NYE

Decided to throw an impromptu New Years Eve fete. Since it was last minute I kept the menu simple and served a signature cocktail.
Menu:
assorted cheese and crackers with fresh and dried fruit: apricots, blueberries, pears
shrimp cocktail
spinach artichoke dip
endive and pear appetizer
sun dried tomato bruschetta
bakery cookies and a small cake
served a classic Gin Fizz for the drink.

Here are some recipes:
Spinach Artichoke dip
drain and chop a can of artichoke hearts
combine with 1/2 package of softened cream cheese
1/2 cup of sour cream
1/4 cup mayo
12oz of thawed and drained frozen spinach
1 cup grated parmesan
season with black pepper
stir together and put in butter baking dish
top generously with grated parmesan
bake for 45 minutes at 350-top will be slightly browned and bubbling

Endive Appetizer
wash and separate leaves of belgian endive (sometimes exterior leaves are bitter so discard the first few layers)
add to each leaf a dollop of gogonzola cheese, a thin slice of Asian pear and a few chopped walnuts
This is pretty, elegant and fresh. Perfect two bite cocktail snack.



Gin Fizz
1oz Gin (Hendricks is a good choice for this)
lemon and lime juice
thin sliced lemon/lime for garnish
simple syrup (heat 2 cups of sugar and 1 cup of water til boiling, sugar dissolves and syrup reduces)
ice
Brut champagne
shake ice, gin, fruit juice and simple syrup together
pour in fluted glass with citrus slices
top with champagne