Did you know that Saturday night is New Years Eve?? What are your plans?
Adam and I are traveling today from East Texas to Austin (which feels practically like New York City after spending four days in the country!) where we are spending the holiday weekend with our good friends, Morgan and Stephen. Remember them? I feel like we’ve been traveling forever, and I’m sorry to have been a little MIA for comments and emails this past week, but it’s been such a blessing to soak up this time with both of our families. It’s funny, when you don’t even have the option for getting on the Internet, how much other stuff you can get done. Like…hunting for arrowheads by the lake, reading books by the fire and learning the secrets of true Louisiana gumbo.
So, in honor of the impending holiday, I wanted to write a little menu plan if you plan to cook at home! It’s Indian-themed (for the most part), extra spicy and delicious. Just the way I like it. And tomorrow, I’ll show you another super quick dessert that you don’t want to miss!
Appetizer:
Miniature Goat Cheese, Fig and Bacon Flatbreads
Entree:
Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala
Sides:
Coconut Basmati Rice (cook rice in half water and half coconut milk then sprinkle in a little unsweetened coconut at the end)
Dessert:
Drink:
Chai Russians (spike an iced chai latte with baileys! do it.)
Champagne
Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga
December 29, 2011 at 4:20 amThe feast looks great and the last line with spiking the chai latte with baileys…I spiked a chai latte with eggnog and it was so good 🙂
Safe travels!
Molly @ RDexposed
December 29, 2011 at 4:35 amI love turning off technology and being productive! It’s a wonder how I get anything done when distracted with so many things that beep.
kathleen @ the daily crumb
December 29, 2011 at 4:55 amlooks fabulous! especially the roasted garlic naan. yum!
Sally @ Spontaneous Hausfrau
December 29, 2011 at 5:09 amOh my yum. We were going to do steaks and lobster tails on the grill but after looking at these pictures, I am seriously reconsidering. Is it weird to crave Indian food at 8 in the morning??
Notyet100
December 29, 2011 at 5:30 amMmmmm everything is my fav there,..wish ya great year ahead,,.:)
Ashley Lavin
December 29, 2011 at 5:31 amI love love love Indian food! My husband and I eat it all the time…..I will definitely have to try your dishes out at home!
Rebecca @ Naturally Healthy and Gorgeous
December 29, 2011 at 5:37 amI love Indian food. I have only recently begun to cook it but now it’s one of my staples!
Amanda at the red table
December 29, 2011 at 5:43 amGreat ideas! We are going with an ‘Appy New Year — all appetizers.. ha ha. That coconut rice looks REALLY good. We just did individual pizzas on naan last night, so we have naan leftover…hmmmmm. 🙂
Lauren @ What Lauren Likes
December 29, 2011 at 6:00 amI love this idea! Cool idea for New Years 😀
Gina @ Running to the Kitchen
December 29, 2011 at 6:03 amThat chicken tikka masala is one of my favorite things I’ve ever made of yours. So, so delicious and even my dad who spent the first 18 years of his life in India approves 🙂
Gavin S.
December 29, 2011 at 6:43 amI’ll be in Austin for New Year’s, too, Jenna! Maybe we’ll bump into each other on Sixth…
nicole @ I am a Honey Bee
December 29, 2011 at 7:01 amI hope you have a great New Year’s Eve!
Maria @ Beautiful Busy Bee
December 29, 2011 at 7:12 amWhooo!!! Austin is my town. 🙂 Anything chai is amazing! Have an awesome New Year’s.
Heather @ Girlyeverafter
December 29, 2011 at 7:21 amLuckily the place we’re going for New Year’s has an Indian inspired theme so I won’t be missing out;) I need to make a feast for fun anyway, it’s so fun and surprisingly easy!
amy walters, aDESIGNdock
December 29, 2011 at 7:27 amYumm….great menu Jenna! I looooooove East Indian food. These dishes looks wonderful. Happy New Years (in advance)!
Emily @ The Finicky Farmer
December 29, 2011 at 7:34 amI can’t imagine a more delicious theme for a New Year’s Eve feast! Many thanks for reminding us of these excellent East Indian recipes; I can’t wait to try a few (especially garlic naan!) in the new year!
Cait's Plate
December 29, 2011 at 7:41 amGah! Have so much fun in Austin – LOVE that city!
Hilliary @Happily Ever Healthy
December 29, 2011 at 7:41 amAll this food looks delicious! Enjoy your time with family and friends, and have fun ringing in the new year in the city!
Bev Weidner
December 29, 2011 at 7:44 amI. AM. GOING. TO. MAKE. THIS.
Stephanie @ Live Cook Love
December 29, 2011 at 7:51 amFun!! I live in Austin and my bf and I are trying to figure out what we want to do for NYE too! Maybe we’ll run into each other somewhere in this great city 🙂
Joelle (on a pink typewriter)
December 29, 2011 at 7:53 amI have to admit… Indian food scares me! I think it’s a texture/smell thing. Even though I think I would melt over a piece of naan.. I need to get over that fear.
Ali P.
December 29, 2011 at 7:55 amHow funny! I started reading your blog recently after a friend sent me a recipe from it. I live in Austin and was actually in the same sorority with Morgan (briefly :)). What a small world! Happy New Year
Amanda @ Once Upon a Recipe
December 29, 2011 at 7:58 amDelicious menu ideas! I love Indian food and am going to consider making some of these dishes. Happy (almost) new year!
