Celebration to the New Year: A Holiday Feast.

When it involves hosting celebrations, guests often separate into two quite separate camps: people that adore doing it, and those who would rather to do almost anything else. Getting prepared in advance is crucial, and choosing a few delicious creations to start the proceedings will delight your guests while you aim to hold everything together.

Fennel, Lemon and Smoked Paprika Almonds

Spicy almond snack

These citrusy, spiced bites are a ideal pairing for the vibrant pink grapefruit mocktails detailed below.

Buckwheat Blinis with Ricotta and Salmon

Delicious starter with blinis

A delicious holiday starter that can readily be modified to serve with a sweet spread for children.

Refreshing Grapefruit Mocktails with Cardamom & Lime

Vibrant non-alcoholic drink

These beverages are a refreshing substitute to alcohol, but also serve as a delicious base for a tequila-based drink.

Festive Martinis with Juniper & Lemon

Classic martini cocktail

Handcrafted gin for a particularly festive celebration drink, ideal for gifting or pouring at parties.

Shredded Lamb Shoulder with Sumac Onion Salad

Tender lamb dish

Revel in the praise of this stunning centerpiece – everyone will ever suspect how modest effort was needed.

Spiced Cranberry and Chocolate Tart

Festive chocolate cranberry tart

In this rich finale, puddles of warmly spiced cranberry compote are baked into a chocolaty filling for a combination that makes any abundance of cranberries to good purpose.

Kathleen Lopez
Kathleen Lopez

Mira Chen is an environmental scientist and writer specializing in geospatial analysis and sustainable development, with over a decade of field experience.