I did it.

I ate everything I wanted. I declined nothing. I munched on The Lucas' Stilton cheese and Christmas cookies. I devoured the Hatsop's Smoked Turkey. I lingered in Sarah Jones' orange rum cake and her sugar dusted cookies. I slurped up pumpkin soup, prime rib, mashed potatoes, squash puree, green beans, salted nuts, Nanny's almond toffee, fruit, smoked salmon, North Haven oysters on the half-shell, a standing rib roast, sliced ham, boursin, frittata, my sister's egg nog and many, many glasses of wine. 

Do I feel the slightest twinge of guilt or remorse at my gluttony? Not a bit.

And hey, it's still the holidays, technically. It's the week after Christmas and during New Year's so we're allowed to keep up the momentum of indulgence throughout the week. We don't have to start The New Regime until next week. It's a good thing too, because for New Year's Eve we are having a catered dinner at our house. At my insistance we ordered Wahoo fish (although we only have 4 people there is an 8 serving minimum). Fish is perfect I argued because few people can cook it well at home. Besides, it's less fattening. So we ordered the Wahoo and crab cakes for appetizers. Once the order was placed (and firm) we learned our guests do not eat fish. Frantic calls to the caterers resulted in an additional order of pork tenderloin, serving 8 again, for just four people. So now we have dinner for 16.

Which means that on New Year's Day, normally the day of some restraint if not repentance, my husband and I can indulge in yet another enormous holiday meal. Just to kick off the New Year with a slug of my ham-hock calves.