Our New Year’s Eve tradition is to begin and end the evening with champagne. But not without having an array of appetizers within reach or we won’t make it until midnight. These are some of the appetizers we’ll have this year, all easy to prepare: Warm Marinated Olives, Parmesan Crisps, and Goat Cheese with Cranberries and Nuts. Happy New Year!
WARM MARINATED OLIVES WITH ORANGE
Serves 6
Action Time: 10 minutes + marinating
14 oz/2 cups/400 g mixed olives
2 garlic gloves, crushed lightly with the flat side of a knife
½ tsp dried chili flakes
1 tsp fennel seeds
zest of 1 orange, removed in large strips with a vegetable peeler
2 sprigs of rosemary
1 tbsp olive oil
In a bowl, mix all the ingredients, cover and let marinate for at least 2 hours, but preferably for a day. Heat the olives and other ingredients in a skillet over moderate heat for 3-4 minutes. Serve warm.
PARMESAN CRISPS
Serves 6
Action Time: 10-15 minutes
4.5 oz/125 g coarsely grated Parmesan
1 tsp cumin seeds
Extra: baking sheet lined with parchment paper
Preheat the oven to 400°F/200°C. Drop 12-16 heaping tablespoons of cheese 2 inch/5 cm apart onto the prepared baking sheet. Flatten out mounds with the back of a spoon (the thinner, the crispier). Sprinkle over some cumin seeds and bake for 5-7 minutes or until golden; watch them carefully. Remove from the oven and cool.
GOAT CHEESE LOGS WITH CRANBERRIES & NUTS
Serves 6
Action Time: 10-15 minutes
2 tbsp dried cranberry’s, chopped
2 tbsp walnuts or pecans, chopped
2 tbsp shelled pistachios, chopped
5 sprigs of thyme, leaves picked
2 4-oz (125 g) or 1 8-oz (250 g) log fresh goat cheese
On a plate mix the cranberries, nuts, thyme, and some freshly ground black pepper. Roll the goat cheese in the fruit-nut mixture and press lightly until completely coated. Serve with crackers.