BY: JESSICA BEUKER
With the buzz of the Christmas season afloat, it’s easy to forget about New Year’s Eve until it sneaks up on you. To help you prepare and make sure that there are no unwanted surprises, we’ve compiled a list of country New Year’s Eve dinner ideas. Use these recipes to wow your guests and start 2018 off right – with a happy belly!
1. Sweet and Spicy Cola-Glazed Ham
The perfect blend of both sweet and spicy, this ham will light up the tastebuds of all of your guests. Serve it sliced on a platter so that your guests can eat it as is, or throw it on a bun to make a ham sandwich. Pair it with chutney, mustard, cranberries, and your other favourite dips to really bring out the flavour on this main dish.
Get the recipe here.
2. Cheddar Biscuits
No country dinner is complete without biscuits. Although the styles and types are endless, a classic cheddar biscuit is sometimes the best way to go. Set up a toppings and spreads table complete with butter, jams and other favourite spreads. Serve these fresh out of the oven before meal time and your guests will be all warmed up and begging the chef for more!
Get the recipe here.
3. Grilled Artichokes with Creamy Butter Dip
Everything tastes better grilled, and these artichokes are proof of that. This is an interesting way to take a dish that normally wouldn’t be served at a holiday gathering and turn it into a unique party hit. Tossed in oil, salt, pepper and lemon juice, the artichokes are flavourful and delicious on their own. However, if you’re looking to turn it up about 100 more notches, just serve them with a creamy red pepper and butter dip.
Get the recipe here.
4. Mini Brown Sugar Cheesecakes
No dessert is quite as decadent, creamy and delicious as cheesecake is, and what’s cuter than the miniature version of said dessert. Mini Cheesecakes are perfect for a party. They eliminate the hassle of having to cut and serve a cake, and eliminate dirty dishes too. Just have your guests grab their mini cheesecakes off of a serving platter and you’ve got yourself a simple, and relatively mess-free dessert. The added bonus is that these cheesecakes are made with brown sugar and candied ginger, which gives them an extra kick and will make your guests’ mouths water before they even take their first bite.
Get the recipe here.
5. Champagne Jello Shots
When you think of New Year’s Eve, your mind almost immediately goes to champagne. People toasting and clinking glasses as the clock strikes midnight and drinking delicious, bubbly champagne in celebration of the last 365 days. But let’s face it, some of us aren’t upscale enough to even know where to purchase a champagne flute, never mind provide guests with them. So why not skip the flutes altogether and simply eat your champagne? That’s right, Champagne jello shots are the fun, unique and festive new way to consume your champagne. Classier than a regular jello shot, but still casual enough that you don’t have to feel like a phoney.
Get the recipe here.
