New Year's Eve is party time!
Friends and family gather together to ring in the new year by watching the ball drop in Times Square, playing games, enjoying adult beverages, wearing silly hats and stuffing their faces.
A lot of party hosts offer their guests pork and sauerkraut right after midnight, which traditionally is said to bring good luck in the new year to those who eat it.
My Dad's tradition always was, in addition to the pork and sauerkraut, he would make shrimp with Old Bay seasoning.
But, if you will have a vegetarian or vegan at your party this year, please be prepared with a few other options that everyone can enjoy. Having multiple hors d'oeuvres and side dishes is a good idea for any party.
A few easy things to throw together might include a fruit and-or vegetable tray; mixed nuts; an assortment of pickles and black, green and Kalamata olives; salsa, guacamole and tortilla chips (check the bag for vegan-friendly ingredients); crackers (again, check the ingredients), pita chips or French baguette to dip in hummus or pile bruschetta or marinated mushrooms onto. You also could roast a few veggies like squash, onions, asparagus, mushrooms and peppers to put onto salad greens.
A few other "good luck" foods that are suitable for vegans include noodles, black-eyed peas, lentils, cabbage and pomegranates. So, if you're feeling festive, add some of these ingredients into a few recipes.
You always can pick up a package of hummus or pre-made bruschetta and dips at the grocery store, but here are a few recipes to make on your own at home.
Roasted red pepper hummus
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 15-ounce can
garbanzo beans, drained
1tablespoon tahini
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1/2 cup roasted red
peppers
2 tablespoons olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
Combine garlic, garbanzo beans, tahini, olive oil and lemon juice in a food processor and process until smooth.
Add roasted red peppers, salt and pepper and process again. For a creamier hummus, soak garbanzo beans in water for a few minutes and remove the skins before processing.
Serve with pita chips, crackers or fresh veggies.
Kalamata olive
tofu spread
112 ounce package silken tofu
1 clove garlic
1teaspoon salt
1tablespoon tahini
1/3 cup kalamata olives, pitted and sliced in half
Combine all ingredients in a food processor and process until smooth.
Serve with crackers, fresh vegetables, spread on bread slices or fill the insides of hollowed-out peppadews.
Happy New Year!
