm inside. Itโ€™s a big world out there, this cyberspace, so weโ€™re sending out a virtual abrazo (hug) to each and every one of you for embracing all that is muy bueno. Simply stated, without you, our blog would be a very lonely place.

Thank you Grandma, who is up in heavenโ€ฆThank you for having been an extraordinary mother and an even better grandmother. We love you, and all our lovely memories of you will live on in our hearts.

We are thankful for each and every one of you who read our blog and we are eternally grateful to those who leave us your thoughts and comments. We raise our glass to you and we look forward to 2012 with great anticipation. From our casita to yours we wish you all a new year filled with many blessings.

Happy New Year y Prรณspero Aรฑo Nuevo!

What are you most thankful for in 2011 and what do you look forward to the most in 2012?

recipe >ย Sparkling Hibiscus Champagneย Cocktail

Photography byย Jeanine Thurston