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The New Year is an opportunity to start fresh. It’s the time when you make better choices for yourself – you might start up a gym membership, pay more attention to your mental health, gift yourself with medical alert systems for seniors to ensure your safety, or simply resolve to create fun new memories with those you love most.
But until January 1 comes, there’s the big goodbye to the old year – the party that is New Year’s Eve!
Whether you anticipate a crowd for your holiday party or will keep it casual with a few close friends and family, you may have an eye toward what it might cost. After all, grocery prices are still outrageous across much of the country.
The good news is that these recipes are budget-friendly, using basic and affordable ingredients that create something quite special.
Speaking of affordable, some cheaper foods become the star of the show on New Year’s Eve. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported on some of the holiday’s traditional foods, such as serving collard greens in hope of wealth in the coming year, and eating black-eyed peas for good luck.1
When you have family and friends in your home for New Year’s Eve, make sure they have some finger foods to go with the bubbly at midnight. Gather your ingredients and get comfortable in the kitchen with an emergency alert system at your fingertips for 24/7 security and protection.
Chicken Lettuce Wraps
These fancy wraps are a cinch to make, but everyone will think you spent hours in the kitchen. These are luscious tiny bites that can serve a crowd with an elegant presentation. This recipe makes 12 and can be doubled if you expect a lot of company for your New Year’s Eve party.
· ½ cup hoisin sauce
· 2 tbsp. low-sodium soy sauce
· 1 tbsp. rice vinegar
· ½ tbsp. toasted sesame oil
· 1 tbsp. grated ginger
· 2 cloves minced garlic
· 2 tsps. olive oil
· 1 lb. ground chicken
· 3 green onions
· Handful of peanuts
· 8 oz. canned water chestnuts, drained and chopped
· 12 lettuce leaves
For the dressing:
· 2 tbsps. peanut butter
· ½ tbsp. brown sugar
· 1 clove minced garlic
· Pinch of grated ginger
· 1 tbsp. lime juice
· 1 tsp. low-sodium soy sauce
In a medium bowl, combine the hoisin sauce, soy sauce, vinegar, sesame oil, ginger, and garlic. Blend well with a whisk.
Prepare the water chestnuts, slice the onions, and chop the peanuts. Set all aside.
Drizzle the olive oil into a pan and add the ground chicken. Cook the chicken well, crumbling it as you cook, until it is in tiny bits and cooked through. Add the water chestnuts to the pan and sauté with the chicken for a few minutes. Pour the sauce into the pan and mix well. Allow it to cook for another few minutes.
In the meantime, make the dressing. Blend all ingredients together in a small bowl and whisk. Lay out the lettuce leaves. Choose those that are firm enough to stand up on their own and hold the filling.
Remove the chicken from the heat and top with the onions and peanuts. Spoon about 1/3 cup of the mixture into each lettuce leaf. Set out the dressing with a long-handled spoon for drizzling over the wraps.
Turkey Pinwheels
These classic appetizers can be filled with almost anything, so don’t hesitate to get creative! Easy changes are using a different cheese or a different meat. The olives add a kick of flavor and a dose of protection, too – according to Healthline, olives are a staple of the Mediterranean diet and include high levels of vitamin E, calcium, copper, and iron.2
But look out for the sodium content! Search out olives packed in low-sodium brine.
You’ll need a box of toothpicks for this recipe.
· 4 oz. cream cheese, softened
· 2 tbsps. finely shredded sharp cheddar cheese
· ¼ cup finely chopped olives
· 1 tbsp. olive brine
· ½ tsp. garlic powder
· 4 large flour tortillas
· 9 oz. sliced turkey
· 1 cup spinach leaves, packed flat
Blend together the cream cheese, cheddar cheese, olive, brine, and garlic powder. Make sure all the ingredients are very well-combined.
Lay out the tortillas and spread the cream cheese mixture on top of each. Coat the entire surface of the tortilla with the cheese mixture.
Add slices of turkey to the tortillas, overlapping the slices a bit to ensure full coverage over the cheese. Add a layer of spinach on top of the turkey.
Roll up the tortilla as tightly as possible, tucking in the fillings as you go. When you’re done, make sure the seam side is facing down. Press a toothpick into the roll at one-inch intervals. Using a sharp knife, cut between the toothpicks to slice the roll into 1-inch pieces. Arrange them on a serving platter and keep chilled until ready to serve.
