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Indoor S'Mores, Chili Bar, Meatballs, Hummus Cukes, Champagne punch and more! Find a healthy and comforting menu for your lumberjack New Years Eve Party

A healthy lumberjack New Year’s Eve Party Menu

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Indoor S'Mores, Chili Bar, Meatballs, Hummus Cukes, Champagne punch and more! Find a healthy and comforting menu for your lumberjack New Years Eve PartyWhy brave the long lines and cold weather on new years? Instead, make some delicious comfort food and snuggle in with plaid suits and rompers. Here’s the New Year’s Eve Party menu to ring in the new year lumberjack style.

New Years Eve!

The time for skimpy dresses in the cold, long lines, crowded bars…

wait a minute… that doesn’t sound fun.

OR… if you choose… for plaid flannel onesies!! Next to the fire, indoors, with lots of healthy and yummy treats.

Way better.

I much prefer buffalo flannel rompers, plaid suits, a cozy fire, plenty of delicious food and a bar inside your home!

Last year we planned an NYE party at our house and it was the best thing we could have done. It felt so nice to be in our home, surrounded by our closest friends. And we didn’t have to brave the weather, crowds or roads.         WHy brave the cold in skimpy cocktail gear when you can wear plaid inside. Indoor S'Mores, Chili Bar, Meatballs, Hummus Cukes, Champagne punch and more! Find a healthy and comforting menu for your lumberjack New Years Eve Party

Most of the food we made ahead of time so the day was left to be enjoyed, save for a few minor last minute details.

Getting a bartender was also the best idea. My recommendation is to get one where you can provide the glasses, booze, and drinks and they make just the drinks. That is usually a more economical option and then you also get to keep the leftovers.

 

The NYE Menu

  • Appetizers
    • Charcuterie Board
    • Deviled eggs
    • Sprouted Almonds or Mixed Nuts
  • Morrocon Meatballs
  • Hummus Cukes
  • Chili bar
  • Homemade tomato soup with grilled cheese sandwiches (J’s choice ;))
  • Indoor S’Mores
  • Holiday Punch
  • The morning after: quiche for brunch

Labelling Your Food

Not only am I gluten-free, avoid dairy and refined sugar, we had vegans, other celiacs, and a few egg and milk allergies at the party. It’s a world full of food restrictions this world of ours.

So labeling is important. I know I would appreciate knowing what is in food at a party, so why not share that courtesy when hosting?

And these chalkboard and tree stump signs are just too adorable and fitting for them to pass up.

Make sure everything has a name and also clearly outlines what allergens it includes. You can see we labeled nuts, gluten, dairy, and vegan.

Sustainable Serving

You don’t want to be stuck with dishes, but you also don’t want to be wasteful. I found these products to be a good mix of those two conflicting desires. Most are biodegradable and/or compostable.

The chalk markers are great for writing on glasses. That way you can use real glass champagne glasses and everyone can keep there’s separate. The marker washes off with a little soap and warm water and everyone gets to decorate their own glass.

It’s also fun to get a big piece of paper so people can write their new years resolutions down for everyone to see. My favorite of last year?

“continue being awesome”

All i see is plaid in 2018. Indoor S'Mores, Chili Bar, Meatballs, Hummus Cukes, Champagne punch and more! Find a healthy and comforting menu for your lumberjack New Years Eve Party

Appetizers

It’s important on a long night of drinking to have lots of little snacks to line the stomach. Charcuterie boards and bowls of sprouted nuts do the job perfectly, in addition to all of the other snacks we’ll have on hand.

Charcuterie

For the charcuterie board, use a wood cutting board or a nice wooden board like this one from Etsy to give that woodsy vibe. Include a mixture of salamis and prosciuttos, fermented veggies like cucumber, carrot, and ginger, and some dried fruits like apricot and cherry.

You’ll notice that even though I don’t eat cheese, we had some nice cheeses on our board.

Deviled Eggs

Deviled eggs are one of my go-to’s for parties. When you are serving food to people over a long time, you need to make sure they get some sustenance.

Deviled eggs, made with real mayo, give protein and omegas to keep people satisfied throughout the evening.

Mixed Nuts

No brainer. The preparation is easy. Just pour them into a bowl and set them on the table.

Go for roasted and sprouted if available, as they are easier to digest.

charcuterie, Indoor S'Mores, Chili Bar, Meatballs, Hummus Cukes, Champagne punch and more! Find a healthy and comforting menu for your lumberjack New Years Eve Party

Morrocan Meatballs

These are delicious and so easy to make! You can also make them ahead of time and just pop them in the oven to heat up before guests arrive.

I served them in an oven-safe pan like this one. It was great because I could store them, reheat them, and serve them from the same pan. To keep them warm throughout the party, the pan rested on a cast iron dish warmer with a tea light underneath.

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb of grass-fed ground beef
  • 1/4 cup diced onions
  • 1/4 cup diced parsley
  • 2 tablespoons Moroccan spices
  • 1 tsp salt

Directions:

Form into balls and bake on a cookie sheet at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. You can make these 1-3 days ahead of time and store in the refrigerator.

Hummus Cukes

These are great finger foods! And you can make the hummus days in advance. The great thing about these is that they are a healthy and light snack, which can be a good contrast to typically heavy holiday foods.

I make the hummus ahead of time, but prepare the cukes day-of so they stay fresh.

To prepare, simply slice cucumbers and using a piping bag, pipe a little pyramid of hummus on each cucumber slice. To get fancy, top with caviar, trout roe, or cilantro micro greens. Or just dust with a little paprika for color.

Chili Bar

There’s little better than a chili bar on a cold snowy night. It’s warm, filling, easily portioned, and easy to customize with green onions, seeds, tortilla chips, and hot sauce.

