Three New Year’s Eve Menus
New Year’s Eve approaches! Depending on your satisfaction with prix fixes and paid bar events, the last evening of the year can represent the most fun party ever or a crowded and frustrating journey to tomorrow’s hangover. However you prefer to celebrate, an easy way to improve on any festivities is to add home cooking into the mix.
So, I wanted to make some menus to suit your party, whether the vibe lands on casual, hearty feast, candlelit date, or champagne-powered cocktail party.
Happy New Year, readers!
New Year’s Eve for Two
A fancy date night means a break from the hubbub of bars, restaurants, and parties and a chance for you and a favorite to relax-in a festive way.
Sweet Cider Cocktails with Rye
Roasted Fennel & Asiago Pizettes
Classic Filet Mignon with Roasted Potato Wedges • Beet Salad with Frizzled Leeks & Bacon
Baklava Tartelettes with Honeyed Mascarpone
Cocktail Party for…the More the Merrier!
Make medium-sized portions of tons of things, or edit the menu and double or triple amounts. Little bowls of fried Cheerios, nuts, and popcorn tide over guests so you don’t have to assemble thousands of crostini, which are more labor intensive. To fill tummies, whip up peanut noodles to serve in individual bowls topped with cucumbers or scallions and add simple chicken skewers to round things out.
Elderflower Fizz • Vodka-Citrus Punch
Granola Nuts • Fried Cheerios • Sweet & Spicy Cocktail Popcorn
Seared Mushroom Crostini • Mashed Avocado & Radish Crostini
Peanut Noodles (served in individual portions) • Chicken Yakitori Skewers
Casual Buffet Dinner for 15 (or thereabouts)
Make-ahead mains, salads, and sides mean that this ridiculously delicious dinner requires only a tidbit of your last-minute attention.
Jonestown Punch (pictured at top)
Brie & Red Pepper Crostini • Herb & Lemon Buttered Popcorn
Mom’s Brisket (triple the recipe!) • Easy Slaw (triple the recipe!) • Smashed New Potatoes
You can find these and lots of other holiday menus over in the menu section of the site. Happy new year!
