Did you go out for New Year’s Eve?
I like to stay cozy at home with family and instead of dinner,
we like to nibble and nosh throughout the evening,
watching the festivities and football on TV
We had a holiday appetizer party in December
that came together quickly using easy, delicious appetizers
With just a few changes it was perfect for New Year’s Eve
and then with a few tweaks, it’s ready for
the NCAA Championship Game or the Super Bowl!
Romaine Spoons with Pear Compote balances out heavier appetizers
Pimiento Cheese Sausage Balls are always a hit
I tweaked my recipe for Bacon Brown Sugar Chicken
by using nugget size pieces of chicken
Bake them on a foil lined pan* in the oven for 30- 40 minutes
until the bacon is crispy
These are great party nibble served with toothpicks
I didn’t take a photo of the nuggets but the photo below
shows the cooked bacon wrapped tenders,
one is cut into smaller pieces
The Magic Mini Meatball Muffins are very easy to make
with canned biscuit dough,
you don’t have to cook the meatballs first,
it bakes along with the biscuit dough
Right before Christmas CC and Charlie Brown helped me
make Reindeer Cookies for our family Christmas Eve lunch~
Nutter Butter cookies decorated with melted white chocolate,
M & Ms, chocolate chips and a pretzel~
They are so cute!
They were served on a tiered tray
with cakes and cookies from a bakery
We also had Grinch Kebabs,
green grape skewers with a banana slice,
strawberry and mini marshmallow
You can turn this Holiday Appetizer Menu
into a New Year’s Appetizer Party
with just a few changes
Swap the Pimiento Cheese Sausage Balls for fancier
Cranberry Swiss Almond Holiday Spread
Change the Reindeer Cookies to Mini Champagne Cupcakes
Swap the Grinch Kebabs for a more grown up
The National College Football Championship is coming up this weekend
and the Super Bowl in February
Take this same menu and turn it into football watching food
and a few lighter choices for the New Year
Zucchini Frico is a great choice if you’re watching your carbs
Change the Romaine Spoons with Pear Compote to
Romaine Wraps with Pecans, Cranberries, Bacon and Bleu
Goal Post Green Beans are another lo carb, lighter choice
instead of calorie loaded chips and dip
Change up the Bacon Wrapped Chicken to Ranch Picnic Chicken Nuggets
Change up the Mini Magic Meatball Muffins to Touchdown Burger Bombs
Lighten up dessert with Loaded Apple Cookies
One menu, three ways~
All the recipes are easy, family friendly
and crowd pleasers!
Pin and save these menu ideas for next year!
Reindeer Cookies
Ingredients
- Nutter Butter cookies
- white chocolate
- chocolate chips
- red M & M candies
- mini pretzel twists
Instructions
- Melt white chocolate in the microwave, using 30 second intervals and stirring until melted
- dip pretzel end in melted chocolate and place on top end of cookies for antlers
- dip chocolate chips in white chocolate and then put in place for eyes
- dip red M & Ms in white chocolate and put in place for nose
- Let chocolate set and then store cookies in an airtight container
Grinch Kebabs
Equipment
- toothpicks or short skewers
Ingredients
- fresh strawberries
- green grapes
- bananas
- mini marshmallows
Instructions
- Cut off strawberry stems and peel and slice bananas
- Put a grape on each skewer, then a banana slice, then a strawberry, stem side down on the banana, and top with a mini marshmallow
- Best made right before serving so bananas don't turn brown
Brown Sugar Bacon Chicken Tenders
Ingredients
- chicken tenders* or boneless chicken breasts cut into tenders
- thick cut bacon strips
- brown sugar
- teriyaki or Hawaiian marinade
Instructions
- Marinate chicken tenders for 2-3 hours if time permits
- Cut bacon strips in half
- Wrap each tender with a bacon piece, stretching to surround chicken, for grilling, or simply lay the bacon on top of chicken for baking
- Sprinkle chicken and bacon liberally with brown sugar
- Bake chicken at 375 degrees for 25-30 minutes until chicken is cooked through and bacon is done or grill over medium heat until chicken and bacon are done
- If baking, put chicken on a foil lined pan on a rack if desired or cook on the foil and then drain pieces on paper towels. Time will vary so watch carefully near end of baking time and remove when bacon is crispy
Notes
I will be joining these fabulous parties and blogs:
Sundays on Silverado/ Love Your Creativity
What’s for Dinner/ Between Naps on the Porch
All About Home/ Common Ground & Follow the Yellow Brick Home
Oh My Heartsie Girl / Turn About Tuesday / Our Tiny Nest
Karin’s Cottage Linky Party / Creative Crafts / Crafty Creators
Whimsey Home Wednesday Full Plate Thursday