Gourmet cheeses and fresh fruit make ideal New Year's Eve treats.
If you are hosting a New Year's Eve or Day party, create a delicious celebratory spread for your guests. Ring in the new year with a mouth-watering selection of gourmet treats and beverages. If you are on a tight time schedule or financial budget, provide a mix of homemade and deli or store-bought items.
Appetizer Trays
Delight party-goers by serving opulent trays filled with finger foods and appetizers. Easy-to-eat treats allow guests to mix and mingle while nibbling. For a spin on the traditional caprese salad, make an appetizer inspired by the same ingredients. Slide fresh mozzarella balls, also known as bocconcini, a large basil leaf and a cherry or grape tomato onto a cocktail toothpick or bamboo skewer. Fill a long, thin tray with the prepared skewers and drizzle them with extra-virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Pique guests' appetites with an antipasto platter filled with marinated olives, salami slices, gourmet cheeses, crackers, crusty bread slices and a hearty sun-dried tomato spread.
Festive Drinks
Please all New Year's Eve guests with an abundance of cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks. Set up a home bar or serve guests their beverages on sparkling silver or gold trays. Combine traditional party beverages, such as champagne and martinis, with holiday favorites. Whip up rich and frothy holiday egg nog using whipped cream, milk, bourbon, rum, eggs, sugar and spices; top each glass with a sprinkle of nutmeg for taste and color. Hot mulled wine featuring a spicy combination of peppercorns, cardamom, cloves, and orange and lemon zest, will warm guests up on a cold winter's day or night.
Decadent Desserts
End the New Year's party on a sweet note with a buffet of decadent desserts. Party-goers can also take goodies home in festive bags or boxes as favors. As a special treat, make New Orleans-inspired bananas foster using butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, dark rum and banana liqueur. The sauce is cooked in a flambe pan or skillet and served over scoops of vanilla ice cream. Delight guests with cannoli filled with rich pistachio ricotta, almond tarts, mini cheesecakes and delicate blueberry crepes. Set up a chocolate fountain and provide a tray of skewered strawberries and banana slices.
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