Yes, it has been some time since our last post…but we are jumping back into it.  I have some parties and dishes to post from the last several months.  So here we go…

Each New Year’s we host a small party and each year I stress over the menu.  This year was no different…fancy? casual? pizza and wings? UGHHH…what to make?

After much consideration, I settled on “mini”.  I love mini themed foods – you know, miniature bites of your favorites – mini pizzas, mini burgers, mini sandwiches. The “mini” party menu theme works for several occasions including a kids parties or an upscale cocktail party.  And of course, it worked perfectly for my New Year’s party.  Your guests can graze all night and sample several of these mini treats. 

You will need to do a lot of planning and prep work to make sure you can pull it off and still have time to socialize with guests.  I suggest prepping everything ahead of time so that you can simply assemble everything before your guests arrive.  I also recommend splitting your “batches” up so that you can put out warm seconds halfway through the night.  

Mini Party Menu

Mini Taco Salads

"mini" taco salads

Mini Burgers

Mini Tomato Soup with Mini Grilled Cheese

"mini" tomato soups

Mini Macaroni and Cheese

Black Eyed Pea Salad (for luck)

"mini" black eyed pea salad

Mini Hot Dogs

"mini" hot dogs

Mini Potato Latkes with Corned Beef and Gruyere

"mini" potato latke with corned beef and gruyere cheese

Mini Party Desserts

Mom’s Cookie Platter

Mini Milk and Donuts

"mini" milk and donuts

Mini Cheese Cake Bites

Plan your own “mini” food party - get ideas from the following mini food party links:

Mini versions of your favorite party foods

Martha Stewarts collection of Pint Sized Foods

The Galley Gourmets Three Cheese Mini Mac Recipe

How much do I love entertaining?  I guess I like taking care of people, or perhaps it just satisfies that need to always have something to plan and look forward to. 

This year, like many past years, we decided to have a few friends over to ring in the New Year.  This was a last minute decision, so the menu was rather last minute. My menu had to be tasty…comforting…and logistically easy to eat. Luckily, Martha had some great suggestions for me.

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My New Year’s Eve Menu

Baked Chick Pea Nibbles

Grilled Tomato Crostini

Artichoke Parmesan Crostini

Caramelized Onion & Goat Cheese Tarts
thyme & honey

Twice Cooked Potatoes
chihuahua cheese & chives

Chicken Satays
spicy peanut sauce

Beef Tenderloin
gorgonzola cheese, arugula on crostini

White Chocolate Fondue
mixed berries, pineapple, banana slices & almond biscotti
……………………………………………

The Baked Chick Pea Nibbles are a healthy alternative to other snacky type food and they taste pretty good.  I would suggest baking them a bit longer, and seasoning them a bit more heavily.  You want them very crunchy.  I also put out mixed nuts along with these.  I always appreciate something to nibble on when they are sipping cocktails.

Chick Pea Nibbles and Cashews

The two crostini recipes are a no brainer.  Grilled bread and good toppings, easy to eat and satisfying. 

Grilled Tomato Crostini

I love caramelized onions with goat cheese – it is a classic combination of flavors.  I dress these little tarts up with a drizzle of honey for an unexpected surprise of sweet. 

Caramelized Onion & Goat Cheese Tarts

The Twice Cooked Potato recipe was modified.  I omitted the caviar (couldn’t find any), and added cheese and extra sour cream to make them more like a miniature twice baked potatoes. The Chihuahua cheese melts really well, which made them nice and gooey. I ended up pressing the potato mixture through a mesh strainer, so the mixture ended up smooth and creamy.  

I marinated the Chicken Satays in the soy mixture a few hours ahead of the party.  I doubled the soy, omitted the sesame oil and replaced with a hot chili oil – I also added a bit of honey.  At party time, I simply threw them on my indoor grill, and served them up hot with the spicy peanut sauce. Since I used natural peanut butter, I needed to modify the recipe by adding honey for sweetness.  I also thinned it out with about a tablespoon of soy.

The Beef Tenderloin is something we always serve.  Simply cook the beef to your temp. liking and serve with a gorgonzola cheese, arugula and crostini.  I serve it all on a big platter, it makes a nice presentation. 

For an easy dessert, try the White Chocolate Fondue.  With this fondue, you don’t even need a fondue pot – you can simply heat it on the stove and serve it in a bowl.  It will stay smooth and creamy without hardening up on you.  It is also a nice change from the classic Milk Chocolate Fondue. 

White Chocolate Fondue with Berries & Fruit

I created colorful menu item cards for the table.  They were done in the same colors of my napkins and centerpiece.  At the end of the night, everyone left with some colorful sugar cookies – also in the same colors. 

Handmade Menu Cards

A toast to the New Year with White Star and then we called it a night.  Another year in the books…. 

Colorful, Festive Sugar Cookies