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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Delicious Homemade Holiday Treats

 

As the holidays approach, people are inundated with goodies. You see the goodies at the grocery store and there are commercials galore showing decadent treats. When it comes to delicious homemade holiday treats, you can make these and become a ‘goody’ hero to your family and friends.

 

1.) Sugar Cookies

One of the easiest holiday treats to make is cookies. There are so many varieties to choose from. Sugar cookies are enjoyed by almost everyone. You can also dress them up by adding frosting or candies. Here’s a simple sugar cookie recipe:

Ingredients:

* 2 cups all-purpose flour
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
* 3/4 cups softened butter or margarine
* 1-1/4 cups sugar
* 1 egg
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* Pinch of salt
* Green, red and yellow sugar (coloring optional)
* Red cinnamon or other small candies (optional)

How to Prepare:

  • Begin by mixing the dry ingredients together in a bowl. In a large bowl, beat the egg and then add the butter and sugar, beating until creamy. Add the vanilla followed by the dry ingredients in small amounts, and stir to ensure the mixture is incorporated.
  • Roll out the dough on a floured surface to about 1/2 inch thick. Using cookie cutters, cut out the shapes and place them on an ungreased cookie sheet. Sprinkle the sugar (colored or not) on top of the cookies before baking them in a 375 degree oven. These will bake for about 8 minutes.
  • Remove the cookies from the baking sheet and gently press the candies into the cookies while they’re still warm. Allow them to cool and then arrange them on a plate or in a box if they’re to be given as a gift.

 

2.) Healthy Granola

Have you priced granola lately? It can seem so expensive to enjoy wholesome granola, but it doesn’t have to be. This recipe will make 15 cups of granola – enough for you to enjoy and share with loved ones.

 

Ingredients:

* 6 cups old-fashioned oats
* 8 ounces sliced almonds
* 1 cup dried cranberries
* 1 cup chopped dried apricots
* 1 cup light-brown sugar
* 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1-1/2 sticks unsalted butter
* 1/2 cup honey

 

How to Prepare:

  • Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
  • Combine all ingredients, except the butter and honey, in a large bowl.
  • In a saucepan, heat the butter and honey over medium heat.
  • Pour this over the granola and toss to mix thoroughly.
  • Spread the granola on a lined baking pan and bake until the oats look toasted and the sugar caramelizes. This will take 35-40 minutes.
  • Stir occasionally.
  • Allow the granola to cool and then store it in an airtight container.

3.) Hot Chocolate

You can also make your own hot chocolate mix rather than buying pre-made mixes. Here’s how:

 

Ingredients:

* 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
* 3 1/2 tablespoons instant espresso
* 1 cups sugar
* 16 3-inch cinnamon sticks

 

How to Prepare:

  • Place the ingredients, except cinnamon sticks, in a bowl and mix them well.
  • Place the mixture in an airtight container where it can be stored for about six months.
  • To enjoy the cocoa, put two tablespoons of the mix into 1/4 cup water and heat it over medium heat on the stove.
  • When it has dissolved completely, add 3/4 cup of milk and a cinnamon stick.
  • Whisk thoroughly and enjoy!

 

Delicious handmade holiday treats aren’t difficult to make. If you choose to make one or more of the above treats, don’t forget to share. Isn’t that what people look forward to most at the holidays?

 

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Eating Healthy Through the Holidays

 

It’s true, the words healthy and holidays don’t always go together. While most people do indulge a little, it’s not necessary to go off the deep end to have a great time this holiday season. To keep your waistline from expanding to Santa-proportions, use these tips to keep you on track throughout the holidays.

 

It can be challenging when you attend that potluck lunch or dinner at Aunt Janice’s. It’s only polite to try everything, right? Stick with that approach and you’ll be headed down the slippery slope to horizontal expansion. You can still enjoy yourself without offending anyone. Here’s how:

 

Choose smaller portions. You don’t need a mountain of mashed potatoes with a cup of gravy. Simply choose to eat less of each food and give your stomach time to settle.

