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You are here: Home / Archives for New Year

New Year

Luscious Leftovers: New Year Bloody Mary Meatloaf

Luscious Leftovers: New Year Bloody Mary Meatloaf

by liz · Jan 1, 2019

New Year’s Bloody Mary Meatloaf

After a long New Year’s weekend, we had a fridge full of leftovers and a craving for comfort food. My friend the Comedienne thought up this recipe as she rummaged through a fridge-full of delicious dinner, snack and cocktail-mix remnants.

It’s great after the holidays or any time you have a lot of leftovers in the kitchen. Caramelize some onions and garlic, then add any delectable tidbits you have in the fridge: roasted potatoes, chicken and fennel sausage, figs, stuffing or other side dishes and casseroles. Blending these additions before mixing them into the ground beef spreads the flavors throughout the loaf. And after the holidays, the time is right for a unique, home-made catsup using spicy Bloody Mary mix, something we had plenty of on New Year’s Day. Perfect for curing hangovers and filling bellies.

New Year Bloody Mary Meatloaf

Ingredients:

2 T olive oil
2 onions, chopped
1 garlic clove, chopped
2-4 gourmet sausages (jalapeño mango, chicken fennel or any other gourmet grocery variety)
Any amount of other leftovers (stuffing, figs, tomatoes, vegetables, gravy, etc.)
1 pound ground beef
Freshly ground salt & pepper
4 T fresh basil, chopped
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups bread crumbs (fresh)
1/4 cup milk
Spicy Bloody Mary mix
Leftover cheese (we used Carmody, but anything will do)
5 slices pancetta

Directions:

Warm the olive oil in a large saute pan over medium heat. Add the onions and garlic and cook until slightly browned/caramelized. Remove sausages from their casings, and blend along with other leftovers until smooth (if you’re using a larger amount of leftovers, reduce sausages to 2). Add half the onion/garlic mixture and blend in.

Add this blended mixture to the ground beef. Add salt, pepper, 1 cup spicy Bloody Mary mix, 2 T fresh basil, eggs, breadcrumbs and milk. Mix thoroughly.

Oil a large baking pan with sides. Lay the meat mixture in the pan in long thin layer. In the middle, lay down a strip of cheese – however much you like, we recommend a lot – and roll sides of loaf up and over the cheese (like a jelly roll). Put the meatloaf in the fridge to set and preheat the oven to 350.

Put reserve onions/garlic in small stockpot and add 2-3 cups spicy Bloody Mary mix. Add 1/4 cup red wine leftover from the night before (if you were all big drinkers the night before, you can substitute with balsamic vinegar). Cook over medium heat until reduced by half. Turn the heat off.

Place meatloaf on prepared pan and top it with a layer of the reduced Bloody Mary mixture, then lay the pancetta on top. Cook for 45 minutes or until meat is cooked through. Garnish with remaining fresh basil and serve with Bloody Mary catsup.

Obviously, this meatloaf pairs very well with both leftover red wine and – you guessed it – spicy Bloody Marys. You’ll feel better almost immediately.

Filed Under: Comfort Food, Main Dishes, New Year, Recipes, Winter Tagged With: Beef, Bloody Mary ketchup, Hangover, meatloaf, pork, prosciutto, tomatoes

Happy New Year Cocktail: Spiced Apple Cider

Happy New Year Cocktail: Spiced Apple Cider

by liz · Dec 9, 2016

Spiced Apple Cider Recipe

When I saw this recipe for Spiced Apple Cider, it reminded me of the Vin Chaud (mulled wine) I’d had and loved in Europe during the holidays. I could often smell it wafting from doorways of small restaurants and upon entering friends’ homes or churches. Even places like train stations and gas stations served it, which cheerily sustained me through the cold winter months.

I remember when Ani got the inspiration for this cider, and I thought it would make a perfect cocktail recipe for a New Year’s celebration in wine country. I could please everyone: plain cider for the mocktail drinkers, spiced wine for the wine country fanatics and cider with vanilla vodka or rum for the most festive of friends.

I tested it out in preparation; following the recipe was easy…so much easier than the homemade eggnog I’d recently tried out. You just need spices and apple juice for the base, and it only takes 15 minutes of cooking time. I also decided to chill some of the plain cider after cooking to satisfy those that might want their cocktail on the rocks.

