Vegetarian New Years Eve Dinner 2016

Putting together a special dinner is always difficult in my household. I don't know why but I always find the suggested menu's never quite my taste. Some are just way too out there. Too many ingredients to purchase and too many days work. This menu I put together after much thought. Some things took some time to make and some were really easy. This was probably the best combination for me (the cook). I shall put the menu here so that I can find it if I ever need it again and so that it might be helpful to anyone looking to cook a special meal. Note that it is definitely not vegan. One of the recipe's calls for fish sauce but you can omit it without a problem.

Starter: Spiced Yogurt Cheese Balls http://www.countryliving.com/…/spiced-yogurt-cheese-balls-…/ with Ritz Crackers

Salad: California Quinoa and Avocado Salad http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/california-quinoa-avocado-salad 

Main:

• Potato Gratin https://vinitasfamilyblog.blogspot.de/2015/12/potato-gratin-easy-peasy-and-delicious.html,
• Garlicy Princess Beans, 
• Roasted Carrots http://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/roasted-carrots-with-creamy-nuoc-cham-dressing, 
• Yorkshire Pudding http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/9020/best-yorkshire-puddings (where a bit dry, on the lookout for a better recipe), 
• Creamy Mushroom Gravy

Desert: Persimmon Creme Brulee http://www.countryliving.com/food-drinks/recipes/a1632/persimmon-creme-brulee-3750/

Potato Gratin, Easy-peasy and Delicious

I don't make enough of this stuff! It is so easy to make and every one just wolfs it down. So much so that this time I made two dishes of it so we could get a second meal out of it.

Preparation time: 25 min. Serves 4 

Ingredients:

6	Potatoes
200 ml	Cream (or soy substitute)
	Salt and Pepper
1 tbsp.	Finely chopped fresh herbs
1 cup	Grated cheese

Method:

Preheat the oven to 200 C, 400 F or 180 C if you have a fan oven.

Peel and slice the potatoes. The thinner you slice the potatoes the quicker it will cook and the better it will taste.

Arrange the potatoes in a heat proof flan dish.

Pour over the cream ( I use half whipping cream and half soy based cream in order to lower the fat content). Make sure that your potatoes are covered with liquid. They should not be swimming in it, but every potato should have something on it, else they will not cook properly.

Sprinkle with salt, pepper and the herbs. For herbs I used thyme and rosemary because I still have them in a pot left over from some other recipes, but you could use anything or nothing at all! Finally sprinkle with cheese.

Stick it in the oven and once you can stick a fork through the potatoes and the cheese is melted take it out and enjoy. I can't tell you how long it will take since I don't know how fat your slices will be or how large your potatoes were. Mine took about 20 - 30 minutes. Just wait for the cheese to melt, the cream to bubble and then try pricking it with your fork.

Sorry, it was consumed to fast to be able to take pictures of the final product!!

We enjoyed our potato gratin with vegetarian schnitzel and steamed beans. But they can be eaten with anything.