8 Easy New Year's Eve Recipes That'll Fancify Your Buffet

You've decided to play host this year and invited your friends and family over for dinner on New Year's Eve. But, a) you haven't done anything like this before, b) your cooking skills are OK-ish (at best), and c) you have zero time. Somewhere between your slow cooker, our freeze dried bites, and these easy (yet fancy) New Year's Eve recipes, you'll be able to pull this off and dazzle everyone in the process. Ready to get started?

1. Baked Brie

Ready in less than 20 minutes, this appetizer recipe shows exactly that holiday cooking doesn't have to be complicated. Serve it with crusty bread for a wholesome experience.

Ingredients:

• An 8-ounce wheel of brie
• 1/3 cup raspberry preserves
• 1-2 tbsp walnuts, crushed

Directions:

1. Place the brie wheel on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and top with the preserves and walnuts. Bake to 350^oF for about 10 minutes or until the cheese starts to ooze.

2. Apple & Gruyere Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Grilled cheese sandwich doesn't exactly sound Christmas-y. Thanks to its filling ingredients, this fancy version can legit pass up as dinner. Serve them as is or alongside a bowl of soup.

Ingredients:

• 8 slices of sourdough bread
• 2 green apples, peeled and cut into thin slices
• 8 slices Gruyere cheese
• 1 tbsp butter

Directions:

1. Heat the skillet over medium heat.
2. Meanwhile, assemble the sandwiches: Bread slice, one slice of cheese, apple slices, one slice of cheese, bread slice. Repeat this sequence four times.
3. Spread a little bit of butter on top of each sandwich.
4. Transfer the sandwich with the buttered side touching the skillet and cook for 4-5 minutes.
5. Then, butter the other side and flip the sandwich. Cook for another 2-3 minutes and serve.

3. Mango Pulled Chicken

We all know that when it comes to cooking with mangos, the sky's the limit. But, this festive recipe takes the exotic fruit (as well as chicken) to a whole new level.

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds boneless chicken breast
• 2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
• 1 tsp salt
• ½ tsp chili powder
• ¼ tsp cumin
• 1 chipotle chili pepper, chopped
• 1/3 cup mango juice
• ½ cup of water
• ½ cup freeze dried mango

Directions:

1. Add all the ingredients in your slow cooker and cook on high for half an hour.
2. Then, remove the chicken from the pot and shred it using two forks.
3. For a mouthwatering result, stuff the chicken inside baked potatoes or serve it in a taco shell.

4. Honey Dijon Pork Tenderloin

Every holiday table revolves around a roast of sorts. If you are a fan of pork, this dish is an absolute must-try. And at just seven ingredients (including water), it's a breeze to make. Heads-up: Based on its looks and flavor, no one will ever know it took you next to zero time to prep.

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs pork tenderloin
• 4 tbsp Dijon mustard
• 3 tbsp raw honey
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 3 tbsp dehydrated onion
• 1 tsp water
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 400^oF.
2. Add all the ingredients (except for the pork) in a bowl and stir well.
3. Brush half of the mixture over the pork, cover with tinfoil and bake for about half an hour.
4. Then, remove it from the oven, brush with the remaining mixture, and place it back into the oven for an extra 5-10 minutes.
5. Take it out of the oven and allow it to rest for 15 minutes before serving.

5. Slow-Cooked Beef Steaks in Red Wine Sauce

Holidays are all about boozing things up – that includes our dishes. These alcohol-infused steaks prove that you can drink your wine and eat it, too. For a full meal, serve them on top mashed potatoes or pasta.

Ingredients:

• 4 steaks
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 cup dehydrated onion
• 2 garlic cloves
• ½ cup dehydrated carrot
• 2 tsp dehydrated garlic
• ½ cup dehydrated celery
• 2 ½ cups red wine
• 1 ½ cup water
• 1 can crushed tomatoes
• 2 tbsp tomato passata
• 2 cups beef broth
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper

Directions:

1. Add all the ingredients in the slow cooker, and turn the dial on high. Let it cook for 6 hours if the steaks are frozen or 4 if they are thawed.

6. Kale Salad with Ham & Figs

Ham and figs may seem like an unusual combo. But, the fruit's sweetness matches (and complements) the meat's saltiness so harmonically that you won't even notice you're munching on a salad. It's usually served as a side dish, but you can upgrade it to a main course if you serve it with toasted bread and a glass of wine on the side.

Ingredients:

• 10 ounces kale, chopped
• 5 fresh or dried figs, cut into wedges
• ¼ cup Ricotta cheese
• 3 ounces glazed ham, chopped
• ¼ cup olive oil
• ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
• 1 tbsp capers
• ¼ cup toasted walnuts, crushed
• Salt and pepper, for seasoning

Directions:

1. Toss all of the ingredients in a bowl and mix well until everything is coated evenly.

7. Eggplant Bean Loaf

An ingenious twist on the classic meatloaf, this New Year's Eve recipe will surprise even the most indifferent guests. Made with various types of pulses and veggies, it's also packed with nutrients, offering a welcome break from the rich holiday dishes.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup dehydrated kidney beans
• 1 cup dehydrated lentils
• ¼ cup dehydrated carrots
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 2 medium diced eggplants
• 1 small red onion, peeled and minced
• 2/3 cup rolled oats
• 1 tbsp dehydrated garlic
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 3 tbsp nutritional yeast
• ¼ tsp cumin
• ¼ tsp smoked paprika
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Directions:

1. Pour 2 ½ cups of lukewarm water into a bowl. Add the lentils, kidney beans, and carrots, and let them soak for about 15 minutes until they hydrate. Remove from the bowl, squeeze away any excess liquid, and place them in a strainer to allow the water to drain.
2. Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a loaf pan.
3. Heat the olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Sauté the diced eggplant and onion until they soften.
4. Add the lentils, beans, carrots, and the rest of the ingredients, and mash them all together. If your mixture feels too dry, add water one teaspoon at a time.
5. Transfer the mixture to the loaf pan and cook for 45 minutes or until the outside is crusty.

8. Raspberry Thins

No holiday table is complete without dessert. Luckily, these chocolate raspberry things won't have you slaving away in the kitchen in pursuit of the perfect swirl. Plus, they got fruit in it, so that's a plus!

Ingredients:

• 2 cups freeze dried raspberries
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup unsalted butter
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• ½ tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 egg

Directions:

1. Grind the raspberries in a food processor until they turn into a fine powder.
2. Add the powder to a bowl along with flour and baking powder.
3. In another bowl, beat the sugar and the butter until you have a fluffy mixture.
4. Then, stir in the vanilla and the egg.
5. Now, mix both mixtures, shape the dough into logs and freeze for 15 minutes.
6. Preheat the oven to 350^oF, roll out the dough and cut it in squares.
7. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until they are cooked through.

Which are your go-to New Year's Eve recipes? Shower us with your suggestions in the comments below!

References:

• http://domesticsuperhero.com/apple-gouda-grilled-cheese/
• https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/instant-pot-spicy-pineapple-chicken-tacos/
• https://www.theseasonedmom.com/roasted-pork-tenderloin/
• http://wallflowerkitchen.com/lentil-roast-with-gravy/
• https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/food-recipes/dessert/a25334483/white-chocolate-raspberry-thins-recipe/

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