The tradition of having an hors d’oeuvre, or appetizer, for special occasions like New Year’s Eve has been around for a long time.
It comes from both the French and English culinary traditions.
The idea of serving appetizers is excellent for social gatherings and special occasions.
The more people started to host festive events, the need for small, elegant, and easy-to-eat items became popular.
In the 20th century, especially during the prohibition era, the popularity of an hors d’oeuvre increased. The idea of having small finger foods while you drink was here to stay.
The popularity of the hors d’oeuvre has grown over the years, with New Year’s Eve gatherings being one of the biggest times to share these little treasures.
The French Influence
The word itself is French and means “outside the work.” It refers to small, flavorful dishes served outside the main course.
They were a way to showcase the chef’s abilities and included items like canapés, pâtés, and crudités.
For example, French Gourgères is a small French cheese puff made with pastry and Gruyère cheese.
They are made into bit-sized portions for very traditional French hors d’oeuvres.
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The English Influence
In England, they came up with the idea of serving an hors d’oeuvre around the 19th century.
They took their lead from The French but added the English flare with things like deviled eggs, smoked fish, and plenty of different spreads.
One of the most classic would be stuffed mushrooms.
Just mix chopped walnuts with soft cheese and herbs and stuff the mixture into a preseasoned mushroom cap.
Bake for 20 minutes, and they’re done.
International Hors d’oeuvres
Other countries besides the US have traditional appetizers for gatherings.
Here are some favorite New Year’s Eve snacks from other countries.
Japanese Edamame Hummus – This traditional Japanese snack has been a favorite for years. Chopstickcronicles has a wonderful recipe to be served with rice crackers or vegetable sticks.
Indian Samosas – These are popular Indian pastries filled with spiced potatoes, peas, and meat. Check out this easy recipe from pickyeaterblog. Small fried treats that give you a spicy and sweet flavor nicely stuffed in a crispy crust.
Spanish Patatas Bravas – As one of our favorites, these roasted or fried bite-sized potatoes drizzled with olive oil make just the right little hors d’oeuvre for a festive gathering. themediterraneandish has an easy recipe for you to be able to make these for your next party.
Greek Spanakopita Triangles – These are such an easy one for any party. It’s just a matter of mixing some spinach with other ingredients together and laying out the phyllo dough. Simply follow feelgoodfoodie to see how easy they are to make.
Classic hors doeuvres
These are some elegant ideas for your New Year’s Eve celebration.
Shrimp cocktail – Serving chilled shrimp with a classic cocktail sauce or a tangy horseradish dip makes every party just a little bit more classy.
Bacon-wrapped dates – Gimmesomeoven shows you how these special treats are made for your New Year’s celebration.
Cucumber bites with herbed cream cheese – These are one of the simplest go-tos for any party that Paul and I attend because they are so easy to make. Slice fresh cucumber into rounds and top with herbed cream cheese and a small sprig of dill or chives.
Caprese Skewers – When it comes to making a cute, tasty appetizer, these are fun to make with the kids. Thread cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella balls, and basil leaves onto toothpicks. Drizzle with balsamic glaze.
Smoked Salmon Canapés – These are super easy to assemble, but really hard not to eat them all. Spread cream cheese on some of your favorite crackers and top with smoked salmon, capers, and a sprig of dill.
Bruschetta – Slice a baguette and toast the pieces. Mix diced tomatoes, garlic, and basil, and put a small amount on top of the baguette slices. Drizzle with balsamic glaze, and you’re ready for the New Year!
Some easy hors d’oeuvres for a camping New Year’s Eve party
What better way to celebrate and ring in the new year than while on a camping trip?
Here are some great snack options that can be thrown together quickly so you can get back to festivities in the fresh air around the campfire.
Trail Mix – Mix some of your favorite nuts, dried fruits, and chocolate or yogurt-covered treats together. This gives you a tasty and energy-boosting high-protein snack to munch on until the ball drops at midnight.
S’mores – Nothing spells camping like making s’mores over an open fire. These are easy and fun for the whole family.
Campfire Quesadillas – Take a cast iron skillet and put it over the campfire or camp stove. Place some tortillas into the pan and top with cheese, precooked chicken or beans, and any other topping that you would like. Cover it with another tortilla and let the cheese melt.
Vegetable Sticks with Dip – Talk about easy! These vegetable sticks can be purchased already cut, or you can cut them yourself. Natashas Kitchen can help you make a great, easy dip for all your vegetables.
Campfire Cones – These are a definite family favorite. Fill waffle cones with mini marshmallows, chocolate chips, and your favorite nut or dried fruit. Wrap them in aluminum foil and place them near the campfire until the marshmallows melt. Now that’s a gooey treat!
Peanut Butter and Marshmallow bites – These were a favorite with all my friends when I was growing up in New Jersey. Cut the edges off your bread, smear peanut butter, and top it off with mini marshmallows. Put another slice of bread on top, wrap it in foil, and put it near the campfire until the marshmallows melt. Cut the sandwiches into small bite-sized pieces.
Bonus ideas
It’s always a safe bet to bring popcorn with you on your camping trips. Who doesn’t like popcorn?
You can eat it with some butter and salt or mix it up a bit, spritz it with some balsamic vinegar, and sprinkle it with some nutritional yeast for that cheesy flavor.
Campfire Pizza – This has always been a favorite for me. I just bring some premade pizza dough and divide it into small balls. Roll out the dough enough to add some sauce, cheese, and some toppings. Wrap them up in aluminum foil and cook them over the fire. These little campfire pizza bites make a great appetizer.
Sausage Rolls – Campfire sausage rolls are the perfect finger food for a fun party. Cook your sausage until done, and then wrap them in a puff pastry dough and cook over the campfire until golden brown.
Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers – What a fun little hors d’oeuvre. Simply slice the jalapenos lengthwise and fill them with regular or flavored cream cheese. Wrap them with a slice of bacon and secure them with a toothpick. Grill over the fire until the bacon is crispy.
Fruit Skewers – Thread bite-sized pieces of fresh fruit onto skewers for a refreshing and healthy snack. Drizzle some balsamic glaze if desired.
Deviled eggs – These have been a favorite in my family for at least 50 years. My mother used to make them for every gathering she attended. Cooking@nytimes shows you the recipe for this basic classic hard-boiled egg treat.
Pita bread with hummus – This one is great because all you have to do is buy the pita at the store and cut it into triangles. Love and Lemons shows how easy homemade hummus is to make.
Finally
The last thing you want to do is stress out during the day, thinking about all the things you have to do to be ready for the party.
Don’t forget to consider some people’s dietary constrictions and preferences.
Nibbler Tip: When it comes time to celebrate a big event like New Year’s Eve, it is always best to make your hors d’oeuvres ahead of time or at least have the components ready to assemble.
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