New Year's Eve Appetizers + Wine
What are you doing this New Year's eve? Are you attending a party, going out dancing or throwing your own party?
We are having a New Year's party and we are sharing a few of our favourite appetizers and wine pairings that we are serving.
Our first favourite dish is a delicious baked brie topped with brandy caramelized pecans. This particular appetizer is a hit for any party and it takes minutes to prepare. It also pairs lovely with a chilled glass of Sauvignon Blanc.
PECAN BAKED BRIE
1/4 cup of crushed pecans
1/4 cup of brown sugar
1 tablespoon of brandy
1 medium or large round of double cream brie
Mix pecans, brown sugar and brandy in a bowl. Heat oven to 500°F and place brie on baking sheet covered with parchment paper. Heat for 5 minutes and then spread pecans, brown sugar and brandy mixture evenly over brie. Heat for 4 minutes or until mixture starts to melt. Serve with crackers or bread!
We can't take credit for the second recipe, because it was shared with us from a friend. This big hit is our amazing jelly meatballs. They aren't just great for serving at a New Year's party, they make the perfect appetizer for baby showers or football parties. When pairing meatballs with wine, it is often more important to consider the sauce or seasoning you are using. This sweet and savoury sauce pairs perfectly with a light-bodied red wine, specifically Gamay or Pinot Noir.
JELLY MEATBALLS
1 - 12oz (350ml) bottle chili sauce
1 - 10oz (284ml) jar grape jelly
1 teaspoon lemon juice
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon soy sauce
Mix everything together (except the frozen meatballs) in a pot, bring to a boil and boil until sauce thickens.
Add the frozen meatballs and sauce to a slow cooker and cook them on medium heat for 4 to 6 hours. Serve and enjoy!
To spice things up a bit, our last recipe is our famous thai chicken wings. I am a lover of spicy foods and Thai food is at the top of my list. I spent a month backpacking in Thailand and absolutely fell in love with the food. Although when I was travelling, I paired the spicy dishes with cheap cold beer. This spicy dish also goes great with a chilled glass of Riesling.
THAI CHICKEN WINGS
2 lbs chicken wings
3/4 cup Thai sweet chili sauce
6 tablespoons brown sugar
3 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
2 tablespoons lime juice
1 tablespoon of minced garlic
1 tablespoon of minced ginger
1/4 cup thinly sliced green onions
1/4 cup of cilantro
Preheat oven to 375°F. Place chicken wings on large baking sheet and bake until cooked through, approximately 20 - 25 minutes until cooked through.
In a bowl mix Thai sweet chili sauce, brown sugar, soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, lime juice, minced garlic, and minced ginger. Cook glaze in a sauce pan until sauce thickens.
Brush thickened sauce over cooked chicken wings. Sprinkle with green onions and cilantro. Serve and enjoy!
Happy New Year!
Kathryn
