New Year's menu - 2020 or How to feed the Yellow Earth Dog (part 1)

Salad with pickled champignons

It is a well-known fact that in the old days it was popular among European rulers to equip huge halls in the basements of their castles for growing champignons. And this is not surprising, because they were considered a very expensive delicacy. Like all mushrooms, champignons contain a lot of useful micro- and macroelements. These mushrooms are also combined with seafood and meat, and can even be a separate dish.

Today we will prepare a beautifully simple salad with marinated champignons for three people. The ease of preparation means that all you have to do is chop and mix the ingredients.

Ingredients for three servings:

• Korean carrots (100 gr.);
• marinated champignons (200 gr.);
• canned green peas (4 tbsp);
• onions (0.5 pcs.);
• green onion (20 gr.);
• vegetable oil (2 tbsp);
• salt and pepper (to taste).

Prepare the indicated products. Make sure they are all fresh. Korean carrots and pickled champignons can be purchased ready-made at any large supermarket or prepared yourself.

Preparation:

1. The basis of the salad is Korean carrots. Squeeze it well to remove excess marinade and place it on the bottom of a salad bowl (or any sufficiently deep container).
2. Place the mushrooms in a colander and let them drain (you can swap the first and second steps to save time). After this, check that nothing unnecessary gets into the salad: you will not need garlic, bay leaf and allspice. Next, cut the champignons into not very large, but not small pieces. If the mushrooms are chopped too finely, their flavor will be lost in the dish.
3. Take the onion, peel it, rinse it with cool water. For this salad you will only need half an onion, so set the rest aside. Cut the onion into thin strips and add to the carrots and mushrooms.
4. Remove the marinade from the peas using a colander. After that, pour it into a bowl with the rest of the ingredients.
5. Rinse green onions in cool water, shaking off excess water. Cut it into small rings and place in a salad bowl.
6. Add salt and pepper to the dish to taste. Season the salad with vegetable oil: olive, unrefined sunflower, flaxseed or any other. Stir and then refrigerate for about 30 minutes. Ready!

You can serve directly in a salad bowl or in portions. Bon appetit!

A creative approach to the New Year's table

In order for the New Year's guest in the form of a Dog to be satisfied with the meeting with the owners of the house, she needs to be appeased in every possible way. For example, decorate the holiday table accordingly. And it concerns not only the prepared dishes, but also the table decoration.

One of the options would be a decoration in the form of a dog figurine, which will fit perfectly among the dishes.

You can also get creative with the dishes, namely make sandwiches in the shape of a cute dog’s face or design a salad in the shape of an animal.

Lucky will be those who master the art of carving, that is, the ability to cut various shapes from vegetables and fruits. This creativity is suitable for decorating hot dishes.

Decorating cakes in the shape of a cute animal will not leave any child indifferent, and adults will be delighted too.

Pancake salad

If you think that pancakes are an exclusively sweet dessert, then you are deeply mistaken. In fact, you can create a wide variety of dishes from them to suit every taste. Today you will learn how to prepare a simple, tasty, satisfying and inexpensive salad, the basis of which is salted pancakes. The remaining ingredients, the list of which is given below, are designed to emphasize and complement their delicate taste. Before you start cooking, make sure all the salad ingredients are chilled (this is important!).

Ingredients for two persons:

• salted pancakes (3 pcs.);
• pickles (2 pcs.);
• smoked fish (200 gr.);
• red onion (0.5 pcs.);
• greens (parsley, dill);
• salt and pepper (to taste);
• mayonnaise (2 tbsp).

Prepare the indicated products. Bake thin pancakes in advance with milk without adding sugar, cool them:

1. Roll the pancakes like a roll and cut them into thin strips. Transfer to a deep container.
2. Cut the pickled cucumbers into medium-sized pieces. Don't cut them too small, because they won't fit in the salad.
3. Peel and rinse the onion. Chop one half of it into half rings and add to pancakes and cucumbers.
4. Cut the smoked fish into arbitrary pieces. It is best to choose tuna, mackerel or mackerel, but if you want, you can replace it with canned food. If the fish is quite fatty, take a leaner mayonnaise..
5. Rinse the greens in cool water, shake off excess moisture, chop finely and add to the rest of the ingredients. Season the salad with mayonnaise and add spices to taste. Place in the refrigerator for about half an hour and let the dish steep. Before serving, garnish with a sprig of parsley or dill. Ready!

Potato salad

Potatoes are probably the most beloved and frequently consumed vegetable of all. Its homeland is South America, where the Indians, according to legend, not only ate it, but also worshiped it, considering it animate. Potatoes are also a storehouse of minerals: they contain potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, bromine, iron, etc. They eat it in any way: boiled, fried, baked, and also make salads from it.

For potato salad you will need:

• boiled potatoes (2 pcs.);
• pickles (3 pcs.);
• red onion (1 pc.);
• pitted olives (100 g);
• parsley;
• vegetable oil (1 tbsp);
• salt and pepper (to taste).

