New Years Day Dinner

[HappydaysArehere]

For some yearsI have always cooked dinner for family on New Years Day. It has always been starters, roast beef etc and several desserts. The numbers coming has risen to about eight or nine. Also, there is a liking for something tasty which is not so convential. Then again I long for something I can do easily so that by the time I sit down I am not "bushed". Would be marvellous if I could cook ahead. I have a rice cooker and slow cooker although they are not big enough to cater in one go for so many. Could I cook in batches and store ahead of time? If so have you any ideas that I could use. I am open to anything which is manageable. Would be really grateful.

I did ham in coke with a lovely roasted cauliflower cheese last year. Fairly stress free and most of it can be done in advance. I agree about getting someone else to take care of other courses.

I do a whole poached salmon. Very easy, and can cook the previous day, and its often on offer between Xmas and New Year.
One other big favourite is Nigellas Warm Lamb salad - again, very easy to do and little work :) I've cooked it both the long, and slightly shorter way- great either way
www.nigella.com/recipes/view/warm-shredded-lamb-salad-with-mint-and-pomegranate-178

I make potato gratin the day before and reheat for large numbers as well

It is custom in Italy to serve something with lentils, as their coin shapes signify good fortune for the year to come .

So I've been known to do lamb shanks with lentils in a deep red wine sauce. Or spicy sausage (Italian one with chilli) casserole with lentils and fennel seeds (especially good for dispelling hangovers ).

A steak pie from the local butchers is what ive had for New Years dinner since i was a little girl. We even took a frozen one to tenerife and ate it on the balcony (before all the travel safety rules came in)

I make steak pie, it's traditional in Scotland, you could make the filling in advance and use bought pastry

Thank you everyone. I am investigating those really tasty sounding suggestions. Must say those lamb shanks and spicy sausages sound wonderful as do the other suggestions. The only thing I can't do is ask the family to bring contributions. This is because for several years now my daughter has produced a magnificent meal on Christmas Eve comprising of starters, beef Wellington, wonderful desserts etc. On Christmas Day they relax with a Seafood platter, salad etc. We have turkey I cook on a Christmas Eve before going for this lovely meal. I always, therefore, try to do something decent plus the desserts which my son-in-law loves on New Years Day. Thank you so much for all your ideas.

A few NYD ago I had family round and did an Indian banquet. Two chicken dishes, a dahl, another veg dish, rice, naan, chutneys. With coconut and passion fruit panna cottas for pudding.

It was very successful. With the exception of the rice, I made it all ahead and warmed it through. The flavour develops over time so it worked well.

All the dishes I made were from the Rick Stein India book.

Indian banquet sounds wonderful. Looking into this as it sounds the sort of thing they would enjoy. We are definitely looking for non traditional food of late. I have a rice cooker so could do a certain amount of rice in one batch. Rather liking the Tilda Jasmine rice of late. Could get naan breads etc as well. Coconut and Passion fruit panna cottas sound perfect. Which chicken dishes did you do? Were they very different? I suppose I could do a beef curry with a chicken one. Hey, what about adding prawns somewhere? Thank you so much Taffeta.

Fallulah, your ham in - Is it cake or coke? I am really interested as that sounds like a keep husband very happy recipe.

Here's the coconut panna cotta thingy, just sub the cooked rhubarb for passion fruit on top.

I did chicken pasanda and chettinad chicken, a green chutney and a coconut chutney. See if you can get the Rick Stein India book from the library and photocopy the pages you're interested in.

The chicken dishes are quite different - the pasanda went down well with the children and some adults, the chettinad more with curry aficionados.

The dhal I did is an Indian friends recipe, but there is a very good looking one in Ricks book again.

Thank you Taffeta I will try to get hold of that book. My mind is now fully focussed on a Indian spread. It will be a great change after the Christmas fare.
The other recipe ideas are also being stored as I am always looking for different meals to break the monotony of everyday cooking.

Thank you everyone.
Ps still wondering about the ham in coke!

Ps just ordered Rick Stein from Waterstones on their click and collect service which makes it cheaper and I will get two more stamps on my card which goes towards a £10 voucher.

ham in coke very easy - put in slow cooker, add coke (one with sugar, not diet versions) about halfway up ham, leave to cook. Really tasty.

Thank you love reading. That sounds great and the mystery is solved!

Ah let us know how you get on!

Order your spices online well ahead of Christmas, unless of course you have a good local source. I used Spices of India, which he recommends in the book.

Taffeta, got the book and my daughter says there is an Indian section at Wing Yip where she often goes. I am making a list of what I need otherwise thanks for the tip. How far in advance did you make the dishes? Would day before be okay? Then put in the fridge and rewarm in oven? Did you get that bark stuff or just use more cinnamon? Wondering about lamb? Thank you again.

I made the dishes the day before. I think I kept them in our unheated utility room which is almost as cold as the fridge in the winter, as I didn't have enough fridge space. Then reheated when we were ready, on the hob, slowly. But am sure you could do it in the oven too.

I bought dagarful, cinnamon bark, Kashmiri chilli powder and a few other bits online. I also made my own garam masala using his recipe at the back. Dead easy with a spice or coffee grinder, but I now have 2 - one for coffee and one for spices as the flavours really permeate the grinder.

I also got loads of fresh coriander and sprinkled that over all the dishes as I took them to the table. We also have those Indian food warmers that you put tea lights in, so the food stays warm on the table.

Thanks a lot. I have a room which I often store food in at Christmas as this is usually unheated. Heating on hob is probably better than oven - less likely to dry out and will give me more room to put naans, bhajis etc in oven. Sounds as if grinder should be the next purchase. Food warmers too, I am impressed. Hope I do as well as you. My DH loves spicy food so all should be well and the rest of the family enjoy anything that is not traditional. Be sure we will be toasting Taffeta and wishing you a very happy New Year.