I love New Year’s Eve. It’s easily one of my favorite holidays; its celebration is short-lived, non-committal, requires zero travel, and celebratory beverages and staying up late are optional.
The last few years my husband and I have started a new tradition with some friends: Deep Fried NYE. We find that it’s the perfect way to celebrate, providing something that both kids and adults can indulge in and it gives us a chance to try out new fried favorites in addition to the store bought regulars. One of the best parts? Prep in minimal and cooking is short-lived.
Among the list of items that we’ll fry up:
- French fries
- Sweet potato fries with Cajun dip
- Mozzarella sticks
- Cheese curds (a very Wisconsin-specific items; not the same as mozzarella sticks)
- Shrimp
- Jalapeño poppers
- Mini corn dogs
- Veggies (think tempura-style onion rings, mushrooms, cauliflower, and broccoli)
- Wontons served with sweet chili sauce
- Pakora (we love this recipe) with hot mango chutney
Dessert? Fried eggnog cheesecake wrapped in phyllo dough. (Okay, sometimes we don’t bother frying it; we just enjoy it as is. But if you do fry it, don’t forget to freeze it first!)
Throw in a tray of fresh veggies, some taco dip, funny hats, and noisemakers and you have yourself a very festive time!
How do you enjoy bringing in the New Year? What fried favorites would you suggest we add to the list for next year? Comment below!
Wishing you a very happy New Year!
— Funky Crunchy Mama