Prepare the ingredients in advance: boil the potatoes, let them cool, and then use them to make a salad. Preparation:

1. Peel the boiled potatoes, remove the eyes and cut them into slices. Place on the bottom of the salad bowl.
2. Peel the onion and rinse. Cut it into half rings and pour into a container with the potatoes. You can use green onions instead of red.
3. Cut the pickled cucumbers into circles and squeeze lightly to remove excess brine.
4. Cut the pitted olives in half and add to the salad bowl. You can use olives instead of black olives if you don’t like them, or even replace them with capers.
5. Rinse the parsley in cool water and shake it off. Chop finely enough and add to the rest of the ingredients. Add spices and vegetable oil. You can take any oil: sunflower, flaxseed, olive, sesame... Mix carefully.

Potato salad can be eaten not only as a snack, but also as a side dish. There is no need to let it brew. Bon appetit!

Gastronomic analysis of the symbol of 2020

Frankly, not everyone in the dog family is an aggressive carnivore, but everyone loves meat. Therefore, it is the cold cuts that will be the highlight of the gastronomic program. You can attract good luck in the New Year if the table is full of dishes with chicken, pork and turkey. Be careful with fatty varieties. An abundance of fat can lead to the opposite reaction of the dog: he will eat it, but it will not serve his benefit.

In 2018 comes the year of one of the most peaceful dogs - the earth dog, that is, a very calm and quiet animal. But it would be a mistake to think that the Dog is completely spineless. Her emotions and joy are beyond belief. And this should be reflected in the dishes that will be on the New Year's table. You can make not only the colors of the delicacy bright, but also the taste and aroma. This applies to both hot appetizers and desserts.

Every dog ​​sincerely wags its tail at the sight of sweets. She loves ice cream, chocolate, and cake. But if the owner cares about the health of his dog, he will not give his pet more than the norm of these tempting delicacies.

A dog is a friend and family member, and this also adds a certain characteristic to the New Year's menu. It should take into account the wishes of all relatives and friends. And the symbol of the year also has a color: yellow. This means that yellow food, decorated with vegetables and other products of this color, should prevail on the table.

Recommended and undesirable dishes

Having clarified the character and gastronomic preferences of the symbol of the year, it is easy to understand that you cannot prepare a dog for the year. First of all, it is not recommended to have only vegetable or fruit dishes on the holiday table. The dog will not be able to enjoy a lot of sweets.

Do you want to please the mistress of the year and attract good luck? Then treat her to various meat delicacies, this year there is no limit. By the way, dishes with bones, such as pork legs and ribs, will look good at the holiday. Don't forget about fish. This is also a welcome guest on the table.

Recommendation. The menu should have an abundance of meat dishes from different types of boiled, fried, baked meat.

If we talk about the color scheme, then this year it practically allows everything, although there are priorities. Considering that this is the year of the Earth Dog, yellow and brown colors of foods are recommended: eggs, potatoes, mushrooms. The bird would be ideal served fully baked with a side dish of red or brown vegetables.

Salad with smoked chicken and pineapple

No feast is complete without delicious salads. Most of them are salty, but there are others whose highlight is a delicate juicy sweetish taste. This salad is one of those.

Its highlight is the combination of corn and pineapple. They are complemented by chicken meat (you can use not only smoked fillet, but also ham or any other meaty part of the bird) and mayonnaise. You can take not only store-bought, but also homemade (or make it yourself).

Ingredients for two persons:

• smoked chicken meat (150 g);
• hard cheese (80 g);
• canned corn (80 g);
• canned pineapple (120 g);
• boiled chicken eggs (2 pcs.);
• greenery;
• mayonnaise (1 tbsp);
• salt and pepper (to taste).

Prepare the indicated products. To save time, boil the eggs in advance.

1. Rinse the smoked breast and pat dry with a paper towel. Cut into cubes. If using another part of the chicken, remove the skin additionally.
2. Peel the eggs, cut them into small cubes and add to the meat.
3. Grate the cheese using a medium grater or cut it into cubes like chicken. Pour into a salad bowl. Be sure to choose a high-quality and proven product, because tasteless cheese can ruin the entire salad.
4. Pour the corn into a sieve and let it drain a little. Add to other ingredients.
5. Remove the pineapples from the jar. If they are already cut into cubes, then simply place them on a plate, but if they are rings, cut them into strips or arbitrary pieces.
6. Season the appetizer with mayonnaise, mix thoroughly, add salt and pepper to taste. For a little spiciness, you can add a very finely chopped (crushed) clove (or half) of garlic.

Serve in portions using a baking dish. You can decorate the top with a sprig of dill or parsley. Bon appetit!

What should be the serving?

To attract good luck into your destiny in the coming year, pay attention to table setting. But this does not mean that the table should be “full” of exquisite cutlery and serving accessories.

Since a dog is a domestic animal, the table decoration should be arranged in accordance with the family atmosphere. Simplicity and comfort are what will please the “energetic guest.”

