To A Merrier New Year
BY LANA SILLS
It ’ s the most wonderful time of the year , as I plan to savor the holidays with my new
grandson while sharing traditions , a holiday feast with loved ones and celebrating the season . What a year it ’ s been ! In 2020 , we mastered sourdough and made bountiful banana breads … and predicted for 2021 , the home cook will experiment with elevated ingredients in their new takes on pastas , sauces and spices .
SUGAR & SPICE AND EVERYTHING NICE BAR NUTS
Salty , sweet and spicy , these rosemary-infused nuts are perfect with cocktails or for snacking .
For a less-stress season , try making appetizers , small plates and desserts ( and cocktails , of course !). A holiday spread might be a gone-in-seconds spinach dip upgraded with bacon and spicy pepper jack cheese ; pizza stuffed mushrooms for the kids ; crab stuffed mushrooms for the grown-ups ; caviar and smoked salmon mini-blini stacks ; and a drunken shrimp cocktail served in a celery salt rimmed shot glass . To upgrade “ pigs in a blanket ,” make a flaky puff pastry tart topped with caramelized onions and kielbasa slices .
If you are gathering your family , elves and all , for a Christmas Eve dinner , here is everything you want in less than an hour . Pizza and presents has a nice ring to it , especially when the pizza is homemade . A store bought focaccia that ’ s baked in an oiled sheet pan to get the bottom crust extra crispy with layers of red sauce , mozzarella , Pecorino Romano and pepperoni that curls when you bake it will please the whole crowd ! Create simple elegance with Pomegranate molasses glazed lamb chops or the ultimate cheese board with roasted grapes . All these dishes are Santa Claus approved !
My idea of a perfectly relaxed New Year ’ s Eve is a garlic-rosemary rubbed low and slow Prime Roast Beef ( tender and super flavorful , cooked up to 2 days in advance ), and served with pickled red onion , arugula , cornichons and horseradish sauce , for a make your own sandwich buffet . Brushed with butter and sprinkled with flaky salt , warmed store-bought rolls are the perfect canvas for this succulent roast beef .
For the perfect pairing , good wine tells stories and the right bottle lets you travel back in time . With fond memories of Italy , I found a top Barolo from Trediberri in Piedmont . Often called a Baby Barolo , it ’ s a darkly spicy , complex red and one to seek out . As a New Year ’ s resolution , consider kicking off 2021 with charity-centered wines that donate to amazing causes on an ongoing basis and know that you are doing good with every glass .
Hanukkah , which commemorates a two thousand year old miracle , is
2-1 / 2 cups unsalted mixed nuts
2 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary
1 / 2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 teaspoons dark or light brown sugar
1 teaspoon kosher salt 1 tablespoon unsalted butter , melted
Preheat oven to 350 ° F . Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil for easy clean up . Place the nuts on the baking sheet and toast in oven until fragrant and lightly golden , about 5 minutes .
In a large bowl , combine the hot melted butter , rosemary , cayenne pepper and brown sugar . Add the warm nuts to the spiced butter and toss well . Add kosher salt and toss to coat thoroughly . Serve warm or let cool to room temperature and store in an airtight container for up to five days .
symbolically celebrated with foods cooked in oil for traditional treats . My favorites are latkes , aka fried potato pancakes , that are crispy and lacey topped with crème fraiche , apple sauce , smoked fish and fresh dill , and Sufganiyot , billowy treats rolled in sugar … when I fill them with quince paste , they ’ re the classiest Israeli jelly doughnut !
And for dessert … Butterscotch Budino , white and dark chocolate dipped Fortune cookies , roasted pears topped with an almond crunch , bittersweet chocolate truffles and your favorite winter fruits are just a few of my favorite things !
We won ’ t be sad to see 2020 leave . Cheers to a Merrier New Year ~~~
34 BAY WINDOW