Shopping for New Years Eve

Today we went shopping for all the goodies for New Years Eve. By we, I mean almost the entire family. Hubby, both daughters, one son-in-law, both babies and me. Sound a little strange? It was. You see our New Years Eve is a little different from most people. It has nothing to do with being Jewish. We just don't care for the whole going out and getting drunk thing. So, we do a Shabu Shabu dinner. Depending on who you talk to, this is either a Chinese or Japanese celebration meal. It is sometimes called Hot Pot. Anyway, it consists of a very large pot of simmering broth which each person adds to. Sea food, very thinly sliced beef, (or pork) vegetables and a bunch of other things are all added to the spicy broth at the table. You eat what you put into the broth. It's a really good time with great food. But the foods needed can't all be found at your local market. So off we went to the Asian market. Son-in law had a great time looking at all the foods he had never seen/ tried before. (He bought some) Miss Mim enjoyed looking at all the fish, lots and lots of different kinds. Most of them were whole so they really looked like fish. Daughter #1 was busy finding all the ingredients and keeping track of her two little ones. Daughter #2 was busy trying to keep her hubby from buying everything that caught his eye and helping daughter #1. Hubby was having fun WALKING around the store. Yup he walked it. And of course he was buying what looked interesting to him too. Me, I had a great time watching everyone. I helped shop, played with the kids, pointed out things to both hubby and son-in-law. A good time was had by all. Now Friday night we get to have our Shabu Shabu Dinner and enjoy all the wonderful things we bought to go into it. (I am fond of the fish balls.)