Preference for serving should be given to one of the options below:

1. Table decoration in rustic style. In other words, in a rustic style. What it will look like: a table covered with a cotton or linen tablecloth; ceramic dishes, preferably white; Wooden bread bins, vases and napkin holders can be placed. Glasses and glasses are plain. Place several wooden spoons on the table. In general, make serving as close to a home atmosphere as possible;
2. If, nevertheless, you gravitate toward everything refined, then use gold in table settings. This does not mean that the dishes should be made of gold; combine this color with white. Ceramic plates with gilding, glasses and glasses with gold frames. The main thing is not to overdo it.

Use mainly yellow, white and gold colors for serving, which correspond to the coming year of the Yellow Earth Dog.

Salad with crab meat

Crab meat is a popular delicacy all over the world. It is valued for its soft, delicate and sweet taste. Crab meat is dietary, but at the same time has great energy value. It is rich in potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, as well as vitamins A and C. It can be stored frozen, pickled, canned, and also made delicious salads with it. You can prepare one of these by following the recipe below.

First of all, when buying crab meat or canned food, carefully look at the expiration date. If its authenticity is in doubt, choose a product from another manufacturer.

Ingredients for two persons:

• crab meat (100 g);
• lettuce (1 bunch);
• tomatoes (2 pcs.);
• red onion (0.5 pcs.);
• green onions (2 pcs.);
• olives or black olives (6 pcs.);
• pepper and salt.

Prepare your food. Thaw the crab meat in advance if it is frozen. You need to defrost at room temperature. Preparation:

1. Divide the bunch of lettuce into individual leaves, wash them, and cut off any hard stems. Place them on the bottom of a flat plate. If you want, you can tear them into smaller pieces with your hands to make it easier to eat.
2. Wash the tomatoes thoroughly. Trim the cores and chop the tomatoes into rings. Place them on top of the lettuce leaves, sprinkle with finely chopped green onions, then salt and pepper.
3. Place crab meat on top of tomatoes. First cut it into smaller pieces if necessary.
4. Cut the olives into rings and place them on top of the meat in any order. Peel the onion and rinse with cool water. Cut half the onion into half rings and decorate the salad with them. Add seasonings to taste and generously drizzle vegetable oil or can of crabmeat oil all over the cuts. For decoration, you can use greens: dill or parsley.

It is recommended to serve the salad immediately after preparation.

Caesar roll with chicken

Interesting fact: one of the most famous salads today - “Caesar” - was actually named not after Gaius Julius Caesar, but in honor of the person who is the most likely author of this dish - an American chef originally from Italy, Caesar Cardini. Over time, the recipe, of course, changed. New ingredients, dressings, and serving methods have appeared.

One of the most interesting options is Caesar salad in a tortilla.

Ingredients for five people:

• tortillas (5 pcs.);
• chicken fillet (300 gr.);
• cabbage;
• turmeric (1 pinch);
• sesame (1 tsp);
• tomato (1 pc.);
• vegetable oil (2 tbsp);
• Parmesan cheese (50 gr.);
• loaf (3 pieces);
• herbs, salt, spices.

Refueling:

• mayonnaise (150 gr.);
• yogurt 3.5% (150 gr.);
• refined olive oil (4 tbsp);
• capers (20 gr.);
• Parmesan cheese (20 gr.);
• mustard (20 gr.);
• spices.

The preparation is simple:

1. Cut the chicken fillet into large pieces, grate the Parmesan cheese and divide it into two parts (for the base and dressing). Finely chop the tomatoes, pour them into a sieve and leave for a while so that the juice can drain.
2. Using a blender, combine all dressing ingredients. Then put the dressing in the refrigerator to let it steep.
3. Cut the loaf into small cubes. Heat a frying pan (no oil needed) and dry the bread in it. Stir constantly to prevent it from burning. Pour the prepared golden crackers into a separate container.
4. Grease a frying pan with vegetable oil, place fillet pieces on it and fry them on all sides. Salt the meat, sprinkle with sesame seeds and turmeric. After frying, cool the chicken and cut it into cubes. Cut the Chinese cabbage leaves into thin ribbons and chop the greens.
5. Heat the tortilla in a frying pan. Spread the tortilla with dressing and place the filling on it.

Fold the top and bottom edges of the tortilla toward the center, then roll the whole thing into a roll. Try to act carefully so as not to tear the cake. Continue until you run out of ingredients. Ready! You can serve. Bon appetit!

Beverages

Not a single New Year is complete without champagne, with the clicking of its bubbles making your deepest wishes come true. So be sure to stock up on a few bottles of excellent champagne for yourself and your guests.

No less popular drinks for the New Year are punch and mulled wine. The latter, thanks to serving hot, will undoubtedly please your guests, because on a cold New Year's Eve you really want to warm up with this pleasant spicy drink.

The treats you have prepared must be beautifully served. The aesthetic appearance of the dish is also very important, especially for the most important holiday of the year.

With all the variety of dishes, do not forget about the most important thing - a sincere smile and joy, without which not a single New Year can do.

We wish the coming year to be successful, happy and rich in amazing meetings and events for you!