What's On Your New Year's Table

 A New Year means an open house. This is usually trays of nibbles to welcome in guests to celebrate a new calendar year. it could be nibbles .It could be a carved roast. Anything to go with a cheering drink.

What should be part of an open house table? Hors d'ouevres are your best bet. Any charcuterie or even a sea-cuterie platter works. Guests will appreciate little plates full of salami and shrimp along with slices of cheese and Italian and /or French bread.It's eating theor favorites without gorging too much. You can also have hot hors douevres. Mini sliders that involve meatballs on brioche or pretzel buns work well. They're fun bites that can be dipped into any kind of sauce from marinara to remoulade. Of course pigs in blankets are a must. You could add a layer of champagne mustard before cooking in an air fryer. Another idea is wrapping the dogs in a sharp cheddar or bacon.You could also sub in cut sausages for the hot dogs.Chicien wings also wouldn;t go amiss on an open house table..Include drumsticks for more variety along with dufferent dipping sauces.Vegans can also enjoy your open house table. Those beef and pork based franks can be replaced by plant based ones. Such companies as Alpha has  tasty nuggets in both regular and sizzling spicy. 

If you are planning a roast keep in mind that roasts, especially turkeys cna take anywhere from two and a half to five hours to roast. If you're planning on an open house starting at one PM,then  start getting the food prepared around seven AM(if you can. You can always schedule an early supper beginning at 3:30 to  4 PM if you're planning on celebrating New Year's Eve). Make sure you also have all the trimmings. Pre cut the stuffing in manageable small squares for easy carrying and eating. Yams can be cut into slices and crispy fried in the air fryer for a fun change.Instead of having a gravy boat and ladle which can get messy, opt for ramekins fill with gravy instead. Guests can delicately dip their rolls on them or pour the gravy over the turkey and stuffing. The same goes for a roast beef table. Have ramekins full of au jus and a thicker gtavy. A good accompaniment is a tray of homemade of Yorkshire puddings. These are perfect for holding both the meat and different gravies. As for greens try Brussels sprouts and onions roasted on  skewers,

An open house require not only good cheer but good food. There are several ways to go . Pick the one that works , whether hors douvres' or a carving table. Your guests will love both.

What''s On 2024's Menu

 This is the time of year fro predictions.It's no different in th e food and drink industries. What will we be eating? What will be trending? What do we want filling our glasses. These are all big and interesting questiuons.

Regular contributor Kim Severson wrote about this in yesterday's New York Times Food section. She;s not focusing on viral Tiktok trends. There will be plenty of those to follow once the New Year starts. Instead she concentrates on studies regarding small cultural  media and economic data points and watch the trends emerge. Some are reasonable and a natural progressionof some of today's most popular foods. Some seem downright nutty. Foodies and gourmands will still want and demand luxury but also the food's value too.It's not the rairity but is this food the best of its[kind will be the question we'll be most asking.Some trends make sense. Buckwheat will be the most popular grain in the New Year according to Cathy Strange , the Whole Foods Market ambassadoe of food culture. She had a foi gras terrine coated in it in a recent trip to Norway.Buckwheat will even be in hot cocoa and coating such fish as monkfush. YOu;ll see it in traditional dishes like udon noodles and possible waffles, pancakes and bread. Soup is another common food that will be the rage in the next twelve months.There is a rising interest in soups from Cambodia, Singapore and Indonesia. grocery stores will see more soups and soup starters on their shelves.

Water - which has been around forever - is also going to be a trendsetter in the upcoming year. More and more people will be pouring powders and syrups into big tumblers of water. There will even be "water sommeliers" in which a sommlier will educate people in the different waters from around the world. There will even be tastings. There will also be an interest in waste water(not what you think)This is taking the cacao water after the cocoa bean has harvested and turning into a tasty drink.Water stewardship will grow as more and more consumers look to companies to use less water in their production. A strange strend is goiung to be food flavored cocktails. Imagine taking a sip of a Waldorf salad at Manhattan;s most innovative bar Double Chicken Please. There's also a Thai beef salad at The Savory Project in Hong KOng. There's also an everything Everywhere drink that tastes like an everything bagel at the Anvil Pub and Grill in Birmingham Alabama. Also looks for florals and botanticals flavoring everything too. Cherry blossom and violet will dominate along with wildflowers in flavors.

There may be other trends in  the new year The one already predicted will be interesting and fun. Everyone should try them.

Sparkle On A Budget

 Champagne or anything bubbly is de rigeur for the New Year. Except there's a problem - like anything else it's risen in price? What to do then? Go for a sparkling wine.It;s basically the same thing but mouch more affordable. 

Regular contributor Eric Asimov gave a guide to the best sprakling whites in today's New York Times Food section.He does give a good choice; about twelves choices . Luckily great sparkling wine can be found anywhere and Mr Asimove went to a variety of different shops across Manhattan to get them.He calls them alternatives and not replacements. Keep in mind that if a vintner uses champagne grapes the end result will taste like it. Most use pinot noir or chardonnay grapes for this. Other will use chenin blance.The bubbly won;t have the same flavor. it will not be better or worse or just different. His choices are ones that are made with the same fermentation processes which is a fermented wine that;s gets refermented again to get that fizzy texture. He skipped ones that have already been bottled while fermenting. What drink works for New Year's celebrations. If you want French then go with Domaine De Montbourgeau Cremant Du Brut Zero NV,12 percent. This $36 dollar bottle comes from the Jura moutain area between France and Switzerland.It's dry and sublty herbal, racy and elegant in Mr. Asimov's words. There's also Benedicte Et Stephane Tissot Cremant Du Jura Extra Brut MV 12.85 Per Cent which is still an affordable $38 it's actually half chardonnaygrapes mixed with pinot noir ones along with trousseau and poulsard ones.It has pronounced citrus and herbal flavors.

