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Super Simple New Year's Dinner

t's easy to go over board on holiday meals. Start this New Year off the way you'd like to spend the rest of it - relaxed, enjoying friends, and eating yummy healthy food. You really can have it all!

First off, make sure you only invite the people you really want to be around. I know this seems like a no-brainer, but over half the time I end up doing it myself. Obligations do not make a fun start to the new year. You can take care of those later. Taking care of yourself will change the whole tone of your year.

Have a table set up with some simple hors d oeuvres. You can keep it simple with a cheese platter, but choose a few new cheeses to add to your standard fare. I like truffled cheese, cranberry cheddar, and derby sage. They all add an extra wow to the typical cheese plate. In addition to the typical water crackers have a fresh baguette sliced and lightly toasted. I find that without toasting it, it starts to taste stale faster. Add a veggie platter with your favorite dip, and it's more than enough to keep your guest's hunger in check before dinner.

If you want to serve sparkling wine, make sure to have a few bottles chilled ahead of time. You can serve a cocktail before dinner, another wine with dinner, and save the sparkling wine for a midnight toast if you'd prefer. Don't forget the designated drivers and people who just don't imbibe. Have something special made up that tastes so good they don't feel left out. Mix up a virgin mojito with sparkling water, muddled lime and fresh mint, with a little simple syrup. You can make up a pitcher ahead of time and be set for the evening.

Make a great dinner out of a simple soup and salad combination. Buy some pre-washed baby salad greens and add some attention getting cheese and fruit to make it more special. Try pear with blue cheese, berries with goat cheese, or shredded apple with a sharp cheddar. Nuts and dried fruit are other nice additions. I love dried cranberry and goat cheese topped with some almond slivers.

Select a soup you can make ahead of time and keep it warm in a slow cooker. You can make a traditional oyster stew, winter squash soup, or even something as simple as cream of potato. Dress it up with fresh herbs and croutons. Serve everything up on your best Noritake dinnerware to make your dinner even more elegant.

Author: Kathy Hester

Posted: Tuesday 5th January 2010, 5:39 AM




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