Broccoli and Ham Quiches
Many appetizers floating around on New Year’s Eve might be pre-packaged and cold. These surprising little bites are very healthy, easy to eat, and warm – which is especially great if you live in a very cold area!
· 12 mini pie crusts
· 2 large eggs
· ½ cup milk of your choice
· ¼ cup grated parmesan
· ½ tsp. garlic powder
· ¼ tsp. black pepper
· 1 ½ - 2 cups frozen broccoli florets, thawed
· 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Place each mini pie crust in a well-greased muffin tin.
Whisk the eggs, milk, parmesan, garlic, and pepper in a bowl. Chop the broccoli into fine pieces and drop them into the bowl, then add the cheddar cheese. Blend well to combine.
Divide the mixture between the ten pie crusts. Bake the quiches for 35 minutes or until the egg has puffed up in the center and the pies are golden brown around the edges.
Transfer them to a wire rack until they are cool enough to handle, then serve.
Black Bean Taquitos
Any sort of beans bring a healthy shot of protein and plenty of good vitamins and minerals to the plate. Black beans also have a high fiber content, which will make your digestive system happy. According to Medical News Today, black beans strengthen bones, protect the heart, lower blood pressure, and help fight against cancer.3
Give your guests the gift of good health this holiday with these easy-to-eat taquitos.
· 4 oz. fat-free cream cheese at room temperature
· 1 15 oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained
· 1 4 oz. can diced green chilies, drained
· 2 green onions, chopped
· ¼ tsp. garlic powder
· 15 6-inch corn tortillas
· Drizzle of olive oil for the pan
Blend the cream cheese, beans, chilies, onion, and garlic powder in a bowl. Combine the mixture well.
Soften the tortillas in the microwave so they don’t crack when you roll them. To do this, place five tortillas on a plate, cover them with a damp paper towel, and microwave them for about 20 seconds.
As soon as they are softened, work quickly to fill the tortillas with the bean mixture. Spread the mixture evenly between the 15 tortillas. In the meantime, heat a drizzle of olive oil in a skillet.
Place the taquitos in the oil and fry for a minute on each side, until just crispy. Transfer them to a plate. You can serve them right away or at room temperature with a variety of dipping sauces.
Pretzel Bites
It might seem rather difficult to make pretzels. But if you use store-bought bread dough as your base, this recipe is a snap! You can scale this dish however you like; it can serve only a few at an intimate gathering or can feed a crowd at a big party. The topping recipe is very easy to double, triple, or more.
· Prepared bread dough
· ¼ cup baking soda
· 1 large egg
For the topping:
· ½ cup grated parmesan
· ½ tsp. garlic powder
· Dash fresh cracked black pepper
· 1 ½ tbsp. olive oil
Thaw the bread dough if frozen. When the dough is ready, pinch off one-inch portions to make the pretzel bites. Let the dough rise according to the instructions on the package.
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Once it’s boiling, add the baking soda. The water will boil furiously and fizz for a bit, so don’t be surprised!
Add a handful of pretzel bits at a time to the boiling water. Boil for about 90 seconds. You’ll know they are ready when they start to puff up and crack. Remove them from the water and let them drain on a wire rack while you work on the rest of the pieces.
Pour the pretzel bites on baking sheets that have been lined with parchment paper.
Whisk together the egg and a bit of water to create an egg wash. Using a pastry brush, liberally brush the mixture over the boiled pretzel bites.
Bake the bites for 15 minutes or until deeply golden brown. Allow them to cool while you make the topping.
Blend the parmesan, garlic powder, pepper, and olive oil.
Place the pretzel bites in a bowl and drizzle the mixture over them. Stir gently to make sure all the bites are coated with the topping. Take the bowl out to your guests and serve while still warm!
Stay Safe and On Budget
The beauty of these recipes lies in their affordability and simplicity. You don’t have to spend hours in the kitchen to cook a few appetizers, and they don’t have to make a serious dent in your wallet.
Know what else is really affordable? An in-home or on-the-go fall alert from Alert1. With options starting at only $19.95 a month, you might pay less for a medical alert device than you will for a fast food meal for two. Wearing a panic button pendant or bracelet can ensure that if you need help, you can get it right away. So forge into the kitchen with confidence and look forward to ringing in a safe and happy New Year!