Here are some cocktail variations you might try:

  • Add vanilla vodka or rum (or your favorite spirit) to the hot cider.
  • Add your favorite spirit to chilled cider along with a splash of carbonated water over ice.
  • For mulled wine, substitute 1 bottle of medium to full-bodied red wine for the apple juice, add 1/4 cup sugar, cover immediately and cook on low (so it never reaches a boil) for 20 minutes.
  • For white wine cider, substitute 1/2 bottle of medium to full-bodied white wine for 1/2 of the apple juice, add 1/8 cup sugar, cover immediately and cook on low (so it never reaches a boil) for 20 minutes.

For me, this will make the cheeriest, easiest and most versatile of winter celebrations. Happy New Year!

Old-Fashioned Eggnog

If you’re looking for something creamier, fancier or more holiday-themed, check out this old-fashioned eggnog adventure (pictured above) and the coffee-creamy-martini or latin-inspired eggnog below.

Links:

  • Spiced Apple Cider Recipe
  • Get a Juicy Juice coupon

More holiday celebration drink recipes:

After Midnight Javatini Recipe
After Midnight Javatini
Costa Rican-Style Eggnog Recipe
Costa Rican-Style Eggnog

Filed Under: Drinks & Concoctions, New Year, Winter Tagged With: christmas cocktail, cocktail, herbs, hot toddy, new year, spicy, white wine, wine cocktail

Top 10 New Year’s Cocktails & Coffee Recipes

Top 10 New Year’s Cocktails & Coffee Recipes

by liz · Dec 8, 2016

With this roundup of our top 10 New Year’s cocktails + coffee recipes, you’ll be rocking in the new year.

Coffee Abuelatini recipe

1. Coffee Abuelatini

With iced coffee, chocolate and cinnamon flavors, this Coffee Abuelatini above is a classy choice for entertaining.

Puerto Rican Rum Punch (Coquito) recipe

2. Puerto Rican Rum Punch (Coquito)

Try this Latin-inspired cocktail to add some spice to your New Year.

After Midnight Javatini recipe

3. After Midnight Javatini

After Midnight Javatini above is terrific for holiday late-night celebrations. A chocolate-rimmed glass and a hint of coffee liqueur add a flavorful twist and a festive flair to this one-of-a-kind beverage.

Spiced Apple Cider Recipe

4. Spiced Apple Cider

Cloves, cinnamon sticks and anise pods give this Spiced Apple Cider a festive and tasty flair that you will completely love. For an adult party, add an optional splash of vanilla vodka or rum.

Hot Peppermint Mocha Shots recipe

5. Hot Peppermint Mocha Shots

For some non-alcoholic drink, these Hot Peppermint Mocha Shots add a peppermint kick and hint of coffee to your cocoa for a grown-up version of a childhood favorite. This tasty winter warmer is a rich and decadent party pleaser.

Vanilla Cappuccino recipe

6. Vanilla Cappuccino

And for a morning-after rouser, try this simple Vanilla Cappuccino above, with a hint of cinnamon.

Caramel Macchiato Cappuccino Recipe

7. Caramel Macchiato Cappuccino

Craving the coffeehouse taste at home? Try the smooth, rich flavor of Coffee-mate Caramel Macchiato, a shot of espresso and steamed milk in this easy Cappuccino recipe. It doesn’t get more delicious.

Heavenly Hazelnut Hot Chocolate Liqueur recipe

8. Heavenly Hazelnut Hot Chocolate Liqueur

Hot chocolate with coffee and hazelnut liqueurs shown above will warm your soul on a cold night.

Rich 'N Creamy Mint Cocoa recipe

9. Rich ‘N Creamy Mint Cocoa

This elegant Creamy Mint Cocoa is perfect for chilly nights. Add a little Irish crème liqueur to add extra dimension! Top with whipped cream and dusting of cocoa.

Hot Buttered White Chocolate Caramel Espresso recipe

10. Hot Buttered White Chocolate Caramel Espresso

Hot Buttered White Chocolate Caramel Espresso is rich and flavorful and ready in 5 minutes. This one is perfect for entertaining.

Filed Under: Drinks & Concoctions, New Year, Winter Tagged With: beverage, breakfast, Chocolate, cocktail, coffee, Hispanic, new year, spicy

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