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It’s all about the New Year’s appetizers for me. As with most holidays, I don’t care nearly as much about what’s being served for meals as I am about the appetizers. I love grazing all day long. That’s part of what makes a holiday, a holiday, in my opinion!
1. Charcuterie Board
Making a Charcuterie board used to really intimidate me. How do you know what to include? Luckily the popularity of the Charcuterie board means there are many tutorials out there and many stores are carrying more items tailored to the needs of this delicious appetizer.
Here are some of the categories for a charcuterie board. To keep it simple, pick one or two items in each category and then start portioning and assembling.
- Cured meats: Prosciutto, Salami, pepperoni
- Cheeses: Brie, Goat cheese, Havarti, Cheddar, Gouda, Parmigiano-Reggiano
- Olives and Nuts: Green or black olives, pecans, almonds, cashews, candied nuts
- Fruit: Grapes, berries, sliced apples and pears
- Dried Fruits: Cranberries, apricots
- Crackers and/or bread: Slices of bread, toast (crostinis), water crackers, Rosemary flavored crackers, Ritz crackers
- Jams and Spreads: Honey, fruit jams, mustard, pepper jelly, or anything else you like
You’ll need a large wood cutting board or other large, flat serving dish for your charcuterie ingredients. First place the meats, then cheeses, followed by fruits, nuts, and veggies. Then add your bread and crackers in whatever space is left, or serve them beside your charcuterie board in a basket.
If you want to get. a little fancy, there are lots of ways you can fold and display your cured meats on your charcuterie board. I used a pint glass to form some simple roses. YouTube has a lot of tutorials, and this one shows four different options. This will really elevate your New Year’s appetizer!
Don’t underestimate the importance of bread with your New Year’s appetizers!
When serving a charcuterie board, you’ll almost always need more bread and more crackers than you think you will. Let’s be honest…as much as we love our cheeses and meats, bread is a major part of the fun! As with all the elements of a charcuterie board, you’ll want to use premium bread to bring out all the best flavors.
I used a Sourdough Loaf from Wildgrain for my charcuterie board. Wildgrain is a company that sends high-quality, hearty, and delicious artisanal breads, pastas, and pastries in a monthly subscription box. They use Small-batch bakers to make each item fresh with no preservatives. Organic flours, seeds, and grains are as much as possible. The freshly baked goods are quickly frozen to preserve shelf life and delivered to your doorstep.
What I loved about my first box from Wildgrain was I could keep everything in the freezer until I was ready to use it. You never have to thaw anything; you just take it from the freezer and pop it into the oven and it’s ready in 25 minutes or less. So easy!
After you heat up your bread or pasta, it smells and tastes just like it was baked in your home. When I heated up my Cranberry-Pecan Sourdough Loaf, it almost smelled like I was baking a cherry pie. Both my husband and I were pleasantly surprised by how much we liked this loaf. It was unique and tasty. The cranberries gave the bread some sweetness without it being too sweet, and the pecans made each slice quite filling and satisfying.
If you want to give Wildgrain a try, use my code DRIVINGMOMCRAZY to get $10 off your first box! You can cancel your subscription at any time.
2. Jalapeno Popper Dip
Bacon, jalapenos, and two types of cheeses…what’s not to love? The first time I made this recipe, I was in awe. It is SO delicious. It’s rich, creamy, and filling. It has the full jalapeno popper flavor but it’s easier to make and assemble. You can serve it with bread or chips. I prefer to toast some sliced bread and spread the dip on top of that. This dip will pair perfectly with your other New Year’s appetizers!
3. Parmesan Tortellini Bites
Imagine a cross between mozzarella sticks and toasted ravioli and you have tortellini bites! It is best to use fresh tortellini for this snack. Fresh Cheese Tortellini is another item that Wildgrain includes in some of their boxes.
You may want to add some additional seasoning to the recipe or use Italian seasoning Panko. These tortellini bites are best when served immediately so keep an eye on your timeline.
With each of these three easy New Year’s appetizers, Wildgrain has something to pair with it. Using their breads, pastries, and pastas certainly has elevated the menu at our house. Whatever you choose to serve on New Year’s, I hope it comes out amazing and that you and your loved ones experience the joy of sharing delicious food together.
Take $10 OFF Your First Wildgrain Box with code DRIVINGMOMCRAZY.
