Menus for a Memorable New Year’s Celebration

Posted by Todd Porter & Diane Cu  on Dec 27, 2011 in 2012, Cooking, Easy to make, Holiday, Holidays, how-to articles, Menus, New Year's, Party, Recipes | 0 comments

Few occasions can hold a candle – or champagne bottle — to New Year’s celebrations.  It is a moment to reflect on the past year and look forward to the future. And whether you choose to surround yourself with friends and family or go out celebrating amidst strangers, it is the time to party.

Even for those of us who love to cook and be in the kitchen, it is time to let loose and have fun. We make the New Year’s menus are quick and easy to cook, like small appetizers and easy noshes. We also make sure that dishes are light on the stomach, too. It is hard enough for half the populace to stay up until midnight, let alone if the evening’s dining offerings are putting them into a food coma.

If you are going out somewhere and are bringing a dish, bring something representative of you and what you love. Every year Diane and I ring in the New Year at the dojo where I practice aikido. Many of us will get together practicing through the stroke of midnight, then we join one another and have a potluck gathering. Some will bring a Japanese dish, others some tapas, and others perhaps a classic American mid-west dip.

It is beautiful to see the reflections of everyone’s cultures and tastes in the midnight meal. For Diane and I, we always bring Vietnamese fresh spring rolls, especially since Sensei’s family loves them so much. Sometimes I’ll also bring along some of Grandma’s fudge or some of my favorite cookies too … have to satisfy the sweet tooth.

If you are the host with the most, and are responsible for the all of the evening’s consumables, you can have a great food line-up and still have an easy night in the kitchen. It all comes down to logistics and menu planning.

Have dishes which don’t monopolize your time in the kitchen. You’ll be too busy socializing with a champagne glass in hand to spend the party hidden away in the kitchen (although the call of the kitchen does allow for a great escape from a boring conversation). Think of dishes and appetizers which can be prepared ahead of time in large batches, can be quickly finished, and hold up to long periods of being out to serve.

Maybe rosemary or curry roasted nuts, your favorite chicken wings, blinis are fantastic with champagne, dips with veggies or crackers, a refreshing cucumber salad is always nice, and don’t forget some sweets. You’ll want to make something easy to grab and walk around with — this is a social occasion.

To make your New Year’s gathering memorable, create a simple, yet stellar menu for everyone to enjoy. There’s nothing better than bringing in the New Year with friends, loved ones, great drink and good food.

Here are some great recipe ideas to add to your New Years Menu:

• Frozen Peach Bellini from @Bellalimento
• Holiday Berry Champagne Cocktail from @JoyZhang516
• Asian Chicken Wings from @SteamyKitchen
• Siracha Honey Buffalo Wings from @WhiteOnRice
• Cookie Dough Dip from @AddaPinch
• Stove Top Crab Dip from @WhiteOnRice
• Lemon Poppy Seed Blini from @thekitchn
• Honey Walnut Shrimp from @UserealButter

Happy New Year everyone!

Tags: Easy to make