Not up to putting on a formal dinner party for New Year’s Eve? Can’t blame you. And who cares? Most people would prefer the more casual atmosphere of lots of appetizer-sized nibbles, anyway.
To help you pull it all together, we assembled an easy menu that recasts some classic appetizers in fresh ways. Start off with a roasted take on the traditional shrimp cocktail. Make it funky by serving the shrimp and roasted grape tomatoes in individual spoons. We also have a quick and east pineapple chicken salad that’s served in lettuce wraps.
And for fun, we offer up “Elvis cups” — mini phyllo pastry cups filled with bacon, peanut butter and banana slices.
ROASTED SHRIMP COCKTAIL
Start to finish: 30 minutes
Makes 8 servings
1 quart grape tomatoes, halved
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar glaze
1 tablespoon horseradish
1 pound large raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
Salt and ground black pepper
Nutrition information per serving: 70 calories; 10 calories from fat (14 percent of total calories); 1 g fat (0 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 85 mg cholesterol; 3 g carbohydrate; 1 g fiber; 2 g sugar; 12 g protein; 210 mg sodium.
PINEAPPLE CHICKEN LETTUCE WRAPS
Start to finish: 10 minutes
Makes 8 servings
2 cups shredded cooked chicken
2/3 cup pineapple salsa, strained
2 tablespoons chopped cherry peppers
Soft lettuce leaves, such as Boston or bibb
Nutrition information per serving: 60 calories; 10 calories from fat (17 percent of total calories); 1.5 g fat (0 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 30 mg cholesterol; 1 g carbohydrate; 0 g fiber; 0 g sugar; 11 g protein; 30 mg sodium.
ELVIS PHYLLO CUPS
Start to finish: 10 minutes
Makes 15 cups
1/3 cup natural peanut butter
2 tablespoons powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large banana, cut into 15 slices
1.9-ounce package (15 cups) phyllo cups (found in grocers’ freezer cases near other pastry, dessert items.)
3 slices crisp-cooked bacon, each cut into 5 chunks
Nutrition information per serving: 70 calories; 40 calories from fat (57 percent of total calories); 4 g fat (1 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 0 mg cholesterol; 7 g carbohydrate; 1 g fiber; 3 g sugar; 2 g protein; 80 mg sodium.
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