If you are looking for an easy way to feed people, a chili bar is the way to go. And it can’t get much easier as far as preparation goes. Chili improves the longer it sits, giving the flavors a chance to meld together. And you can serve it in a crockpot.

We used a red chili and served it with sides of green onions, cheddar (for the non-dairy-free-crowd) and fresh chives.

A chili bar is a great make ahead meal idea for a lumberjack themed party

Homemade tomato soup with mini grilled cheese sandwiches

Now, I couldn’t eat these because we used real cheese, but it didn’t stop me from at least making a healthier and delicious version of the soup.

And parties are for everyone, so I think it’s important to be inclusive of those without restrictions when possible, too.

Homemade tomato soup is one of the easier and tastier things to make. When you simmer tomatoes over a long period of time, they disintegrate into a delicious and rich sauce. Just a little salt and oil along with a decent amount of basil is all you need.

Making the grilled cheese sandwiches needs to be coordinated. This is the one thing that shouldn’t be made ahead of time. Butter the GF bread and toast before adding the cheese and flipping. To cook several at a time, toast on a cookie sheet in the oven.

Each sandwich should be cut into fours and speared into a serving mug. I like the little red cups for the lumberjack theme.

These were by FAR the favorite at our party. Good idea J!

Indoor S’Mores

It’s not a party without some dessert. I mean, I guess technically massive amounts of champagne could count as dessert. But why not have a traditional dessert as well.

I love the indoor S’Mores because they are so festive and give the laid back, camping vibe I was going for. Plus, I get to use a blow-torch. Before champagne, I promise!

Find the full recipe here:

Indoor S'Mores, Chili Bar, Meatballs, Hummus Cukes, Champagne punch and more! Find a healthy and comforting menu for your lumberjack New Years Eve Party

Holiday Punch

Even with a bar, it’s always a good idea to have a punch. We made a recipe that included champagne and it was quite good. I love the mix of juices and bubbles.

The most fun part of this recipe was finding the punch bowl! There’s an amazing thrift store down the road in Denver that has amazing finds. I was able to get this crystal punch bowl, spoon, and a full set of adorable little punch glasses to go with it.

While totally unnecessary, it was quite fun. And since the rest of the decor was wood and plaid, it offered a nod toward the traditionally more elegant new year’s themes.

I found a similar one here and here if you can’t find one at your local thrift stores.

Serve it with fresh cranberries, blueberries, and pomegranate seeds for garnish.

Punch: key ingredient to a killer NYE party: Indoor S'Mores, Chili Bar, Meatballs, Hummus Cukes, Champagne punch and more! Find a healthy and comforting menu for your lumberjack New Years Eve Party

at a little elegance to your party with a punch bowl

Plan for the morning after: make ahead Quiche

We had 9 people from out of town staying at our house, so planning for the next morning was key!

Now you don’t have to go that crazy and invite the whole neighborhood to have a sleepover, but the last thing you want to do after a long night of French 75s is to make a huge breakfast.

Hence, the make-ahead breakfast of quiche.

1 made three quiches: spinach bacon, spinach bacon and cheese for the non-dairy-free folks, and salmon, asparagus, and arugula.

Each of them has a potato crust. You could use red, golden, new, or purple potatoes for a healthier alternative to russets. The sweet potatoes are just a little too sweet so I avoid them for this recipe.

Get the recipe here.

A perfect make ahead dish for any event: gluten free, dairy free, paleo, grain free bacon spinach quiche recipe is the answer to a healthy and easy brunch

Enjoy!

The most important part of having any party is to actually take time to enjoy it!

After everything is ready, try not to fuss about details and just enjoy your friends and the delicious snacks you put together. After all, the whole reason you threw the party was to see your friends.

Cheers!

Plaid all the way at the lumberjack NYE. Find hte full menu for your own lumberjack party here

*some of these links are affiliate links, which means EYWC gets a little share of the sale at no extra cost to you. That means we can keep making recipes and menu plans for you 🙂 All opinions are my own and I only recommend products I believe in.

Awesome make ahead menu iteas for your new years eve party or any lumberjack party. #glutenfree #dairyfree #lumberjack #partymenu #NYE

About Alicia

I love cooking almost as much as I love eating so I try to make sure I feel good about what I'm eating. I believe it's always a good occasion for some bubbly and I also love feeling healthy and being outdoors. I try to buy, cook and eat whole nutritious foods that promote a fun active lifestyle.

13 Comments

  1. Wow there are so many fun ideas in here! I love how you incorporated already made and make your own dishes into it. Your version of a NYE party is way more fun than going out!

    1. Thanks Jereann! It was a super fun party! And being able to make stuff ahead of time is so key

  2. this is a SUPER FUN idea!! and exactly the kind of thing we like on NYE – we stay in, have friends over, make awesome foods… I need to put on my onesie! 🙂

    1. Romper make everything better 🙂 and that sounds like am awesome night 🙂

  3. I am flabbergasted! What an incredibly fun idea! The menu is perfect with something for everyone.

    1. Thanks so much! And as someone with dietary restrictions, I always try to make sure there’s atleast something for everyone

  4. That is too funny! I love the outfits. And I’m all about hearty healthy party food!

    1. Hehe. I love all the plaid 🙂 and there’s nothing better than hearty food that’s also healthy!

  5. How fun! I love this idea!

    1. Thanks! We had a lot of fun with it 🙂

  6. Such a cute idea! We had a flannel Christmas party that was so much fun and you are right, comfort food is the best (especially when it’s allergy-friendly).

    1. A flannel Christmas party sounds super cozy! And yes, always nice to be considerate of our guests dietary needs. 🙂

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