Cooking Up Luck In The New Year

New Year’s is a time to start anew. People across the world will be setting resolutions to have a happier, healthier more prosperous life. Along with the tradition of setting goals, many people eat “lucky” foods said to bring them the things they desire. As a cook earning your online culinary certificate, you are in a unique position to create dishes that grant good luck and taste amazing.

Economic prosperity
Green leafy vegetables closely resemble cash, and beans, legumes and peas look like coins. For this reason, people all over the world eat the food during New Year’s in hopes that the next 12 months will bring them wealth.

Food ideas: Create your New Year’s fare around the idea of money. Lentil soup, black-eyed peas and spinach dishes are all ways to give your guests the gift of luck.

Spinach balls are a great finger-food option. Mix freshly chopped spinach with eggs, bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese and spices, and cook them in the oven at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

Coming full circle 
Many families bake ring-shaped cakes to symbolize the idea of coming full circle. You can invoke the idea with any manner of sweet.

Food ideas: Bake a cake in a bunt pan so that the dessert is ring-shaped. Serve it on a platter and pour an accompanying sauce or liquor into the center for added flavor. You can use your favorite cake recipe that you picked up while working in your online pastry class.

Doughnuts are another great option. Create a homemade classic and dust it with powdered sugar.

Long life
Bestow longevity on the guests who attend your New Year’s celebration by serving noodles. Their long shape has been associated with extended life in many Eastern countries. Encourage your friends and family to slurp the noodle in entirety before chewing, as the practice is supposed to increase the luck.

Food idea: Serve a cold soba noodle salad with your favorite Asian ingredients, such as ginger or soy sauce. This is a great dish if your party menu is meant to be more for snacking. If you’re having a full meal, try a traditional noodle dish like ramen.

Progress
Keep your guests moving forward in their lives by creating a dish with pork. It’s said that pigs never move backwards, hence the luck they bring. Bake pig-shaped cookies for those who don’t eat the animal.

Food ideas: Try bacon-wrapped dates or scallops as an hors d’ oeuvres option. Cook a delicious ham dish if you are preparing a full meal.