How to Cooking Tips

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New Year’s Eve Party Food Ideas

 

Want to throw a fun New Year's party with great food? Sometimes it's hard to come up with the right menu – foods that are familiar but not boring, or new and interesting (but likable), are best. Here are some tips on how you can combine new with old to create a unique New Year's party menu.

 

 

 

* Fondue – Fondue is one of those party foods that never seems to go out of style. You can use a crockpot if you don't have a classic fondue pot. You can serve cheese fondue with toast squares and fruit, or chocolate fondue with fresh fruit and cheese.

 

* Vegetarian meatballs – There are so many great recipes out there for vegetarian meatballs, many of which contain flavorful chopped nuts. These tangy “meat” balls can be served as hors d'oeuvres or with rice as a stand-alone dish.

 

* Roast – A prime rib roast is a fairly extravagant but traditional New Year's Eve main course. If you're serving it buffet-style, you can have it carved thinly and served with baguette slices and condiments. That will also help the meat go further.

 

* Ham – Less expensive but just as appropriate as roast, a ham is a festive and traditional food to serve on New Year's. Like the roast beef, you can set it up so guests can assemble sandwiches. Honey-mustard glazed hams are popular. You can also serve it studded with cloves, pineapple slices, and maraschino cherries.

 

* Shrimp – From shrimp cocktail to coconut-coated to kabobs, shrimp lends itself very well to a party menu. You can also make shrimp dip with tiny canned shrimp, cream cheese, minced onion, and lemon juice (best served with potato chips or crackers).

 

* Fruit kabobs – Brightly colored and easy to eat, fruit kabobs make great New Year's party food. Assemble them ahead of time with various combinations, and let guests dip them in chocolate fondue or eat as-is.

 

* Layered salad – Layered salad is a wonderful party food, whether you make and serve it as the host/hostess or take it to a party.Serve it in a clear glass bowl so everyone can see the festive effect of the colorful layers.

 

* Drinks – Champagne is traditional, but you may not want your guests drinking champagne from start to finish. Consider a sparkly champagne punch that combines the bubbly with fruit juice and club soda.

 

* Dessert – Don't forget dessert! Finger foods might include mini cream puffs, éclairs, petit fours, or fudge. For a sit-down dinner, a layer cake can make a striking and yummy finish.

 

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Creating Your Own New Year’s Cake

Many people celebrate the New Year by observing certain traditions. Some eat twelve grapes at midnight on New Year's Eve for good luck. Others eat hoppin' john and greens to bring luck and prosperity over the coming year.

 

Even if a specific type of cake isn't part of your New Year's tradition, a sweet treat is always welcome at a celebration. Making a festive New Year's cake for your guests doesn't have to be difficult. Here are some cake ideas that are sure to be a hit.

 

 

* Chinese New Year Cake – This cake, made with glutinous rice flour called Nian Gao, is traditionally consumed during Chinese New Year. But it makes a nice dish for the Gregorian calendar New Year as well. The traditional recipe is rather complicated and must be steamed, but there is a simpler baked version as well.

 

* Vasilopita – This delicious and easy-to-make cake is served by the Greeks at New Year, during which they also celebrate the life of Saint Basil. A coin (which may be wrapped in foil) is baked into the cake, and the person who finds it in his piece is supposed to have good luck all year.

 

* Confetti Cake – What could be more festive than a cake that looks like it has been sprinkled with confetti? You can add colored sprinkles to yellow or white cake mix just before pouring into the pan. Be careful to mix them in gently and quickly, and to bake immediately – otherwise the colors will bleed into the batter. Add liberal amounts of sprinkles to the frosting, top with decorative sprays, and you have a fun and yummy cake for your New Year celebration.

 

* Fresh Apple Cake– Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, is celebrated with a number of traditional foods. One of these is apples dipped in honey, which represents the hope of a sweet upcoming year. Another way you could incorporate apples into your New Year celebration is with a fresh apple cake. You can find plenty of recipes to choose from online.

 

* Fruit Cake – Fruit cake is a perennial holiday favorite, and it makes a delicious treat for your New Year's party. If you want some variety, add a couple of different kinds of nuts and some chocolate chips.

 

A delicious cake makes a wonderful accompaniment to the New Year's toast. It also makes a nice gift for those who won't be ringing in the New Year with you. Whether it's a culturally traditional dessert or just one of your favorite recipes, a cake can help make the holiday that much sweeter.