 

Use a smaller plate. Dinner plates are often larger than we need, and an appetizer plate fits all the nutrition required. While you may not want to try this at Aunt Janice’s dinner table, it’s great practice at your own home or when surveying a buffet table.

 

Put more vegetables on your plate. You can’t go wrong with vegetables, but avoid adding butter and other sauces. Just a little pepper to bring out the natural flavor is all you need.

 

Plan ahead. If you know you’re going to have a big potluck lunch at work, plan a light and healthy dinner. Or if dinner is going to be an indulgent event, choose a nice big salad with a little bit of whole wheat bread for lunch.

 

If you receive treats, share them. If you’re at work, put them out on your desk and invite your co-workers to help themselves. If your home looks like a Hershey’s factory, consider donating your extras to the food bank.

 

Reduce the sugar. Obviously, too much sugar is not good for you, but the consumption of sugar can lead to cravings for more sugar, creating a vicious cycle for your diet during the holidays.

 

Reduce your alcohol consumption. Not only does it add extra calories, it loosens your inhibitions and can lead you to make poor food choices.

 

Bring a healthy contribution. If you’re bringing something to a party, there is no rule that it has to be an indulgent sweet or savory treat. Try a fruit salad, healthy pasta dish or other healthy item.

 

Steam your vegetables. When preparing your own meals or contributing to a potluck, steam your vegetables and add seasonings, instead of cooking in oil or adding unnecessary fat.

 

As you can see, there’s still plenty of room to enjoy food, friends and family this holiday season. Just curb your portions, choose healthier options and indulge a little now and then.

 

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Hanukkah Food Traditions

 Holidays can be a great time for family and friends to get together, however preparing food for them can sometimes be stressful. If you are new to celebrating Hanukkah, you may not fully understand Hanukkah food traditions particularly when they don’t seem the healthiest choices. Keep reading to learn about why certain foods are served during this eight day holiday.

 

Traditional Hanukkah foods include sufganiyot (jelly-filled doughnuts), cream cheese rugelach and apple fritters, all. You will also find potato or other vegetable latkes, fried in oil. What is the emphasis on oil and fried foods?

 

Hanukkah foods are served as a way to remind families of the miracle of the oil in the Temple in Jerusalem. When the Maccabees re-took the Temple and planned to rededicate it back to God, they found only enough special oil for the Menorah for one day. Miraculously, the oil remained lit for eight days until more oil could be produced. This is the reason Hanukkah is celebrated for eight days with oil lamps or candles being lit each night for the duration. It is also why many of the foods served during Hanukkah are fried.

 

Another reason for the emphasis on oil during this celebration in the Jewish month of Kislev is that oil has long been associated with wisdom or the study of Torah. Since the Greeks had overtaken Jerusalem, the children of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob couldn’t study Torah or even speak Hebrew. So, it makes sense, since oil is associated with wisdom and Torah, that the foods prepared during this time would be fried.

 

Foods made with milk are also served during Hanukkah. The story is told how Yehudis (a young Jewish woman) made a Greek general fall asleep by serving salty cheese and wine. While he slept, she killed him and the army became discouraged and fled. Dairy products, therefore, are served in honor of this woman’s bravery.

 

Originally the sufganiyot would not have been made with milk. However, Jewish people in Spain (known as Sephardic Jews) began to add cheese to the pastries served during Hanukkah. This would explain why cheese blintzes are served during the week of celebration. Jews in India add milk and butter to their version of sufganiyot and therefore the traditions of serving fried and dairy foods are combined.

 

Another Hanukkah foodcombines the fried and dairy traditions is the potato latke. Grated potatoes are fried in oil and served with sour cream on top. Some people also serve them with apple sauce.

 

It is amazing how food traditions begin if you think about it. What is even more amazing is that many people will serve the same foods year after year as they celebrate holidays and some don’t even understand why. Whether you are following Hanukkah food traditions or any other tradition, take time to do some research to find out why those foods are served. You may be surprised and enriched by what you find.

 

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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.