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Written by Holly Bea
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Thursday, 28 December 2006 |
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By Holly Bea
For NEXTnc
When it comes to New Year’s Eve celebrations, champagne is the traditional drink of choice.
And while it’s ideal for bringing in the new year, it’s also a perfect ingredient for everything from vinaigrette and hors d’ oeuvres, to Jell-O shots and champagne punch.
Whether you choose an inexpensive bottle of Friexenet ($9.99) or the much desired Dom Pérignon ($180+), a little bubbly goes a long way to make the season festive.
New Year’s Champagne Vinaigrette
1/2 cup water (or chicken broth)
1 t. cornstarch
1/4 c. champagne
2 T olive oil
1/2 t dried tarragon or oregano
1/2 t. salt
1/8 t. pepper
Combine water and cornstarch in a small saucepan. Heat and stir with a whisk until the cornstarch dissolves. Bring to boil for one minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and set aside until cool. Stir in other ingredients, cover and chill, up to 8 hours before use. Serve over arugula, sliced pears radicchio and crumbled blue cheese. Or try it over baby greens with lobster, sliced celery and shredded carrots.
Toasted Champagne Almond Dip
This is one of my all-time favorite recipes. Everyone will swoon, I promise!
2 T. butter
1 T minced red pepper (I use red pepper flakes)
2 t. white wine Worcestershire sauce
8 oz. cream cheese
1/4 c. minced sliced almonds
1/4 c sliced almonds
4 t. fresh minced parsley
2 large minced cloves of garlic
1/4 c champagne
1/2 t. onion salt
1 c. shredded Swiss cheese
additional minced parsley
paprika
mild crackers (Water Table Crackers are perfect)
Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add minced garlic and red pepper flakes and sauté 1-2 minutes until garlic is lightly browned on edges.
Add champagne, Worcestershire sauce and onion salt and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and stir in Swiss cheese, minced sliced almonds and 4 t. parsley.
Pour the mixture into a flat, oven proof serving dish. Top with sliced almonds and sprinkle with a little paprika and additional parsley for color.
Put it in the microwave for 2-3 minutes or until bubbly. Serve it warm.
Champagne Jell-o Shots
2 3-oz. packages Jell-O: choose your flavor! I like pineapple or orange with this recipe.
2 cups cold water
2 cups champagne
Optional: multicolor sprinkles
Bring water to a boil. Add Jell-O and stir until dissolved. Add two cups of champagne. Pour into individual Jell-O shot cups. Chill for 6-8 hours. Sprinkle with sugar candy and serve at midnight!
Serve it right
Champagne is best served at 43-48 degrees. Chill a bottle in the refrigerator for 3-4 hours before serving. Or, place the unopened bottle in an ice bucket with a mixture of half ice/half water for 20-30 minutes. Never put it in the freezer.
The open
Remove enough of the foil to loosen the twisted wire top, but don’t remove it. Keep your finger or thumb over the cork, in case it pops by itself! To ease out the cork, hold the bottle at a 45-degree angle away from you — and anyone else. Hold the cork still and turn the bottle. You don’t want the cork to pop because it wastes bubbles that will pour out uncontrollably. The cork should come our fairly quietly.
The glass
Splurge on real champagne flutes, not the cheap plastic kind.
Pick up inexpensive flutes at places like Tuesday Morning, Bed, Bath and Beyond and Linens and Things. They will provide a lifetime of celebrations.
Or hit a local flea market. My great aunt Milli started giving me champagne flutes by Waterford when I graduated from college. Every year she sent me one from a different pattern. I thought she was crazy, but now I treasure my set of 16 mismatched crystal flutes — and my guests always compliment me on this unusual collection.
The pour
Pour an inch or two of champagne in each glass and let the froth settle. Then top each glass to two-thirds full.
The toast
You shouldn’t bring in the new year fumbling for words or slurring them. Take a minute before the celebration and come up with a great toast.
Smart saver
Pick up a champagne bottle stopper at your neighborhood liquor or kitchen store. You can use it to preserve the leftover champagne for several days. | Only registered users can write comments.
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