10389 New Year’s Day Brunch Mon Dec 18 14:54:00 -0800 2006 http://www.chow.com/stories/10389 Mon, 18 Dec 2006 22:54:00 GMT An easy, make-ahead menu to share with friends An easy, make-ahead menu to share with friends. http://www.chow.com none 7 Entertaining 1

New Year’s Day Brunch

NEW
YEAR'S DAY
BRUNCH

AN EASY, MAKE-AHEAD MENU
TO SHARE WITH FRIENDS

FOOD

DRINK

The ball has dropped. The toasts have been toasted, the kisses kissed, the countdown counted down. Maybe there are overflowing ashtrays, broken glass, a dress balled up in a corner where you left it. Or maybe just two champagne glasses in front of the TV. How you spend New Year’s Eve is up to you; how you spend your New Year’s Day, leave to CHOW.

New Year’s Eve is renowned for its excess, yet New Year’s Day gets short shrift, relegated to hangover recovery. This year, celebrate it. This make-ahead buffet allows you to live it up the night before and wake up to a ready-to-eat festive brunch. So whether you find yourself facing a visit from the in-laws or are the designated sleepover house, this spread will take care of a crowd. (Though it never hurts to toss in some good luck.)

Our brunch is engineered to cover all the bases of a good hangover meal: starch, carbs, eggs, and something sweet. Of course, you need not have indulgent party plans as an excuse; simple, make-ahead preparation is welcome any time. There’s a bubbly cocktail for those needing to cut the edge, and three variations of Bloody Marys for anyone who wants something a little stronger. If your guests are DIY types, you can set up a Bloody Mary bar with all the fixings so that they can doctor their drinks themselves.

SHOPPING LIST
View and print
shopping list

VIDEO
How to
Set Up a Buffet

Pre-Fête

Sure, everything can be made ahead, but in what order, you ask? Here are rough guidelines:

Up to a Week Ahead

  • The jalapeños for the Bloody Mary bar can be pickled.
  • The ginger vodka and chile tequila can be infused.
  • The salsa verde and vinaigrette can be made, and the nonperishable groceries can be purchased.

Up to 36 Hours Ahead

  • You can make the dough for the caramel rolls.
  • Sear the steak and cook the beans for the salad.
  • Mix the base for the strata.
  • Parboil the potatoes and sweet potatoes for the home fries.
  • Marinate the mango (sans mint)
  • Mix the grapefruit base for the cocktail.
  • Set up the buffet and the Bloody Mary bar.

All that’s left for the day of is combining the salad, throwing things in the oven, and lighting one burner to finish the hash. Before you get started, print out our shopping list to make sure you’ve got everything, and to set the morning-after mood, turn to our music mix.

RELATED STORIES
This Year I Will…
The Ten: Hangover Cures
Good Luck With That

PARTY MUSIC
Download the iMix

Turning Over a New Leaf

If you’ve got your hangover under control, you’ll have time to fulfill some of your New Year’s resolutions. Though 2006 was a great year, this party will prove that—at least as an entertainer—you have nothing to fear in 2007.

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New Year’s Day Brunch Shopping List

Produce

3 pounds russet potatoes
2 pounds sweet potatoes
3 medium red onions
2 large shallots
2 medium carrots
20 medium cloves (about 2 heads) garlic
1 (3-inch) hand fresh ginger
1 (2-inch) piece fresh horseradish
1 bunch scallions
1 bunch mint
1 bunch cilantro
6 cups arugula
10 small limes
6 medium lemons
3 pounds mangoes
1/2 pound (about 1 small) jicama
1 medium red bell pepper
1 medium English hothouse cucumber
1 pound tomatillos
4 fresh medium poblano chiles
1 pound jalapeño peppers
16 large green olives

Dairy

1 3/4 cup (1 pound) sour cream
15 large eggs
1 quart milk
2 1/2 sticks (10 ounces) unsalted butter

Meat

1 1/2 to 1 3/4 pounds beef flank steak

Bakery

1 loaf (about 1 pound) sourdough bread

Pantry

2 tablespoons (1/8 cup) olive oil
1 1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 quart apple cider vinegar
2 1/4 teaspoons dry active yeast (from 2 packets dry active yeast)
1/2 cup instant nonfat dry milk powder
4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup granulated sugar
2 cups light brown sugar
1/4 cup light corn syrup
1/2 teaspoon agave nectar (or 1/4 teaspoon granulated sugar)
1 cup roughly chopped walnuts
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
6 medium bay leaves
2 teaspoons crab boil spice mix (such as Zatarain’s brand)
1 cup cooked black beans (or 1/2 cup dried)
1 cup cooked black-eyed peas (or 1/2 cup dried)
2 cups pink grapefruit juice
3 quarts (12 cups) tomato juice
1 bottle Worcestershire sauce
1 bottle hot sauce (such as Tabasco)
1 bottle soy sauce
1 bottle barbecue sauce
1 bottle celery seeds
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon chipotle en adobo
6 small dried red chiles
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons kosher salt
1 tablespoon black peppercorns, plus more for seasoning

Booze

8 ounces orange liqueur (such as Grand Marnier or Cointreau)
1 (750 ml) bottle sparkling wine
1 (750 ml) bottle tequila
3 (750 ml) bottles vodka

Print out shopping list

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