Carol was a well-known cook around this little town in the ’70s through the ’90s. She was the strongest woman I’ve ever known. She was a single parent of three kids and always worked two jobs or 70-plus hour weeks. I miss her every day and I cherish the good and bad memories.

Carol was known for lots and lots of incredible recipes. This one is a keeper and for a special occasion like New Year’s Eve. My hubby and I stay home and watch the grandkids … (My father always called New Year’s Eve amateur night LOL). Baked stuffed lobsters is what’s being served at the Hallinan house — bring on 2019.

OK, ingredients list ... Lots of people are asking  me to be more specific, I’ll be honest I don’t measure anything ... but I’m going to do my very best. My awesome hubby brought home four 1 and 1/4 pound lobsters so this batch of stuffing is for four lobsters. One and an a half sticks of butter (melted), four packs of Ritz crackers, two tablespoons of minced garlic, five tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce, almost a whole jar of chili sauce (12 oz.), add half a jar and mix to get a nice wetness, one teaspoon of onion powder, pinch of pepper and my secret ingredient, the tomalley — it’s the green mass in the body. I only use the tomalley out of two of the four lobsters; people tell me it’s not good to eat a lot of it. Everything good’s going to kill ya, lol. Mix all together; it should be wet and moist.

Now for the hard part, some people have a hard time cleaning out the lobsters; after you do it a few times it gets easier. Put the lobster on its back, take a sharp French knife and start at the head with a hard stab so you hit the brain and they die pretty quickly. Proceed to cut down through the body. I’m afraid they still move around even after you clean the brain and the insides out. Sorry, trying to prepare you first timers.

OK, stuffing time: Divide the Ritz cracker stuffing between the four lobsters. I wrap my claws on my lobsters with tin foil (necessary, no). My mom would say it would help prevent the meat in the claws from drying out. Preheat your oven on 375 degrees and cook for one hour. Let sit for five minutes then dig in.

Please everyone, enjoy bringing in a new year. Have fun, stay safe and be kind. I’ve had an awesome 2018 for the most part. Enjoying my family and friends. Thanking my Mom for teaching me her ways.                                                                       

Live, love and laugh — last of 2018.

Cheers!