New Year's Eve Appetizers

The emails have been pouring in asking for tips on planning for New Year's Eve parties so here's some ideas for ya!

When trying to plan "finger foods" I often think of my favorite normal sized foods and just adapt them to make them appropriate for large groups. One great example is skewers. Try your favorite grilled skewer (which you can easily place on a broiler pan and cook in large batches in your oven) and just put them on mini skewers or tooth picks. Some of our favorites are:

Bacon-Wrapped Teriyaki Skewers: These work great on toothpicks- just put one piece of bacon-wrapped chicken and one chunk of pineapple on a toothpick. Whenever I serve these at parties they are one of the very first things to disappear!


Orange-Thai Beef Skewers: I like these on mini skewers, which are larger than a toothpick but smaller than a regular skewer. Just put one slice of thinly cut steak on each skewer. Garnish the tray with sliced oranges and people can snack on those too.


Chili-Lime Mango Chicken Skewers: This is another great one for a tooth pick. Just put one chunk of mango and one piece of chicken on each one. You can bake them in the oven on a cookie sheet at 350 until the chicken juices run clear (probably about 15 minutes depending on the size of the chicken)


Crispy Coconut Chicken Fingers: One of my favorite dinners that doubles as a great appetizer. Try them with chicken tenders for large servings, or cut the chicken into 1-inch pieces to stretch it farther. If you make the small chicken chunks, put them in a bowl or platter so they stay close to each other and stay warm. Serve with a dish of toothpicks to the side and some dipping sauce (like sweet and sour) if desired.

A great, easy appetizer is a pizza. You could make your own if you have the time and the desire, or just use pre-made crust and throw on your own toppings. Try something like Asian BBQ Chicken Pizza for something different. Heck, even a pizza from the freezer section of the grocery store works great. Just cut into squares instead of slices and you have a great appetizer that serves quite a few!


Taquitos: These taquitos make a great party food. Try either the Chipotle Beef, or the Creamy Chicken. Both fillings can be made ahead of time which comes in handy when you're preparing lots of food. Serve with salsa, guacamole, and sour cream.



Meatballs: Make some homemade meatballs ahead of time and cook them up the day of your party. Everyone loves a great meatball!



Cheeseball: What's a New Year's party without a cheeseball?? Serve with crackers or veggies.


Stuffed Pizza Rolls: A huge hit at parties. Make a few of these and keep them in the fridge before your party. Bake one for the table and then pop the others in the oven during the party so they can be served warm. Trust me, you'll need lots! Try your favorite fillings or try one of mine: Bacon-Ranch.


Party Sub: This is a super easy one you can make a few hours ahead of time. Add lettuce just before serving so it doesn't wilt. You can toss a bunch together and pull them out of the fridge as needed. They'll serve a lot of people (depending on how you slice them) and fill them up too!


Asian Lettuce Wraps: Try serving this on boc choy (an Asian lettuce found in the produce section of the grocery store) for small, sturdy single servings. Or you can use a small head of iceberg.


Bacon-Wrapped Cocktail Sausages: No matter how you prepare them, every party should have little smokies! Try this sweet and savory version.


Cheesy Roasted Red Pepper Dip: This hot dip can be made ahead of time (unbaked, stored in the fridge) and is yummy served on bread, or with crackers and veggies.


Sweet Fruit Salsa and Cinnamon Chips: Try this fun variation of chips and salsa. It's light, sweet, and refreshing. Mix it up with whatever fruit is in season.



Caramel Toffee Fruit Dip: Another sweet ending. Serve fruit on skewers, or in a big bowl with some tooth picks to the side. Even just apple slices work well. Make a double or triple batch because it will go quick!


Caramel Corn: A big bowl of caramel corn makes a great addition to any party spread. Try placing it on a platter in little dixie cups for individual servings. Fancy it up by tying a festive little ribbon around each cup, or try our cinnamon bun variation.




Hope this list gives you a little inspiration. Good luck to those of you hosting parties, and a Happy New Year to all of you! Please try to avoid being stupid and don't drink and drive!