New Years Eve for Two ideas

[Northside Food]

So we're having the most craptastic December possible. I may post some of my gripes later, somewhere.  I have promised my husband, mainly to give him something positive to look forward to, that we will do his favorite thing for New Year's Eve: sit at home with the lights off and pretending we're not home.

I jest. But we're quite serious about spending that night in. Even going to a New Year's Eve party with our usual crowd seems like too much. We want to stay at home and be with each other each other.

I'm looking for some ideas on what to make that will say "special occasion", but won't be terribly expensive. I'm thinking finger foods that I can make ahead and warm up while we watch movies off Netflix. Mostly light things, I think. We've both been stress eating and eating ridiculous amounts of fast food to boot, so we're both feeling a strong urge to purge our bodies of all the crap in them. I thought about a cheese fondue, which is something we both love, but my husband is lactose intolerant and that much cheese won't make for a happy holiday for him.  Since my husband isn't a huge fan of white wine, and I don't fancy drinking a whole bottle of prosecco by myself, I'd also be interested in ideas for something to toast with.

Thoughts?

[LizR]

Sounds like a great plan to me!!

I immediately thought of our favorite "special" cookbook Table for Two: French Recipes for Romantic Dining by Marianne Paquin. It is one of those cookbooks that we picked up at a deep discount but it has turned out to be terrific, and it has some great food porn pictures to boot. Not everything is light, certainly, but it is a collection of little plates that are fancy, and everything we have made (a lot) has been delicious. In fact, everything has been so good that I don't have specific recommendations, but you may be able to get some ideas if you look through some of it on Amazon. The second link has a easier-to-read list of the recipes.

Have fun and do let us know what you end up making!


http://www.amazon.com/Table-Two-French-Recipies-Romantic/dp/2080304194#_

http://newarrivals.nlb.gov.sg/itemdetail.aspx?bid=12741543

[HaagenDazs]

If you are interested in seafood, Kroger often has pretty good deals on shrimp.  I ALWAYS buy frozen as most shrimp in the case are simply frozen then thawed anyway (and you pay an extra $2/lb for it).  The Key West Pinks are a pretty good buy and you can get a bag of the 16-20's for about $8 or $9 on sale.  It's not the absolute cheapest item in the store but you can easily make 2 meals out of it.  Being shrimp, they are great hot or cold and you can make a variety of meals or snacks out of them, large dishes or small. 

To toast, how about a nice cider?  You can pick up a bottle of French Cidre (spelling it the fancy way of course...) for not too much dough.  The alcohol percentage is usually way low on them too, usually around 4 or 5 %, so no waking up with a Champagne headache.

[totm]

his favorite thing for New Year's Eve: sit at home with the lights off and pretending we're not home.
<snip>
Since my husband isn't a huge fan of white wine, and I don't fancy drinking a whole bottle of prosecco by myself, I'd also be interested in ideas for something to toast with.

Thoughts?

I thought you sat at home with the lights off and pretending you were not at home on Halloween.  8-)

The bubbly always goes to waste at our house.  Get a Belgian or Belgian style beer that is bottled in a champagne bottle with cage and cork.  It will feel like the bubbly experience but be more enjoyable.

[Northside Food]

If my husband had his way, that would be every night. I thought I was an introvert, and then I met Mr. "I never want to leave the house." Oh well. 

I like the suggestions so far. The beer idea is intriguing, but I dislike drinking beer. I'm sure there are some craft beers I'd like, but why risk it?

Currently what I'm thinking is doing dim sumish finger foods. I do a pretty good tempura sweet potato and I'm sure I can make the same batter work for shrimp. I've got a recipe for shrimp shu mai I'd like to try and I think we might do veggie potstickers as well. I'm also thinking of stopping by super H Mart and grabbing a roast duck.  My husband has no issue with me mixing and matching Asian cuisines, because he says I'm a stupid round eye who can't be expected to know any better. 

[Lorenzo]

If the idea of fondue is appealing but the cheese would be a problem, how about a Chinese hot pot, which is similar in concept?  My wife and I made a Sichuan-style hot pot with all kinds of goodies for cooking in the bubbling cauldron of fiery broth.  From what I recall, we had head-on shrimp, baby octopus, shabu-shabu-style beef, enoki mushrooms and more.  All from BHFM.

[Mike GadgetGeek Stock]

Wow, reviving this old thread for a guy I know from Facebook.....

He and some of his friends will be in town over New Years and want to know, who has a great New Years Eve dinner "deal" ?

He has looked at the one at Woodfire Grill and thinks it is pretty pricey. 

Anyone have any suggestions ?

.........