Here are my go to recipes for New Year’s Eve! Hope you enjoy! Don’t forget to have your blackened peas on New Years Day! Wishing everyone a very safe and prosperous New Year!
Everything Cheeseball
6 ounces cream cheese, softened
1.5 cups finely grated extra sharp cheddar
1 green onion, thinly sliced
1/2 cup bacon bits
1/4 cup goat cheese
1/4-1/2 cup everything seasonings (1 tablespoon each of: toasted sesame seeds, poppy seeds, dried minced onion, dried minced garlic, and fennel seed)
In a medium sized bowl combine the cream cheese, sharp cheddar cheese, green onion, bacon bits and goat cheese. Blend till smooth. Using a spatula form the cheese into a ball and place on a piece of plastic wrap. Throughly wrap the cheese ball and place in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours before you are ready to serve.
In a shallow bowl combine all of the seeds and savory seasonings. Unwrap the cheese ball and roll it into the seasoning blend. Serve with an assortment of crackers.
Cowboy Crackers
1 package of oyster crackers
1 stick Braum’s unsalted butter, melted
2 teaspoon seasoning salt
1 teaspoon dried dill
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large bowl pour in the oyster crackers. Melt the butter in a small bowl along with the seasoning salt and dill. Stir well. Pour the melted butter mixture over the crackers and toss. Place the crackers on the baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes. Stirring the crackers after 10 minutes to ensure even browning. Remove the crackers from the oven and allow the crackers to cool completely before storing them in an airtight container.
Dec. 31st New Year’s Eve
Pomegranate Spritzer
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
1 tablespoon sliced fresh ginger
1 cup pomegranate juice
2 cups club soda, chilled
In a saucepan over medium heat warm the sugar and water till the sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and pour the warm sugar water into a mason jar and then add in the ginger. Allow this to sit with the lid on for 2 hours or up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator.
To make the fizz: In a large pitcher add in 1/2 cup ginger sugar water, pomegranate juice and club soda. Stir well and serve over ice!
Peach Thyme Fizz
1 cup peach nectar
1/4 cup thyme syrup
1 bottle Martenelli’s sparkling cider
Fresh thyme
In a saucepan over medium heat warm the sugar and water till the sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and pour the warm sugar water into a mason jar and then add in the thyme. Allow this to sit with the lid on for 2 hours or up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator.
To make the fizz: In a large pitcher add in 1/2 cup thyme sugar water, peach nectar and the bottle of sparkling apple cider. Stir well and serve over ice with a sprig of thyme in each glass.