NEW YEAR NOODLING

THE NEFF ZONE -- BY JIM NEFF

DECEMBER 28, 2024

THIS COLUMN WAS NOT PUBLISHED IN PRINT OR ONLINE BY THE CADILLAC NEWS 

The new year is almost upon us. This week is a perfect time to entertain some items that may make 2025 more interesting. 

First of all, many folks will stay up late on New Year's Eve to witness a ball drop. Don't waste your time watching the tenth best drop in the country. “The best New Year’s Eve ball drop isn’t in New York City’s Times Square, according to USA Today readers. It’s in Northern Michigan. Ludington, the only Michigan destination included among twenty contenders, came out on top. Meanwhile, Times Square was tenth.”

The rankings contain some pretty inventive drops. Ludington’s New Year’s Eve Ball Drop (Ludington, MI), Idaho Potato Drop (Boise, Idaho), New Year’s Eve Shrimp Drop (Amelia Island, FL), Pierogi Drop (Whiting, IN), The Great Pinecone Drop (Flagstaff, AZ), PEEPS Chick Drop (Bethlehem, PA), New Year’s Eve Beach Ball Drop (Panama City Beach, FL), The Possum Drop (Tallapoosa, GA), Pickle Drop (Mount Olive, NC), and the Times Square Ball Drop ( New York City). (https://www.mlive.com/life/2024/12/up-north-town-wins-best-new-years-eve-ball-drop-beating-times-square.html)

Another Michigan drop merits some consideration. “Houghton, in the upper peninsula, will celebrate the new year with its second annual New Year’s Eve Chook Drop. The YooperChook is a high-quality fleece hat made in the U.P. That 'reflects the spirit and resilience of Yoopers.' This NYE celebration will include a countdown as a a large, lit-up red chook with a white puff is lowered for a crowd.” (https://www.mlive.com/life/2024/12/this-up-town-celebrates-new-years-eve-with-a-chook-drop.html)

While you're watching a drop, some snacking may be in order. For something a bit out of the ordinary, you might construct a charcuterie chalet. “Looking to jazz up your charcuterie presentation.? Try this festive DIY that transforms a platter of cured meats, cheeses and accouterments into an adorable edible chalet.”

The ingredients for this masterpiece require some creative thought. You might use pretzel rods to build the house, bagel crackers for the roof, cream cheese to hold the house together, and salami for the walkway. More construction suggestions and photos at: https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/food/story/bored-boards-make-charcuterie-chalet-holiday-occasion-116720825. 

Something easier and less time consuming than a charcuterie chalet takes a cue from one of my favorite brews – Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. The Pale Ale Beer Cheese dip goes well with crackers or pretzels. “This beer cheese is a crowd favorite that disappears fast. Baked to golden, melty perfection with aged white cheddar, it’s the ultimate party pleaser.” Prep and baking time is thirty minutes total. See the recipe at: https://sierranevada.com/blog/food-beer/pale-ale-beer-cheese. 

If you're traveling by airplane to a drop, a fun fact about beverages could come into play. “Soda really does taste different in the air. It turns out that there’s an actual, physiological reason for the shift in soda taste we experience while flying.” 

There's science behind this. “The combination of low air pressure and cabin dryness dulls taste buds and messes with our odor receptors, leading to a decrease in sweet and salty flavor detection of about thirty percent. Ginger ale is one of the few carbonated beverages that’s better 30,000 feet in the air. The dulling of our sweet receptors means it comes across as sharper and more flavorful in the sky.”  (https://www.popsci.com/science/ginger-ale-plane-weirdest-thing/)

Speaking of beverages, making toasts to the new year is pretty common. This time around, an innovator deserves some kudos. “A Michigan man turns a scrap SUV into shelter hoping to help those without homes.”

This makes sense because it's so logical. He explains: “There’s still a lot of value in a junk car. In terms of structure, shelter, and durability, it still has a lot to offer. By cutting out the floor of a junk car to create enough height for someone to stand, it’s turned a discarded vehicle into a functional, secure space that offers far more than just a place to sleep. It’s incredible that you could create a shelter for someone at no cost. The shelter could be used by homeless veterans, FEMA, Red Cross, and others. What if thousands of cars could be donated to people in need?” Check out the video at: https://www.abc12.com/news/mi-innovator-turns-scrap-suv-into-shelter-hoping-to-help-those-without-homes/article_a8b96bdc-bf18-11ef-b059-2ff2beff68e9.html.  

A great way to begin a new year is with laughter. For this there is a sure way to guarantee some belly guffaws. BuzzNet offers: “Big Dogs Who Think That They Are Still Tiny Puppies.” There are sixty photos of the massive cuddlers. “These big dogs never want to grow up, and who can blame them? Here's a hilarious list of dogs that want to be puppies forever, and owners who let them. Just wait until you see the huge St. Bernard who thinks he's six pounds.” (https://www.buzznet.com/2024/12/the-giant-dogs-who-think-theyre-puppies/)

I particularly liked a couple of the Fido photos. There's one of a guy who rides a scooter with two Old English Sheepdogs. The dogs weigh one hundred pounds each. Another scruncher is Rex who wants to be included during bath time even though he's the size of the tub. These photos give you a chance to welcome the new year with a hearty howl.  

Jim Neff is a local columnist. Read Neff Zone columns online at CadillacNews.com and NeffZone.com/cadillacnews.