A New Year's Feast

New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day is a time to take stock and celebrate with friends and family. With a little planning, hosts and hostesses can mingle with their guests and join in on the fun of ringing in the New Year.

An Easy Menu for Effortless Entertaining

Here are some menu suggestions to make your New Year's a breeze, whether you've invited a small number of good friends or just about everyone you know!

Recipe

Snow Bubble Punch

Recipe

Canapés Chicken Satay

Recipe

Sweet and Sour Meatballs

Buffet: a Perfect Party Solution for Host and Hostess

Preparing a large bash can be quite daunting, no matter how much you enjoy entertaining. A buffet will help you throw a memorable party and will prevent you from spending all your time in the kitchen so you can have as much fun as your guests!
Plan your menu according to how many guests you’re expecting, their tastes, and ages.
Offer a wide variety of options. That way most guests will want to try a little bit of everything and will choose smaller portions.
Consider altering some recipes to suit kids and teens.
If you feel comfortable doing so, ask some of your friends who are known for their culinary skills to add some of their favourite dishes. Find out which recipes can be made ahead of time. Most appetizers can be frozen, that way you just have to thaw them out beforehand. Sauces and dips for their part should be made the day before.
Take stock of how much space is available in your fridge and freezer. That will help you to plan what you can make ahead of time.

Liquid Refreshments

You’ll need beverages for adults and some for kids. For instance, a punch (one batch containing alcohol and another alcohol-free) is a great way to ring in the New Year. Most punches can be made the day before. Offer a wide range of beverages, such as soft drinks, sparkling wine or beer suited to the varied tastes and ages of your guests.
A selection of fruit and vegetable juices gives kids an alternative to soft drinks and encourages adults to enjoy wine, champagne, and other drinks in moderation.
Have tea and coffee ready for the end of the night.

When to Prepare the Punch?

Most punches can be made the day before.
Add soft drinks, sparkling wine and alcohol as well as fruit just before serving.

Irresistible canapés and hors d'oeuvres

Start things off with a variety of canapés and hors d'oeuvres.
Follow up with cheese and cold cut platters.
For a cheese platter that people will remember, select rare, distinctive-tasting cheeses. Add some mild traditional cheeses that are always popular with kids. Garnish the platter with fresh grapes and walnuts.
Lay the cold cuts on a bed of colourful greens drizzled with a light dressing.
Decorate your table with a braided loaf of bread wreath, spiced nuts, crudités and dips, and a basket of fresh fruit.

Recipe

Bruschetta with Romaine

Recipe

Blue cheese canapés

Recipe

Camembert and Fruit Canapés with Pecans

Aspics...For a Unique Presentation!

Add variety to your New Year's table with aspics. They’ll brighten any buffet.
Aspics have to be made the day before to allow them to set properly.
Make your aspics using aluminum moulds. Avoid glass or ceramic bowls.
To ensure an even distribution of fruits and vegetables throughout the jelly, refrigerate the mixture until thick and syrupy, then pour into a jelly mould.
Refrigerate aspics in their mould, covering the surface with a plastic wrap.
Take the aspic out of its mould an hour before serving and keep in the refrigerator.
Do not put aspics in the freezer to set or the jelly will crystallize.
Pineapple, kiwi, and papaya contain enzymes that prevent gelatin from setting properly. If the recipe calls for these fruits, blanch them a few minutes in boiling water and let cool before using them.

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A New Year's Feast

An Easy Menu for Effortless Entertaining