Mixed meat Vassilopita with phyllo pastry - Traditional New Year's savoury pie

This year we thought to go for something totally different for our New Year's Eve dinner trying out two recipes, one savoury and one sweet (which you will find in the next post). Two Vassilopitas in the same evening is too much you might think but it is the Holiday season and some exaggerations can be allowed:-)) In most areas of Greece the New Year's cake is a sweet treat but there is also this delicious traditional recipe of meat pie coming from Epirus region which changes everything many of us (especially coming from big cities) knew regarding the Vassilopita. Still, though, what this savoury Vassilopita has in common with the sweet ones is the lucky coin inserted somewhere in the filling waiting for that person to win it and feel happy and lucky for the rest of the year!

Festive cheese terrine wrapped with smoked salmon

Christmas is gone but the Holiday season is not over yet and a lot of people's mind is in the upcoming New Year's parties! Here we have a delicious and very impressive terrine which can be served among other party food at your Festive buffet and surely will satisfy your guests! The original recipe demands a special white, soft, spreadable Greek cheese (very low in salt) called "Katiki Domokou". I don't expect you to find it abroad so you can substitute with regular cream cheese or another not heavy in salt curd cheese. It will not be exactly the same but the taste still will be great!

Bacon wrapped baked potatoes stuffed with mushrooms

A delicious first or side dish to serve your guests at the Festive table to accompany any roasted meat or poultry meal! Very good looking too to stand among other dishes at a buffet party during the Holiday season

Special Festive dessert

Special Festive dessert indeed! One of those unique desserts which can bring the right balance after a rich dinner or when served next to other buffet dishes. The combination of the fineness of the good quality chocolate breaks down nicely the acidity of the fruits with impressive flavours exploding in your mouth!

Festive dessert with chocolate and chestnut mousse, caramelised corn flakes and pomegranate granita

A good looking, clever and delicious dessert to enjoy on New Year's party or any time really when you want something light and special. The surprise part of this dessert, to me, are the caramelised cornflakes which give such a nice crunchy taste and the refreshing pomegranate granita giving a nice balance to the sweet mousse

Velvety mushrooms and chestnuts soup "shots"

This is a great idea to serve at your buffet table among other nibbles and finger food dishes on New Year's Eve or any other party occasion. Who said that soup could not be served in small quantities? Here we have a delicious recipe and impressive at the same time if served in small shot glasses to be easier to handle