Meg
December 29, 2011 at 8:12 amHave a great time in our lovely Austin town and Happy New Year!
Linda Wagner - Nutrition to Invigorate Mind, Body and Spirit
December 29, 2011 at 8:27 amMmmm, I love Tikka Masala!! I love that you’re using a slow cooker to make it! I’ll be making a veggie version by using zucchini, yellow squash and cauliflower to mine. Can’t wait to try it!!
katie @KatieDid
December 29, 2011 at 8:37 amHave fun with your friends! We usually do Chinese food on New years but I love the idea of Indian cuisine to ring in the holiday. I love allll things Indian, the spices, the textures, all the veggies… it’s so good!
Missy
December 29, 2011 at 8:46 amChai Latte with Bailey’s? You are a genius! Cheers!
Sarah
December 29, 2011 at 8:48 amYum! I’m still deciding what to do for NYE, we’re having Christmas with the in-laws on Sunday morning, so I’m guessing we will have a low key evening at home, with something yummy for dinner!
Marci
December 29, 2011 at 9:02 amIll be in Austin this weekend too! At a wedding at the four seasons til Monday. Have a fun time!
Christina
December 29, 2011 at 9:54 amI’ve always enjoyed reading your blog, and I’ve been following it for a couple years now. I just stumbled upon it when looking for recipes one day. Its crazy because the parallels of our lives are kind of nuts. We are similar in age, our relationship pasts are quite similar as well and we both love to experience life as best as we can through food, yoga and more food. I noticed that you are visiting Austin again and me being and austinite, I have to say I enjoy reading about home through the perspective of someone from out of state. If you want I can give you a list restraunts that are amazing and little known to people who arent born here. Enjoy Austin!
sarah @ sarah learns
December 29, 2011 at 11:05 ammy husband and i love your slow cooker chicken tikka masala. he asks for it at least once every couple weeks. it’s delicious!
Andrea @ The Skinny Chronicles
December 29, 2011 at 11:22 amI LOVE Indian food. Enjoy Austin! Safe travels home to California.
Laura @ She Eats Well
December 29, 2011 at 12:17 pmIt is absolutely dreary, foggy and freezing in San Francisco. Which means I need to make that Slow Cooker Tikka Masala ASAP.
Ashley @ Practical Cooking For One
December 29, 2011 at 12:19 pmEach recipe sounds more delicious than the last! I like the idea of bringing in the new year with an Indian feast, it certainly does spice things up a bit 🙂 Thanks for the great recipe ideas, and happy new year!
Culinary Collage
December 29, 2011 at 1:18 pmEverything here looks sooooo good. I’ve yet to try making any Indian dishes, but I think I’m going to make an attempt in the New Year. Happy New Year!
Jen
December 29, 2011 at 1:39 pmIs Indian food traditional at New Years’? Our family has typically done a ham or a roast in the past. I’d love to try that chicken masala – is it very spicy though?
Traci B
December 29, 2011 at 1:55 pmSounds like you’ve had a lot of fun! We’ll be spending New Years Eve at home with friends. We’re having a small party with about 6 families.
Mel @ Post Grad Mel
December 29, 2011 at 2:48 pmOh yum! I’ve made your Channa Masala recipe before and loved it. And speaking of New York City that’s where I am right now and where I’ll be spending New Years with friends!
Moni'sMeals
December 29, 2011 at 5:01 pmso funny…I usually always make or go out for Indian on New Year’s.
That drink sounds great and so unique too. YUM. 🙂
Tasha
December 29, 2011 at 5:42 pmMy mouth is watering as I read this. What a lovely take on a New Year’s dinner. I just got a slow cooker from Christmas so I am trying the chicken tikka masala first. Where was I when you published the goat cheese, fig, and bacon flatbread? Delish!
meghan@ struggle muffins
December 29, 2011 at 6:28 pmI love the idea of an Indian-themed New Year’s feast!
gwen
December 29, 2011 at 8:28 pmYour slow cooker chicken tikka masala is ALWAYS on the front of my mind for dinner parties… and casual dinners for one, too (with plenty of leftovers!). It’s SO GOOD.
Mich
December 30, 2011 at 6:27 amI have not ever prepared Indian food at home, but the health benefits are amazing and this might just inspire me to try it. Happy New Year! Have fun in Austin.
amanda
December 30, 2011 at 9:09 amhad an indian feast for lunch today (we couldn’t wait for new year’s eve). i made the baignan bharta and naan. wow, so good. we don’t usually like eggplant, but we got a fruit/veggie basket as per holiday tradition here in Spain, and it came with eggplant. thanks for the recipe, happy new year’s!
Katie
December 30, 2011 at 11:43 amoh thank you for this post! so awesome as usual. i’m going to do a NYE indian feast with friends. happy new year!
Kim
January 1, 2012 at 3:29 pmI love it! My fiance and I spent Christmas and New Years with his family. He’s Sri Lankan, so we’ve been celebrating all week with curries and Indian dishes! Christmas will never be the same without lamb curry. 🙂
Happy New Year!
Feeding My Folks
January 14, 2012 at 7:52 pmChanna Masala <3
NYE 2010 was an Indian Feast for my friends and me...I'm so jealous you got to experience it this past New Years Eve!
Ayla Strouse
January 29, 2012 at 2:59 amI am so grateful for your blog.Thanks Again. Awesome.