If you want unusual, try a sparkling one made from chenin blanc. This is a white wime grape from the LOire Valley in south central France. The grape has the uncanny ability to be both bone dry and sweet. It's the fruit behind Francoise Chidane Montlouis-Sur-Loire Brut Nature MethodeTraditionelle 2020, 12 Per Cent. It;s one of the inexpensive ones at $33.It's a lacy ,light floral with a hint of honey, the perfect dessert wine if you want to ring in the New Year . Califormia is also represented in this list. Try Roederer Estate Anderson Valley Brut MV 12.5 PerCent. Again this is a good bargain at $33 dollars.It's flavor is more hetbal than mineral thanks to the mix of Chardonnay and Pinor Noir grapes making it. It has a freshness and elegance to it , making ot perfect with hors d'ouevres. Champagne and New York City go together but does sparkling wine and New York State? The answer is yes thanks to Jo Landron Atmospheres Methode Traditionelle Extra brut MV 11.5 Per Cent.It's a steal at $28/\.It's a combination of different grapes from the Chardonnay to the pinot noir with the fole blanche thrown in. Italy is also representd here in the Ferrari Trento Brut Metodo Classico NV 12.5 Per Cent.A gain this another great buy at $27.It comes from the Trento Aldige region of Northeastern Italy and has a nice balanced flavor

These are affordable sparklers that are perfect for rining in 2024. They'll make a difference in your parties and gatheringd. Try them for an enjoyabl sip.

African Foods For Kwanzaa

 All holidays have traditional foods. Kwanzaa is not different.The foods represented go back t o Africa and their rich food hisotry. Much was brought over here where everyone can enjoy the variety of fruits and vegetables.

Most Kwanzaa foods have symbolism. Ears of corm represent children still at home.The harvest is also represented in the form of yams, okra, squash , sweet potatoes and bananas. Te biggest meal  called Karamu.is eaten on the sixth dayit can be just African foods from Senegal or Nigeria to name a few countries  or soul food , taken from the American South.Karamus features a one pot soup ro soup , for communal dining. You could easily make a jambalaya, always a welcome treat.This is full of chicken, shrimp and mussels. Add okra if you want to thicken it but it also calls for the "holy trinity' of celery ,peppers and onions. Another hot and comforting dish is Philadelphia  pepperpot stew which comes from early Afro-Carib influence on the city.The original was made with cassareep syrup a sweet and sour flavor from the cassava root or callaloo, a medley of West African greens. Pepperpot also has  tripe or cow;s stomach slow cooked with  green peppers, leeks and carrots. Bacon can be added for more flavor.

There are also side dishes. Many make the Nigerian jollof rice which is rice  cooked wit tomatoes, onions and peppers.It's spiced with thyme and garlic along with the fiery Scotch bonnet pepper. Carrots and green beans can also be added to alleviate the heat.A side of fufu, the West African mash can also be added to the menu. This is mashed or pulverized cassava which is then transfered to a pot where it's stirred.Once cooked and cooled it;s rolled into balls to ber served alognside stews or soup.It acts as a kind fo spoon and bread Take off a piece , mold  into a bowls and ten dip into the stew.What about desserts? Try mbatata or sweet potato cookies.They are from Mali and oftne made in heart shapes to symbolize Mali being the heart of Africa.Cinnamon and raisins are also added for extra flavor as is coconut. A chocolate scratch cake  symbolizing the country's cocoa trade also can be made. Layer it with such fresh fruits as apricots, strawberries. kiwis and sweet cherries. Try to use fresh fruit to symbolize the harvest.

Kwanzaa is a time fo celebration , both of value and harvests. Celebrate wit a communal stew and fruit centered dessert. Enjoy the bounty with friends and family.

A Very Good And Peace Filled Christmas

 Wheverever you are in the world just prtay that everyone , Christian or not has a good peace filled dinner. Pray for those who cannot have this and keep them in your thoughts. Remember to keep donating to food banks and food pantries. There are those who cannot afford food - let alone housing.

Enjoy the food you have with the families and friends you have.

Merry Christmas

Just Relax

 These next two days are going to be crazy for home chefs. It could be last minute cookie baking. It could be brining that turkey and ham for Monday's big feast. Right now just relax.

Don't fret if you're cookie baking tomorrow. Everyone loves cookies, even burnt ones. (and the black bottoms can be scraped off). If you want an easy way out then pick up a few rolls of Pillsbury's Slice and Bakes.Keep in mind that all the groceries are open tomorrow so if you need extra flour or sprinkles you can get them. Ask for help if the family are around. They'd be glad to help oout and even participate in sampling the doughs.

As for the dinner, relax, Sides are easy to make and they cna be created Monday after church. Again ask family to help with the cutting, shredding and whisking. All the roasts can just be popped into the oven and looked at every half hour.In that time you can do a crossword or sudoku. You cna take a long sip of wine or tea to relax. 

Don't let Christmas baking or cooking flummox you. Relax. Celebrate. Enjoy what you've made.It's bound to be delicious.

How Are You Doing?

 This is the number one questions for everyone around the world - how are you doing? Aee you stressed? Baked out? Happy about  feasting? Anxious about the big day Monday>

Let us know here. We can even help if need be/