As the year draws to a close, what better way to celebrate New Year's Eve than with a thoughtfully crafted menu that sets the tone for a night of celebration? Whether you’re hosting a party or enjoying a cozy evening at home with loved ones, here are some menu ideas that will elevate your New Year’s Eve gathering and help you toast to 2025 in style.
Jalapeno Poppers
Ingredients
12 jalapeno peppers 1 pkg cream cheese, softened1 cup shredded cheddar cheese½ tsp onion powder ½ tsp salt½ tsp pepper12 regular slices bacon Cooking spray Toothpicks
Directions
Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a sheet pan with foil and coat it with cooking spray, or line with parchment paper. Cut the jalapenos in half lengthwise and use a spoon to scoop out the seeds and ribs.
In a bowl, mix together cream cheese, cheddar cheese, onion powder, salt and pepper. Fill each jalapeno half with the cheese mixture.
Wrap each pepper half in a slice of bacon and secure with a toothpick. Arrange the peppers on the
baking sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes until bacon is crispy and browned. Serve immediately.
Roasted Garlic Dip
Ingredients
3 heads garlic
1 tsp olive oil
1 pkg cream cheese, softened
1½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
½ cup parmesan cheese
¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
¼ cup mayonnaise
Salt and pepper to taste
1-2 tbsp garlic powder
Directions
Preheat oven to 375°F. Cut off the tops of each garlic head and place in the centre of a large piece of aluminum foil. Lightly drizzle them with olive oil and lightly season with salt and pepper. Loosely wrap the foil around the garlic heads and bake for 1 hour. Cool, and then squeeze the garlic heads to remove the soft cloves.
In a medium bowl, mix together remaining ingredients, reserving ½ cup of mozzarella cheese. Add garlic cloves and mix well. Spread dip into a baking dish and top with remaining mozzarella cheese. Bake until cheese is melted and dip is bubbly. Cool slightly before serving with crackers or sliced baguettes.
Shrimp Crustini
Ingredients
16 mini croissants or small brioche rolls
2 lb. raw shrimp, thawed
2 tsp. Salt
Large bowl of ice water
¼ cup lemon juice
Dressing
1 cup mayonnaise
1 cup diced celery
½ cup chopped green onions ¼ cup chopped dill
¼ cup chopped chives
¼ cup chopped parsley
2 tsp. chopped capers
2 tbsp. Dijon mustard
1 tbsp. red wine vinegar
1 tbsp. lemon juice
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp. paprika
½ tsp. garlic salt
¼ tsp. onion powder
½ tsp. salt
½ tsp. pepper
Directions
In a large pot, boil water with two tsp. of salt and ¼ cup of lemon juice. When water comes to a boil, add shrimp, cooking for two to three minutes. Immediately remove from heat and allow to cool in a large bowl of ice water.
In a medium bowl, mix together remaining ingredients. Remove shrimp from ice water and chop well. Add to the dressing mixture until well combined. Slice each croissant or brioche rolls in half lengthwise and add a scoop of shrimp mixture and top with an additional squeeze of lemon juice, salt, pepper and parsley.. Place the remaining roll slice on top of the mixture, and serve.
Chocolate Chip Dip
Ingredients
1 pkg cream cheese, softened
¼ cup butter, softened
¾ cup icing sugar
2 tbsp. brown sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup chocolate chips
Directions
In a large bowl, add cream cheese, butter, sugars, salt, and vanilla.Mix until well blended, scraping sides of bowl as needed. Fold in chocolate chips. Refrigerate for one hour. Serve with graham crackers, butter cookies and fresh fruit.
Poultry perfection for any night of the week
Chicken Salad
Croissants
Ingredients
4 croissants (brioche buns or ciabatta rolls also work well), sliced lengthwise in half
3 cups chicken, shredded or cubed (a grocery store rotisserie chicken works great)
1 cup celery, finely chopped
1 cup old cheddar cheese, shredded
½ cup crispy bacon, crumbled
¼ cup chopped walnuts
½ cup mayonnaise
¼ cup sour cream
3 green onions, chopped
1 cup lettuce, chopped
Salt and pepper to taste
Directions
Place chicken, celery, onions, bacon, walnuts and cheese in a large bowl. Add mayonnaise and sour cream. Mix well until everything is evenly coated and distributed throughout. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Scoop onto sliced croissants, top with lettuce and croissant top, and serve.
Buttermilk
Fried Chicken
Ingredients
2 chicken breasts, bone in with skin
2 chicken thighs, bone in with skin
2 drumsticks
4 cups buttermilk
¼ cup hot sauce such as Frank’s
Red Hot or Tabasco
1 tbsp garlic powder
4 cups all-purpose flour
2 tbsp salt
1 tbsp ground black pepper
4 cups vegetable oil for frying (this depends
on the size of your pan or deep fryer)
Directions
Combine buttermilk, garlic, andhot sauce in a large bowl, and addchicken. Cover and refrigerate forat least six hours or overnight.
Add flour, salt, and pepper to a largefreezer bag. Remove chicken frommarinade one piece at a time andplace in a large plastic bag. Shake inbag until evenly coated and place ona wire rack. Once pieces have beencoated with flour, allow them to sit onthe rack for 30 minutes to firm coating.
Add oil to a deep frying pan, ensuring oil is one to one-and-a-half inches deep (or use a deep fryer). Heat oil over medium-heat until 350°F, using a thermometer to monitor temperature. Add two pieces of chicken and fry for 10 to 15 minutes or until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165°F. When chicken is done, place on a wire rack to cool (with paper towels beneath to catch any oil). Repeat with remaining chicken.
Serve with potato salad and carrot and celery sticks.
Parmesan Chicken
Ingredients
2 large boneless, skinless chicken
breasts, patted dry with paper towels
1 tbsp olive oil
½ lemon, sliced for garnish
Egg wash
2 large eggs
1 garlic clove, minced
½ tsp Italian seasoning
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp ground black pepper
Breading
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
3 tbsp flour
Sauce
½ cup butter
2 garlic cloves, minced
¼ cup lemon juice
¼ cup chicken broth
¼ tsp ground black pepper
Directions
Cut the chicken breasts in half lengthwise. Lightly beat with a mallet until an even thickness.
Whisk together the ingredients for theegg mixture in a bowl. In a second bowl, combine the ingredients for the parmesan mixture. Dip chicken into the egg wash, then dredge chicken in the parmesan mixture.
In a large frying pan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Once hot, add the chicken and cook for four to five minutes per side, or until crispy,golden and cooked through to 165˚F. Reduce the heat if chicken browns too quickly.
Meanwhile, in a separate saucepan, melt butter and garlic, cook until fragrant. Add the chicken broth, lemon juice and pepper. Allow the sauce to cook for about two minutes. Pour the sauce over the cooked chicken, turning to coat. Garnish with lemon slices.