This month we're featuring a series of holiday entertaining menu plans! Be it a cocktail party, a Christmas brunch, a New Year's Eve fete, to name a few, we've got 5 great FBC Members who will be sharing menu plans and entertaining tips so you'll have your holiday parties covered. For part 5 in our 5 part series Brittany Stager from My Daily Randomness, shows us how to put together a festive New Year's Eve Party.
The Holiday Entertaining Menu Plan is brought to you by the Egg Farmers of Canada.
New Year’s Eve Soirée
Confetti, horns, hats, champagne and delicious food; sounds like the makings of a fabulous New Year’s Eve soirée. There is nothing I love more than hosting a fabulous New Year’s get together.
From the décor to the food, throwing a New Year’s bash my family & friends will remember is always my number one goal. Slaving away in the kitchen while my guests enjoy the fruits of my labour is not exactly my idea of fun, so I’ve pulled together some of my favourite recipes that can be prepped in advance. This quick and easy menu plan will have your guests enjoying delicious food from arrival to countdown!
Cocktails
What would a New Year’s soirée be without cocktails! Setting up a “mix your own cocktail” bar cart with a wide selection of alcohol and mixes will keep your guests satisfied all night. Jazz it all up with some trendy bottle openers, paper straws, and gold stemmed glasses.
Ruby Red Grapefruit Paloma
This refreshing Ruby Red Grapefruit Paloma cocktail sure packs a nice kick. The tart grapefruit is taken up a notch with the addition of smooth tequila. Don't forget the salted rim, it really helps to elevate the drink!
Holiday Cheer Eggnog - From Egg Farmers of Canada
You can add all kinds of flavours to the classic Holiday Cheer Eggnog. Try grating your own nutmeg, or adding brandy, rum, instant coffee, or even vanilla ice cream to this recipe to intrigue your guests
Appetizers
Chances are your guests are going to arrive hungry. Having a few appetizers and finger foods available is always a good idea. Strategically place the apps around the room so guests become encouraged to mingle. It’s always fun to serve apps on a unique plate or with interesting servingware – it gets the conversations started!
Gouda & Mushroom Beer Dip
This Gouda & Mushroom Beer Dip is just the thing when entertaining a small or large crowd. Pairing perfectly with a frosty mug of beer and crispy tortilla chips, you'll have every guest at your party asking for the recipe!
Mushroom and Prosciutto Cups
This Mushroom and Prosciutto Cups recipe is incredibly easy to make, and becomes a festive appetizer with the addition of chopped red and green peppers. The wonton wrapper cups add a nice crunch, which is complemented by the soft, creamy mushroom filling. A crowd pleaser for sure!
Fig, Prosciutto & Goat Cheese Crostini with Fig Balsamic Reduction
This Fig, Prosciutto & Goat Cheese Crostini features a tangy fig balsamic reduction with fresh sweet figs, salty prosciutto and creamy goat cheese - the prefect appetizer for entertaining this holiday season.
The Main Feature
Finally the moment has arrived and your guests join you at your exquisite table. A table beautifully set with an eclectic mix of vintage and traditional dinnerware will “wow” all your guests. The perfectly styled centerpiece will surely be a topic for conversation, and parading out the main feature just adds to the “oh” and “ah” factor of this celebration.
Braised Rabbit over Mushroom & Truffle Ravioli in a Dijon Sauce
This Braised Rabbit over Mushroom & Truffle Ravioli in a Dijon Sauce dish is all about flavour. From the truffle ravioli to the Dijon mushroom sauce, all these exciting flavours come together to rejoice when served with a piece of juicy, tender, braised rabbit. The recipe might seem labour intensive, but it's oh-so-worth-it!
Dessert
A delicious meal cannot go it alone. Finishing the night off with some fresh brewed coffee (spiked with a little Bailey’s) and some luscious desserts to satisfy your sweet tooth, is the textbook way to end a party.
White Chocolate Crème Brûlée
What dinner party would be complete without crème brûlée. White Chocolate Crème Brûlée is incredibly simple to make, crème brûlée can be easily flavoured to your liking: coffee, pumpkin, or in this case white chocolate. The perfect way to cap off a delicious dinner.
Grilled Peach Pavlova
This Grilled Peach Pavlova meringue dessert is perfect for any event - casual to fancy. The meringue base is deliciously crisp on the outside and soft & sweet inside. Served with a simple local honey chantilly cream and freshly grilled peaches, this dessert makes for a beautiful, plated work of art.
Sweet Treat Favours
Don’t let your guests leave empty handed! Thank them for choosing to spend this special night with you by offering up a sweet treat for the road. Package in a simple cardboard box and wrap in a festive red baker’s twine. Tag it with a handwritten note of your thanks and include the recipe of the sweet treats inside.
Fudgy Walnut Brownies
Go gluten-free with these easy to make fudgy walnut brownies. The dense thick chocolate makes them an excellent choice for dessert or a mid-afternoon snack.
The Whole Holiday Entertaining Series
- Monday - The Cocktail Party (Jan Scott of Family Bites)
- Tuesday - The Casual Open House (Marlene Cornelis of Urban Cottage Life)
- Wednesday - The Holiday Sweets Table (Lisa Bolton of Food Well Said)
- Thursday - The Christmas Brunch (Jacqueline Delisle of Cooking With Jax)
- Friday - The New Years Eve Party (Brittany Stager of My Daily Randomness)
Brittany is the designer behind My Daily Randomness, a personal lifestyle blog where she writes about everything from home renovation and decor, to travel and food. When given the opportunity, Brittany loves to combine her two passions; styling and food.
You can unsubscribe any time!
Such beautiful recipes and photos! I don’t know where to start, except I keep going back to that gouda and mushroom beer dip, so maybe I know where to start after all! All I can say is, the guests at your New Year’s Eve soiree are very lucky indeed!
This all looks amazing. Great menu and incredible photos!