Happy New Year! It’s New Year’s Eve, and you know what that
means: it’s time for hors d’oeuvres and cocktails!
By New Year’s Eve, everyone has been so busy with the
holiday rush, I wanted to keep it simple this year, so instead of providing a
recipe, I’m providing some helpful tips for a dish that requires minimal effort
but promises maximum enjoyment!
If you’re not much of a cooking pro, or even if you are a
cooking pro who needs a break, an antipasti platter is the perfect dish for any
celebration. Antipasto (the singular
form of the plural noun antipasti) is
Italian for “before the meal,” and an antipasti platter traditionally consists
of a variety of meats, cheeses, olives, and pickled vegetables and is served
before a meal. There is no singular traditional antipasti platter, as antipasti
vary by region in Italy. Therefore, you can do just about anything you want
when building your own antipasti platter! The rules are absolutely flexible,
but I have provided you with a few helpful tips for making a successful
antipasti splash.
Antipasti Tips:
Meat is traditional but not required. However, if you do
choose to serve meat, make sure to include at least two or three selections.
(Recommended: Pepperoni, salami, smoked sausage)
Olives and pickled vegetables are a MUST. No self-respecting
antipasti platter would dare be seen without an assortment of olives, pickled
peppers, cornichons, or other vinegary accoutrements.
Cheese is also a MUST. Make sure to include at least two or
three cheese selections on your platter, preferably a variety of hard and soft
cheeses.
Condiments are good. Make sure to have a *good* extra virgin
olive oil and a *good* balsamic vinegar on hand for guests to dress their antipasti
selections. (For my fellow Southerners, having hot sauce and/or pepper sauce on
hand might also be a good idea!)
Keep your serving platter large and simple but elegant. A
large white platter or a large wooden cutting board is perfect for an antipasti
platter; either selection is simple and stylish while letting the antipasti
selections themselves be the eye-catching star of the show.
Don’t forget the carbs! Make sure to serve tasty crackers or
crostini that guests can top with their antipasti selections. I like to make my
own crostini by taking a slender baguette, cutting it into ½-inch thick slices,
drizzling them with olive oil, and baking them at 350 for 5-10 minutes or until
they are light and crispy.
Our antipasti platter this year consists of smoked sausage, artichoke hearts, pickled okra, sliced tomatoes, olives, banana pepper rings, giardiniera, Vallagret cheese, cheddar cheese, and pepperoni.
Now, of course, no New Year’s celebration would be complete
without a fancy cocktail, and this one is my absolute favorite. Sweet, flowery,
and bubbly, it’s the perfect celebratory beverage, and I hope you enjoy it as
much as I do!
The Fizzy Flower
2 parts sparkling wine
1 part Cathead honeysuckle vodka
1 part elderflower liqueur
Serve in chilled champagne glasses. May garnish with
strawberries.
Happy New Year!
Enjoy!
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