lifestyle

Eating 12 grapes at midnight on New Year’s Eve is supposed to bring luck. Here green grapes are turned into a sweet and sour snack. For this you need the powdered jelly mix like you get in South Africa or the USA. Prep time: 5 minutes/Cook time: 5 minutes/Serves: 10 Ingredients:675g (1 1/2 lb) green […]

Tamales are classic Mexican party food. Not only are they delicious, but they can be made up to three days in advance, refrigerated and then re-heated to serve. Prep time: 60 minutes/Cook time: 75 minutes/Makes: 25 Ingredients:350g (3 1/2 cups) dried masa harina (preferably the type for tamales)1 tbsp sea salt550ml (2 1/4 cups) hot

This is a sweet and sour version of angels on horseback, with figs substituted for the oysters. As figs, in many countries, are associated with the festive season, these make a great New Year’s Eve nibble. Prep time: 15 minutes/Cook time: 50 minutes/Makes: 24 Ingredients:24 large Medjool dates, pitted115g (4 oz) goat’s cheese, crumbled12 slices

An American classic, pair this with nachos or tortillas baked until crisp as part of your New Year’s Eve spread. Prep time: 5 minutes/Cook time: 10 minutes/Serves: 8 Ingredients:For the dip:1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil3/4  small red onion, finely chopped3/4 jalapeño chilli, minced1 tsp chilli powder1/2 tsp sea salt1/2 tsp freshly-ground black pepper375ml (1 ½

A nibble to serve with New Year’s Eve drinks these also work just as well with walnuts. I like a little heat from cayenne pepper in mine, but this is optional and you can omit if you want. Prep time: 10 minutes/Cook time: 15 minutes/Yields: 500ml jar Ingredients:200g (2 cups) pecan halves1 tsp ground cinnamon1/2

An American classic, pair this with nachos or tortillas baked until crisp as part of your New Year’s Eve spread. Prep time: 5 minutes/Cook time: 10 minutes/Serves: 8 Ingredients:For the dip:1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil3/4  small red onion, finely chopped3/4 jalapeño chilli, minced1 tsp chilli powder1/2 tsp sea salt1/2 tsp freshly-ground black pepper375ml (1 ½

Here’s a sharing vegetarian dish for your New Year’s Eve feast. Prep time: 20 minutes/Cook time: 15 minutes/Serves: 4 Ingredients:3tbsp olive oil, divided500g (1 lb) mixed mushrooms (such as oyster, shiitake, maitake, beech, cremini), torn, quartered or sliced2 garlic cloves, finely chopped1 red chilli, sliced thinlyKosher salt and pepper500ml (2 cups) whole milk2 tbsp unsalted

This is an elegant savoury tear and share bread that goes well with a Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Year feast or buffet. It takes about 60 minutes if you are preparing your own pumpkin puree. But you can do this a few days ahead and keep it in the refrigerator until needed. Prep time:

With a mix of red cabbage and winter vegetables, this seasonal coleslaw is ideal to serve as a side dish for your Christmas or New Year’s Eve parties. You can even use up any left-over Christmas red cabbage that you might have. Prep time: 20 minutes/Cook time: 10 minutes/Serves: 8 Ingredients:Rocket, to serve (optional)100g Pecans2

This works just as well for Christmas as a starter or for New Year’s Eve as a sharing dish. Basically it’s a giant sausage roll wrapped around a pot of cranberry sauce. The sausage roll is cut so the sections are easily torn away, making this an excellent (and festive) sharing dish. The preparation time

This is another melted Camembert dish this time with the cheese in the centre of tear and share cranberry brioche balls. This is an excellent sharing dish for a New Year’s eve feast. It’s also a great ‘breaking the ice’ type of starter. Prep time: 20 minutes/Cook time: 20 minutes/Serves: 8 (+proving time) Ingredients:4 large

These individual-sized chocolate mousses are rich, slightly boozy and indulgent but contain no raw eggs or gelatine. They’re ideal to add as part of a New Year’s eve feast. Prep time: 20 minutes/Cook time: 10 minutes/Makes: 8-12 Ingredients:200g (7oz) dark chocolate (at least 52% cocoa solids)2 tbsp brandy150ml (3/5 cup) pouring double cream250g (9oz) full-fat

These ‘quick’ samosas are a great way of using up leftover turkey and making party food from it. So you can turn your Christmas turkey leftovers into Boxing Day or New Year party food. Prep time: 20 minutes/Cook time: 20 minutes/Makes: 28 Ingredients:200g (7oz) potatoes, diced100g (3½oz) leftover peas (or frozen peas)400g (14oz) leftover turkey, shredded1

These classic Jamaican patties are prepared as New Year’s Eve party food. Made slightly smaller than usual, and served with a ginger-citrus and chilli dipping sauce. Prep time: 20 minutes/Cook time: 40 minutes/Makes: 12 (+30 minutes chilling) Ingredients:For the pastry:300g (10½oz) plain flour, plus extra for dusting1½ tbsp Madras curry powder1½ tbsp ground turmericpinch salt165g/5¾oz

The best New Year’s Eve food is always dishes that you can share. Conviviality and hopes for a happy and prosperous New Year. If you’ve been reading my recipes, then you know we love duck and this New Year’s Eve dish blends Chinese-flavoured with North African-style flatbreads to yield a delicious sharing dish. Prep time

Have loads of leftover roast vegetables after Christmas? Not sure what to do with them? Why not give them an Indian-spiced makeover and serve them as an accompaniment to another meal or curry (they go very well with leftover turkey curry)? Prep time: 20 minutes/Cook time: 40 minutes/Serves: 10 Ingredients:3 tbsp Vegetable Oil 450g cooked

This dish is kind of like a suhi terrine and its made with smoked salmon. It’s a great dish to add to a New Year’s Eve spread of nibbles. Prep time: 30 minutes/Cook time: 20 minutes/Serves: 8-10 (+over-night pressing) Ingredients:225g Sushi Rice2 tbsp Rice Vinegar, plus a splash1 tbsp Caster or Granulated Sugar1 tsp Sea

These are Thai-style fishcakes, always a hit at any New Year’s Eve party. I’m using hake here as it’s the most available white fish in South Africa, but you could substitute any good white fish (cod, whiting, tilapia, haddock etc). You can readily buy Thai red curry paste, or make your own with the recipe

These are blini-sized pancakes that make an excellent nibble or extra dish for New Year’s Eve they can also be served as a savoury pancake on Shrove Tuesday (pancake day). Prep time: 20 minutes/Cook time: 20 minutes/Makes: 12 Ingredients:80g  Baby Spinach200ml semi-skimmed milk2 eggs3 tsp rapeseed oil (or mild olive oil)10g dill1 lemon175g self-raising flour150ml