The Perfect New Years Day Spread

The countdown is done. The toasts have been made. The fireworks have gone off. The New Year has successfully been rung in! And after the festivities have ended and you’ve woken up to a brand new year, another event awaits – a New Years Day spread!

Celebrating the very first day of the new year should be done enjoying a hearty meal with friends, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be painstaking. Here are a few things to add to your New Year’s Day brunch to satisfy the palettes and appetites of many!

Skillet Cornbread

Cornbread is a wonderful comfort food, and is a must at New Year’s Day brunch. To make skillet cornbread, start off by coating the bottom and sides of a cast-iron skillet with 1 teaspoon of bacon drippings, then heat it in the oven at 450° oven for 10 minutes. Whisk 2 cups of buttermilk with one egg. Add 1 3/4 cups of cornmeal, stirring well. Mix in 1 teaspoon of baking powder, 1 teaspoon of baking soda, and a pinch of salt. Pour the batter into the hot skillet, and bake it at 450° for 15 minutes. Serve it with some butter.

Sauteéd Collard Greens

This is a quick dish that’s yummy and nutritious. To make it, sauté 1/2 cup of onion, 3 minced garlic cloves, 1 tablespoon of chopped ginger, and 1 split serrano pepper in hot oil in a large skillet for 1 minute. Stir in 1 teaspoon of salt and 1/2 a teaspoon of pepper. Add 1 package of fresh collard greens, and sauté for 2 minutes. Add 1 tablespoon of sugar and 1 tablespoon of rice vinegar. Cover and cook for 3 minutes, then remove the serrano pepper before serving.

Steak and Arugula Salad

Protein and veggies, all in one dish! If you’ve got any leftover meat from last night’s New Year’s dinner, this is the perfect way to use it. To make this, start by making the dressing. Combine 1/4 cup of diced onion, 2 tablespoons of lime juice, 1/2 teaspoon of lime zest, 1 tablespoon of agave nectar, 1/2 teaspoon of minced garlic, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt in a large bowl. While whisking, add 1/4 cup of olive oil until it’s well blended.

For the steak, blot both sides with paper towels, rub with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, and season with salt and pepper. Heat a large frying pan over medium-high heat for about 3 minutes. Add the steak and cook for about 4 to 5 minutes on each side for medium rare. Remove the steak to a cutting board and rest it for about 5 minutes before slicing it into thin slices.

For the salad portion, add 1 medium red bell pepper, 1 cup of cooked black beans, and 1 cup of cooked black-eyed peas to the bowl of dressing and toss. Add the thinly sliced steak and 6 packed cups of arugula to the bowl and toss. Season with salt and pepper.

Whether you’re making this meal at your house, or heading over to someone else’s to help them prepare New year’s Day brunch, don’t forget to come bearing gifts! CanadasGiftBaskets.ca offers a multitude of gift baskets that are perfect to give on New Year’s Day! Visit CanadasGiftBaskets.ca today to order yours!