New Year’s Eve Food Recipes Cooking International Guide
New Year’s Eve Food Tips And Ideas To Please Your Family And
Friends
By Katerina Octanova
Around the world, there are many New Year’s Eve food items that
are believed to bring good luck in the new year. In Italy, risotto
rice, store-bought pasta, nuts, dates, honey, figs, dates, round
cakes, gnocchi, dried salt cod and chiacchiere are foods that
symbolize good fortune.
The Japanese eat noodles, fish and beans, while the Chinese eat
sweet oranges, spring rolls, fish and sticky rice cakes. The Spaniards
eat 12 grapes at midnight (one for each stroke of the clock) and
drink champagne.
The Dutch believe that round donuts bring us full circle for
good luck and the Greeks believe the same thing about coins cooked
into round cakes. In Denmark, leafy greens promise lots of money
and Austria is all about pork and Marzipan.
Eating Carp For Good Luck
Carp is a German good luck tradition, eaten along with a split
pea soup, sausage or other lentil. The Polish New Year’s food
is herring, which promises an "abundance of good health"
with its omega-3 fats.
According to a Vietnamese folk tale, a king once found happiness
in eating plain rice cakes stuffed with bean paste and minced
pork. Lucky foods are just one option for your New Years party
menu.
Toothpick Treats With A Mediterranean Feel
Who says you have to bend over backwards to create tasty New
Year’s Eve food bites? After all, the main event is really the
champagne and the wine. Your guests will love your cleverly themed
"toothpick treats" that are just as tasty to eat as
they are easy to make.
Italian skewers can be made using cubes of mozzarella cheese,
fresh basil, sun-roasted tomatoes and slices of pepperoni. For
a Mediterranean feel, put together marinated artichoke hearts,
cubes of feta or mozzarella and stuffed olives from the olive
bar.
Chunks of pineapple, chicken nuggets and cubes of sharp cheddar
can make a delicious Polynesian treat. For a Mexican skewer, use
jalapenos, pepper-jack cheese and a slice of avocado. American
grab-and-go bites are cocktail wieners and cubes of American cheese
inside mini-croissants.
Quick Finger Foods On Festive Platters
Perfectly fine parties can be made using quick finger foods neatly
displayed on festive platters, so don’t worry about serving up
a five-course meal.
The Food Network recommends a number of different New Year’s
Eve food menus (at www.foodnetwork.com/holidays-and-parties/new-years-eve-dinner-menus/index.html),
depending on which sort of ambiance you’re going for.
A Classic And A Modern Menu
A classic menu might include Scallops on the half shell, Pear
and Blue Cheese Salad, Brussels Sprouts with Pancetta, Roast Beef
with Spicy Parsley Tomato Sauce, Raspberry and Lemon-grass Trifle,
and a Pomegranate Champagne Cocktail.
A more modern menu can spruce things up with Raw Oysters on the
half shell, Orange and Fennel Salad, Baked Fresh Ham with Citrus-Rum
Glaze, Garlic Roast Potatoes, Pear Tartlets and Pomegranate Martinis.
Time For An Elegant Spread
For an elegant spread, try Gaufrette Potatoes with Gravlax, Sour
Cream and Osetra Caviar, Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon and Apple
Cider Dressing, Savory Mashed Root Vegetables, Roast Prime Rib
of Beef with Horseradish Crust, Pomegranate Gelatin and a Crystal
Cocktail.
A fun menu mix might include Potato Blini with Caviar, Warm Lobster
Salad, Pork Tenderloin en Croute, Cold String Beans with Vodka
Vinaigrette, Red Wine Poached Pears with Mascarpone Filling and
Champagne Punch.
Decorating Your Buffet Table
To set up your feast, check out your local party supply store
to find some tasteful, carefully chosen decorations for your buffet
table. Or you may want a simple wintry bouquet of flowers to adorn
your table. Festive tablecloths and scented candles can go a long
way.
Bring out the nice party platters for your New Year’s Eve food
(and if you don’t have them -- buy them! Presentation is everything!)
Be sure that you set up one designated "food area" and
one "drink area" to limit confusion.
Nothing is worse than wandering around, wondering where a passerby’s
delicious tray of food just came from. Be sure that all food is
good at room temperature, so nothing starts tasting funky. You
needn’t create a feast for celebrities -- but rather, a carefully
chosen array of different tastes will be just fine.
About the Author:
Katerina Octanova has written a number of articles on food and
cooking including Christmas
Gift Baskets, The
Christmas, Christmas,
Santa
Claus, Christmas
Gift Food, Christmas
Hamper, Christmas
Gift For The Office, Christmas
Gift Idea For Family.
Keep a lookout for more of her articles on this website.
Did You Know This About New Years Eve?
What should my budget be for a party?
Budgeting for a New Years Eve party is the
same as budgeting for any other party or event. You need to have
a very clear idea of your finances before you even begin the party
preparations.
The majority of your costs could go to
food, beverages and entertainment. If you are famous for your
lavish NYE party then you may want to have a sizeable budget.
If you are looking at a small intimate gathering of close friends
and family then a few hundred dollars should cover everything
you need. The party can be as expensive or as inexpensive as you
want to make it.
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